Page:History of India Vol 2.djvu/432

 374 THE KINGDOMS OF THE SOUTH obscure, and the true meaning doubtful. Occasional references to the country throw little light upon its history. From about the middle of the second century A. D. the lordship of the Chola country, as defined by tradi- tion, was disputed by the intrusive Pallava clans of foreign origin. Chola rajas continued to exist through- out all political vicissitudes, and to take part in the unceasing internecine wars which characterize the early history of Southern India. It is clear, however, that these rajas were often reduced to a merely subordinate position, and were much circumscribed in authority. The observations of Hiuen Tsang give an interest- ing notice of the Chola kingdom in the seventh century, the significance of which has not been fully appreciated. His visit to the south may be dated with almost absolute certainty in the year 640 A. D. At that time the king- dom of Chola (Chu-li-ye) was a restricted territory, estimated to be four or five hundred miles in circuit, with a small capital town barely two miles in circum- ference. The country was wild and mostly deserted, consisting of a succession of hot marshes and jungles, occupied by a scanty population of ferocious habits, addicted to open brigandage. The few Buddhist mon- asteries were ruinous, and the monks dwelling in them as dirty as the buildings. The prevailing religion was Jainism, but there were a few Brahmanical temples. The position of the country is indicated as being some two hundred miles or less to the southwest of Amaravati. It must, therefore, be identified with a