Appendixes Appendix 1 on Mackenzie’S Historical Enquiries: a Memorandum

Appendixes Appendix 1 On Mackenzie’s Historical Enquiries: A Memorandum. Madras—Feb. 14th, 1808. Major Mackenzie has for some time past/ thro’ the good offices of his Friends/ Collected various Materials, that are supposed to convey considerable information, on the Ancient History, State, and Institutions of the South of India, but he finds Several parts are still doubtful; which he believes might be yet illustrated by materials of various descriptions, in the hands of the Natives, and which from their obscurity are liable to be neglected and lost; but might be still recovered by the interposition of the Gentlemen in the Diplomatic, Judicial, Revenue, and Medical Departments particularly—He has already derived much aid from the liberal Support of such as he has the honor to be acquainted with, and doubts not but others would be equally willing to forward a design presumed to be advantageous to the Cultivation of this branch of General knowledge, In the Southern Provinces he is desirous of obtaining Copies or Originals of any Native MS in any language; relating to the ancient Government, of the Pandeyan and Cholla Kings or other Dynasties, that have ruled in these Countries; several accounts are already obtained, but they are still defective, and it is supposed further considerable lights are procurable, At Madura and other ancient Religious Establishments some notices, it is supposed are still preserved in the hands of the Bramins, which may throw light on the Ancient Government, and Colonies that are supposed to have emigrated to the Western and Eastern parts of the Coast as appears by traces in these Provinces—Accounts are also said to be preserved of the Religious contentions, that took place between the Bramins, Jain and other Sects. In the Tanjore Country at Trivalloor, Cumbaconum, and other places, some Notices of the same description are supposed to 187 188 Origins of Modern Historiography exist; and at Sreerungam, Chidumbram and in the Tondaman’s Country. In Tinnavelly at Trichendoor, and other places also at Ramesweram Ancient Documents may exist exclusive of the Mahatyams or Legendary accounts of their Religious Establishments. Regular Historical narrations and Tracts are seldom found among the natives; and such notices as exist are generally preserved in the form of Religious Legends and Popular Poems and Stories. Yet exceptions appear tho’ rare which induces an opinion that others may yet exist that have escaped the ravages of time & the troubles of the Country, these appear under the description of 1. Vumshavelly; or Genealogies of the several Dynasties and Considerable Families, 2. Dunda Caveley: or Chronological Registers, and Records; sometimes preserved by official persons; and some supposed still to exist. 3. Calliganums: literally prophecies; but sometimes really convey- ing under that assumed disguise, Historical information with more apparent freedom than could be addressed to Oriental Sovereigns, 4. Cheritra & 5. Cudha Frequently applied to Tales and Popular Stories, but Sometimes containing Correct information of remarkable Characters & events approaching to the Nature of our Memoirs. 6. Rakas; have existed in the upper Country and it is presumed that, the Mahratta Bakeers are of the same description, Records of this description tho’ possibly under another name/ may have been kept to the Southward, these were in fact Financial Records, and Registers of the Ancient Revenues, and resources of the Country, arranged under its Divisions, Subdivisions, and villages with their assessment of Revenue, Taxes, Customs. It appears that they were kept in certain Families/ the Hereditary officers of the Ancient Regime/ and that exclusive of the change in the District, Historical Notices of Changes of Government, and of facts con- nected with local Establishments were recorded in them. It need scarcely be observed, that the recovery of any of these Ancient Records would be very desirable. 7. Registers Containing the number of Families, classed under their several Casts, were also kept; and it appears to have been the practice to enumerate the Forts, Religious Edifices and Establishments; the classes of Artificers, Weavers, Husbandmen this appears to have been very Ancient, and the practice is still retained in the Mackenzie’s Historical Enquiries 189 Upper Country, affording ready means of Statistic information of the Resources of a Country at all times important. 