Page:Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol 7, Part 1.djvu/560

490 The writer closes with some brief mention of his ancestors and himself, from which it appears that they and he had been hereditary chiefs of the Mapalas.

Section 10. — Account from Yogiyar (or religious ascetics), at the village of Alipudumbu, in Malayalam,

The ascetics of the said village address Mr. Baber, who had direct- ed certain queries to them, and after briefly adverting to the formation of the country, the location of brahmans in sixty -four villages, the choice of a king, and privileges of the Namburi brahmans, they pro- ceed to state, in answer to an inquiry, as to ancient bool.s, that the Kerala Ulpatti exists in the common language, and that a copy of the work in Sanskrit may be found at Codangnur, ( Cranganore ? J In reply to another inquiry they state, that there are no inscriptions on stone remaining; to another reply as to events subsequent to Parasu Rama, they state that Parasu Rama formed the country and located therein the brahmans, in sixty-four villages, charging them with certain duties and ceremonies ; that these brahmans introduced Cheruman Perumal as king ; that Cheruman Perumal appointed other chiefs, and subordinate divisions of government. They further state, that the Malayalam country property extends from Gohemam in the north, to Canya Curnari (or Cape Comorin) in the south ; and they advert to the religious foundations, and different images worshipped within the boundaries of the country. (The whole of the reply is very concise.) There follow a few Sanskrit slocas (stanzas) in the Malayalam ? character, supplied by the chief of the beforementioned ascetics, and simply confirmatory of the brief account given : it is not stated from what book or record the stanzas were obtained.

Section 11. — Account of the Cottai yatla, chief of the Mdpala caste, in Malayalam. (This title in the index of the original does not well agree with the contents.)

Certain persons, whose names are given in reply to certain queries from the cutcherry made in July, 1806, wrote to this effect.

There are no stone or copper inscriptions in the country concerning ancient kings, they had learnt from their forefathers, that in the dis- trict of Paracu-mitil (the Wynaad country), to which their answer refers, of old, there were no other inhabitants than Verdars (wild hunters), under rulers termed Verda raja. In those days a Cumbala rija, proceeding from the north on a pilgrimage to a shrine named TirunelU, had to pass through the Wynaad country, and was taken by