OF BHAR.VTAVARSA OR INDIA. 
221 
" While Kamanda Prabha ruled, the various tribes in 
the country submitted to his rule, and the people could 
quietly foUow their various avocations. Some engaged in 
trade, others in husbandry, and so on, according to their 
special inclinations, though the majority devoted themselves 
to sheep-tending, woollen blanket-weaving and lime-selling. 
They even ventured at that time to engage in shipping 
trade, and some Cetti merchants from Kaveripattanam settled 
in the Kurumba country. Stimulated by them the Kurum- 
bas soon developed a taste and an aptitude for commerce, 
and in order to facilitate mercantile transactions, they built 
in course of time strongholds at Pattipulam, Salakuppam, 
Salapakkam, Meyyur, Kadalur, Alamparai, Marakkanam, 
&c. The Kurumbas and Cettis of Kaveripattanam occupied 
these fortified ports, and as they were successful in their 
speculations, amassed great wealth and became influential. 
"As already intimated the Kurumbas had no special 
religion of their own, and a Jaina priest who visited their 
country, was able to convert the greater portion of the people 
to Jainism. The Jaina basti which the king of Palal erected 
in honour of that priest, remains up to this day a monument 
of this conversion. Besides this building, a few other bastis 
are still existing, though in a very dilapidated condition. 
Jaina sculptures are now occasionally found in the rice-fields ; 
they are, however, either destroyed or reburied in the 
ground by Brahmans and other religious enemies of the 
Jains. Many Kurumbas resemble in their present manners 
and customs the Jains of former times, and they do so 
especially in their marriage ceremonies. 
" While the Kurumbas ruled over the land, their more 
civilized neighbours often attacked them, but were generally 
defeated. The Cola and Pandya kings made thus repeated 
inroads into the Kurumba territory ; but their attempts to 
subdue their fierce foes were in vain, as they did not mind to 
sacrifice their lives on the battle-field. Some of these royal 
aggressors were at times captured and chained in fetters to 
29 