8. In the Temples & Agrarams of the Bramins, the Mutts of the Jungums Priests of the Linga . Sect, and the Bustics and Temples of the Jain—two species of Records, were kept, the Mahatyams or Religious Legends which appear to consist of passages, extracted from the Pooranums and applied to the local circumstances of the Establishment these contain but little Historical information or what is obscured by Table, or Superstition, they however form the Grand work of the Ancient History of each place or the Stala Pooranum which after this Introduction from the darker ages is carried thro the earlier periods of rel history to modern times detailing the dates of the several Grants of land to the Pagodas Agrarams of the Immunities and benefactions granted and the Donors Names Titles and genealogy. Copies of the Grants and Documents were entered in Books, which are some times preserved when the Originals are lost—considerable information has been derived from these Documents which are Checked and con- firmed by others in distant places, this particularly applies to the Bramins, but the Jains and the Jungums have also kept Records of the same Nature and there is reason to think that some of the most correct accounts are still preserved by the latter Description of Religious. 9. Sassanums. Inscriptions, Grants, engraved on Plates of Metal or on Stone, 10. Dana Patrum, Grants or Deeds of Gift literally Leaves of Gift. 11. Ancient Coins. all these are very useful in ascertaining Dates names and Historical information to a considerable Collection already formed in the Carnatic above and below the Ghaats the further addition of the Southern and Northern Documents of this kind is respectfully solicited. 12. In Ancient buildings on the sites of the former Capitals, and the Religious Edifices belonging to the several Sects Bramin Jain, Jungam Mutts, Vestiges, illustrative of their former state are sometimes procurable, the recent discovery of Ancient Coins Sculptures, Hindoo or Roman of the same description & Reigns in distant parts of the Country, promise to throw light on the Ancient state of Commerce, and of communication between Europe and the East in former times. 13. A species of small rude buildings composed of a few rude flat stones are some times met in remote places of them the Accounts are very obscure, and generally an early period is assigned to them, 190 Origins of Modern Historiography Information of the Several places where they are found, and a comparison of the Circumstances attending them, can only explain their use and intention, the Tradition of different district assign them/ tho’ doubtfully/ to the early age of the Pandoos, others to Colonies if Pandya, to a smaller Race of Men their use and real age is doubtful, Coins are said to be found among their ruins sometimes. 14. Veeracull literally Heroic Monumental stones, in Memory of remarkable persons that have fallen in Action are frequently met, sometimes with Inscriptions, and generally with Figures sculptured on them, Notices of their Origin with Inscriptions, and Drawings are useful as tending to confirm or illustrate certain events in the History of the Country. 15. More considered remains of Antiquity with sculptures, Inscriptions, Images, are sometimes found such as the remarkable Dippall-Dinna,/ literally Hill or place of lights/ ornamented with sculptures of a Superior kind at Amreswerum in Guntoor, the remarkable Inscriptions and Sculptures at Mavellipoor, Ellore, the Caves of Kurla. It is possible some of the same kind may exist to the Southward, and indeed it is known that a place of lights, probably of the same description as at Amreswerum, formerly existed some where to the southward—Notices of this, and of any vestiges of antiquities found among them would be extremely desirable—Fac Similies of the Characters if rare and Sketches of their appearance would be satisfactory. Upon the whole a general Investigation and comparison of what is really known to exist despersed in different parts of the Coast it is presumed would throw considerable light upon the Ancient History of the Country, and its Civil and religious Institutions. Any information or Notice of the State and Progress of Commerce in Ancient times and particularly of the Communication with the West from India would be useful in elucidating the Ancient Geography of this Country it is supposed some things of this Nature remain with the Bramins at Madura in the hands of the lobby and Moply descendants of the Ancient Arab Navigators at Devipatam and other places along the Sea Coast. Madras Feb. 14th 1808 Source : TNSA: Madras Public Consultations, 1808 Appendix 2 Memorandum: Of Information Required from any of the Learned & Intelligent Bramins of Sreerungam & Trichinopoly, 1804. 1. Who was Durma-Vurma, the first founder of the temple of Runganaad at Sreerungam? is it the same with Durma-Rajah? & what is the meaning of the title Vurma? 2. What were the circumstances & supposed Era; or how many years since the City of Warriore, the Capital of some Chollan or Soran Kings, was destroyed by a shower of sand, or what is the History of these kings? 3. List of the names of the 20 kings of the south from Earoon- Samoodrum to Sankaran or Sangran—they are said to have ruled 1119 years—at what capital; & is any history preserved of them & of their transactions? 4. List of the names of the Kings from Salleevahan & BoojaRajah downward or; with any amount of their history & actions, & dates if possible, & when the last of them reigned? 5.

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