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40 Persians. The Tamil Dravidian, in his march towards India, must have lived in Persia, and moved with Persians sufficiently long to adopt the above custom.

Again some of the Tamil districts abound with peculiar tombstones called 'Virakkals.' They were usually set up on the graves of warriors that were slain in battle, chiefly in skirmishes following cattle raids. The names of the deceased soldiers and their exploits are found inscribed on the stones, which were decorated with garlands of peacock feathers or some kind of red flowers. Usually small canopies were put up over them.

We give below a specimen of such an epitaph dated 936 A. D. ‘Prosperity! In the twenty-ninth year of King Parakesari Varman who conquered Madura when cattle were listed at Muttukur by the Perumanadigal, Vadunavaran Varadan Tandan having recovered them fell.'

A careful study of the Purapporul Venbamalai will doubtless convince the reader that the ancient