113992242-Dravidian-Settlements-in-Ceylon-and-the-Beginnings-of-the-Kingdom-of-Jaffna-By-Karthigesu-Indrapala-Complete-Phd-Thesis-University-of-London-1965

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have been a Blow and unnoticed migration of small groups of
peasants from the iami]. country into the island in this period.
These are, however, matters of conjecture and in the absence
of any evidence nothing definite can be concluded.
The South Indian 6ources, while providing fairly
substantial evidence regarding the migration of mercantile
and mercenary bodies from the Dravidian regions to outside
areas, are silent on the question of peaceful peasant
migrations As mentioned earlier, there were at least three
.2
famines in the Tam.il country in this period. These were not
widespread but confined to certain regions only. We are
informed by one inscription that there was a famine in
Arakaanal].r, in the Squth Arcot district, in A.D. 1131
and that 'people moved after selling their lands' It is
reasonable to think that such movements of people during
times of famine were confined to South India, although it is
pos ible that a few went to Ceylon, too. Like famine, excessive
1. See supra, .,3r.
2. See supra, p. g3
3. M.E.R. for 1931+/35, Inscription o.151 of 193k/35;
K.A..Nilakanta Sastri, The Cas, p.562.