Having returned to the court of Alagaputra, and informed him of the treat ment they had received from Alliyarasany, of which their bald heads were suficient testimony,- Alagaputra determined to resent the insult, and there' fore collected a numerous army, resolving to capture Alliyarasany, and make her subservient to his daughter Pavalasena. When Alliyarasany beard of the invasion of her father's territories by king Alagaputra, she was not in the smallest degree intimidated, but with undaunted courage, assembled all her father's forces, and placing herself at their head, met the enemy in the field. After a severe contest she proved victorious, slew Alagaputra, dispersed his troops, took possession of his country, and made Pavalasena prisoner;~~ but afterwards, finding the latter a skilful politician, as well as an agreeableTM companion, she made a confidante of her, and appointed her Prime minis ter of state. After these events, Pandiyan resigned a part of his kingdom tổ Alliyurasany, who, uniting to it that which she had obtained by conquest, became the sovereign of a very extensive empire. Where she held her court is involved in doubt, but tradition fixes it at Koodremale (10). Her revenies were chiefly derived from the extensive pearl fisheries which were then carried on along the coast (11), as the Parawas (12), who were employed in this service, were obliged to furnish her every season with ten Kalams (13), of pearls, under pain of decapitation. To satisfy so large a demand for pearls, they were wont to rove about the different parts of the coast (proba-' bly, both here, and on the opposite side), and while thus roving, they were one day met by the king Arjuna, (14) who was then on a visit to the holy places in the south of India, accompanied by his friend Aswatama (15), Arjuna enquired of the Parawas the route to Madura, (16), but they met his question with so much surliness, (in consequence, of the ill success they had in search of pearl oysters) that he was led to ask them the cause of their discontent. They then recounted to him their occupation, and the extraordinary accomplishments, and personal charms of Alliyarasany, as well as the magnificence of her court. Arjuna was so much enchanted with the account, that he determined to gain her heart, but conscious at the same time of the difficulties he would have to encounter, even to obtain a sight of so great a princess, he became quite distracted. Arjuna wore a mystical ring on his finger, which had been given to him by Vishnu (17,) and that god apprehending that he would lose it in his present disordered state, came down from the Vaikoonta (18) and assuming the disguise of a female for fune-teller, appeared before Arjuna, who bade him tell his fortune, Having examined the lines on his palm, she told him that he was distined to grace' the bed of Alliyarasany,-who was to make a public exhibition on the morrou, on a swing (19). Overjoyed at this intelligence, he gave the ring 15 the female fortune-teller, who departed. Arjuna now being joined by his friend Aswalama related what had passed, and the fortune-teller's predictions it was in vain that the latter urged their departure, or attempted to divest

the thoughts of Arjuna from their object, he was too much in love, even to pass the interval with any degree of tranquili y;-he was impatient for the hour of Alliyanasany's appearance, and when at length it was announced, he disguised himself as a Brahman, and presented himself before her on the play-ground, offering her at the same time a golden ball to play with; he was much disconcerted however to find that she received the latter with a look of great displeasure, and returned to her palace. Vexed at the illsuccess of his gallantry, Arjuna returned to a solitary arbor, to meditate on what had passed, until the next day, when learning that Alliyarasany had gone on horseback to a neighbouring forest to hunt, he followed her thither, Alliyarasany seeing him approach, desired him to pick up the arrows which were shot, and when the sport was over, she (being much fatigued) alighted from her horse, and bidding him spread a carpet for her, she seated herself on it. Arjuna having assumed a disguise, and acting up to it, stood at respectful distance: she however, desired him to sing to her, which he did, but he was unfortunate in the subject of his ditty, for it was of "LOVE;" she commanded him therefore with a sarcastic air, to keep out of her sight, and then returned home to her palace. Having on this occasion had nearer view of Alliyarasany, Arjuna was overwhelmed with love-and retiring once more to his solitary arbor, fell on the ground, and bewailed the unhappy circumstance, which kept him from her; and his imagination pictured the delight he could experience, if he could only enjoy her society. While thus distressed, he was again joined by his friend Aswatama, who conjured him to consider, how the gods themselves had become involved in trouble, by their passions for the female sex; but Arjuna was deaf to all his en treaties, and informed him that his resolution was unalterable, "that hẹ would either gain the beart of Alliyarasamy or perish in the attempt," Aswatama now left him, and Arjuna pondered long on what course to adopt, in order to obtain admission to the palace; he at last determined to draw the portrait of Alliyarasany, and to go with it in the disguise of an Aandy, or mendicant. (20.) He accordingly took the bark of the Punnei tree (21), drew her portrait from memory, and when completed, proceeded to the palaces he was at first refused admittance, but on assuring the porters that be sought only for alms, was allowed to proceed. Having advanced as far as the third gate, he there took his seat, fixing his eyes on the portrait he held before him. The maids of honor reported the circumstance to Pavala sana, who directed them to enquire of the Aandy what he desired, but as be kept a strict silence, they mentioned it to Alliyarasany, whose answer was, that "if he did not quit the palace immediately, to cut off his head.” Pavą. lasena however, remonstrated against this, observing, that he was a mendicant and perhaps Siva himself, who might have come in that disguise, as hə had before done, when the river l'aigai (22) overflowed, and threatened des. tinction to the country. It was at length agreed upon as the best means of

