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xviii TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE, rable from religion-the three classes of Tamil literature, music and the drama-the extent of polite literature-mostly translations the ethical literature-no Tamil literature without the Aryan influence-history of literature wanting--absence of critical spirit among the Tamils--examination of Damodaram Pillai's classification of Suryanarayana's_of Caldwell's cycles—of other western scholars-of M. Julien Vinson-proposed classification (1) the pre-academic period—(2) the academic period—(3)the hymnal period—(4) translations from Sanskrit-(5) the exegetical period-and (6) the modern period—the anti-Brahmanical School-prose literature ... ... ... 185 Essay IX.-THE TAMIL ACADEMIES. -Introduction --references to Tamil academies-explanation of the terms Sangain and avai—the scope of the essay--the upper limit of the Sangam period—the first academy-described--Agasi. yar and his studentstheir works—the date of the academy discussed--the location of Dakshana Madura- the second academy described -a continuation of the first-its date-the importance of the third academy-described --when established-and where its members (Thiruvalluvanalai, a forgery)-how and when broken up-religion of its membersthe value of Nakkirar's account-later aca. demies—literature encouraged by Tamil kings--summary account of the academies-refinement of the Tamil language-how poetical works passed-liberal presents to poets -the French academy and the sangams compared ... ... ... ... ... 231 ESSAY 8. —TheTENTENS.--Description of the work the dates of the several books of the Chera kings-difficult to get their dates—description of certain ancient Tamil customs-the political