or BHARATAVARSA OR IXDIA. 
235 
Kadambas. This Nadu was situated east of Tricliinopoly, 
south of Taujore and north of Ramnad, the residence 
of the Setupati."' In course of time the Ambilnadu Kallas 
became through the favour of the Trichinopoly Naicks the 
heads of the twelve districts, under their chief the Tondaman. 
One of these princes married a daughter of a Trichinopoly 
Naick, and her consort erected after her death the Atmndl 
cattiram, which lies between Trichinopoly and Pudukota. In 
consequence and in honor of this connection the court language 
at Pudukota is to this day Telugu, and Telugu is the first 
language in which the royal children are instructed. In 
the characters of this language the Eajas also write their 
signature. The Kattiyams or poems which celebrate the deeds 
and contain the pedigree of the Tondamans are sung in 
Telugu and by Telugu bards or Bhntrdjus. 
A singular observance which has survived to the present 
day seems to strengthen the evidence about the Kurumba 
descent of the Kallas. At every important feast, especially 
at the floating festival, which is celebrated by the Pudukota 
Eajas the Kambali-Kuxumbas of a neighbouring village, 
about 4 miles distant from Pudukota, appear with their 
goddess Vlralaksmi. They then perform before the Raja a 
very old and peculiar dance, their heads being covered with 
long flowing plumes, and at the conclusion of the dance, a 
Kurumba sits down quietly with his arms round his knees, 
while another breaks on his head cocoanuts, the tom-toms 
meanwhile continuing to beat time to the dance. With this 
observed a peacock showing fight to one of their dogs, and thinking from 
this circumstance that the country must he a fortunate country and one 
favorable to bodily strength and courage, they determined to settle in it." 
In Dr. Winslow's Tamil DictioMari/, p. 31, Amhalakkdran is explained 
as " a chief of the Kaller caste," or as Kallajjdtittalaiynn. 
The village of the Kallas above alluded to is Ambalakkdrappatti and lies 
5 miles distant from Melur. 
The Tamil s<^ssi its;-, Tannaracu, originally meaning self-govern- 
ment, got eventually the sense of republican, anarchic and even independent 
rule. Tannaracu Nadu is therefore a district with a democratic or indepen- 
dent government. 