driving him away, to let loose some serpents, and elephants before him; this however had no effect, he remained immoveably fixed-and took no notice of, or interest in what passed. Pavalasena therefore advanced towards him, and questioned him as to his object in visiting the palace; he however made no answer for a considerable time, but at length after repeated solici tation he informed her, that he had come to present Alliyarasany with some Vipooti or holy ashes-and that as soon as she would come and receive them he would depart. Pavalasena immediately communicated this to Alliyarasany, who was prevailed on to comply with his desire-and he left the pa lace. It is said that the ashes were enchanted, and that as soon as the Aandy was gone, Alliyarasany was much disturbed, fell languid on the ground, and appeared in imminent danger. Pavalasena alarmed sent for all the phy. sicians in the city, in hopes of curing the distemper, but their art was ineffectual, since the cause was in her mind, and therefore no time was lost in reporting the circumstance to her father Pandiyan. On receipt of this intelligence, Pandryan accompanied by his royal consort, immediately jour. neyed to their daughter, and suspecting that Pavalasena must have done some thing to retaliate the death of her own father, upbraided her with treachery. Pavalasena protested her innocence, but to no purpose; she therefore approached Alliyorasany, and conjured her to declare the cause of her distemper; upon which she told her father, that she was under the influence of love, and that it had come upon her since receiving the ashes. Pandiyan now resolved to dispose of her in marriage and according to custom, in the disposal of princesses (23) sent heralds through the country, to proclaim the beauty and accomplishments of Alliyarasany, and called together an assembly of king and princes, from whom she might personally select him she preferred. When the assembly was thus formed, Arjuna in his disguise was among them, and on Alliyarasany entering the Hall, her father desired her to whirl her gold chain, and throw it on the neck of the individual she selected. Still labouring under the enchantment, Alliyarasany against both pride and will, threw the chain on the neck of the Aandy; upon which the kings and princes, who were assembled proudly left the place, Alliyarasany now recovering from her delusion, and feeling the disgrace she had brought on herself, by becoming the wife of an Aaudy, fell on the ground, and attempted to destroy herself. Arjuna then discovered himself, she was restored to tran quillity, and their nuptials were celebrated with great pomp.

Here the drama concludes, and the history of her latter years is left in obscurity. There is, however, a tradition, that as she was witnessing the feats of a rope dancer, some imprecations having accidentally escaped her, the sea swelled, and swept her and her whole capitol away together.

1. Nympha Lotos. Lin.

2.

NOTES.

An account of Alliyarasany, under the title of Sittra-regai, is found in that section of Baradam entitled Tertha-yatra Padalam; but no allusion, however, is made there to this fable. She is merely represented as the daugh ter of Sitrabahu Pandiyan, king of Madura.

3. One of the three dynasties of Tamil kings who continued to reign separately and at the same time over three distinct kingdoms in the south of India, from B. C. 1500, until they were overthrown by the Telugu sovereigns of Vijayanagar in the period between A. D. 1490 and 1515.

E. supposed to be the Hippurus or Hipporus, mentioned by Pliny (lib, VI. cap. 22); the port to which a freedman of ANNIUS PLOCAMUS (who farmed the customs of the Red sea in the reign of the Emperor CLAUDIUS) was unexpected off the coast of Arabia in a violent ly driven, after having been blown tempest, and whose passage is said to have been fifteen days. A very long standing tradition has fixed upon it as the site of the residence ot Alliyarasany, and Sir Alexander Johnston in a note appended to one of his communications to the Royal Asiatic Society (Vide Transactions, vol. I. p. 545), mentions that in 1808, he found there" the remains of many very large buildings,“ which were, however, not forthcoming when I visited the place in 1826. There are indeed some ruins, but many miles inland of Koodremale, and perhaps he, Sir Alexander alludes to them, Of these ruins, the most remarkable are those found in a forest callsd Oruchchaippoo Kalloo, about 5 miles east of the village of Kattankandel, at a 6. Parvati, the energy of Siva, per road leading to Manaar. They conconsiderable distance from the high sonified as his consort.

4. Kanni, the same as Komari, the Tamil name of Cape Comorin. The kingdom of the Pandiyas once extend ed from Rameswaram on the east, to Cape Comorin on the south,

5. Siva, the supreme deity of the Hindoos, though ranked the last in their triad.

7. Alagaputra, probably an usurper, of whom, however, no mention occurs in the history of the Pandiya kingdom. 8. Kurkki, properly Kotkai. Professor, Wilson says, that "according to the Madura Purana, the residence of the Pandiya kings was for many ages at a place called Kurkhi, not improbably the Korkhi of the Periplus, a city subject to the Pandya king, as the author observes, and, perhaps, as D' ANVILLE notices, still to be traced in the appellation Kilkhar, or Kilakarai, on the Coromandel coast, opposite to Kameswaram." Vide Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society vol. III. p. 203.

9. This will remind the reader of the insult offered to the ambassadors of David, by Hanun the king of the Am. monites, 2. Sam. x 4, which insult, however, seems to have a peculiarity in it, viz. shaving the beard on one side of the face only. vide Cabinet Dictionary of the Bible.

10. Koodremalé (Horse's Mountain),

sist of a great number of granit
pillars and pavements of bricks. There
is also an inscription on a rock in
their neighbourhood, the characters of
which bear a very close resemblance
to those on the pillar at Allahabad
Vol. vii. Plats
(vide Asiatic Researches.
14.). In February, 1832, I procured
ed it to the
a copy of this inscription, and forward-
Society, through Captain Gaswyne,
late Ceylon Literary
but was not even favored with an
acknowledgement.

13. Kalam, a dry measure contain

a promontory on the N. W. coast of ing 12 markals.

Ceylon, lat. 8 32 N. long. 79g55 14. Arjuna, one of the five Par