08.04.2018 Views

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

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

193<br />

The whole account seems to be <strong>of</strong> late orig<strong>in</strong>, based on different<br />

traditions <strong>of</strong> earlier <strong>in</strong>vasions, <strong>and</strong> has hardly a claim to any<br />

credence. Perhaps it refers to an i<strong>in</strong>lcriown migration, but this<br />

is a matter <strong>of</strong> speculation.<br />

It is possible that small groups <strong>of</strong> peaceful<br />

settlers from South India trickled <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong> this<br />

period. But <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Dravidian</strong> element <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> local<br />

population seems to have been steadily ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed ma<strong>in</strong>ly by<br />

<strong>the</strong> migration <strong>of</strong> mercenaries, mercantile communities <strong>and</strong> artisans.<br />

It was only after <strong>the</strong> downfall <strong>of</strong> Polonnaruva, as we shall see<br />

later, that many peaceful settlers from <strong>the</strong> Taniil country<br />

migrated to <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn regions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong>.<br />

The areas <strong>of</strong> <strong>Dravidian</strong> settlement <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> latter part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> eleventh <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> twelfth century, as <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> period <strong>of</strong> Ca rule, have to be traced primarily with <strong>the</strong><br />

help <strong>of</strong> Tamil <strong>in</strong>scriptions <strong>and</strong> Saiva archaeolo ical rema<strong>in</strong>s.<br />

The meagre evidence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> literary sources <strong>and</strong> toponynis is<br />

useful <strong>in</strong> supplement<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> testimony <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> epigraphic <strong>and</strong><br />

archaeological material. Inscriptions do not present much<br />

difficulty <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> attempt <strong>of</strong> trac<strong>in</strong>g some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> probable areas<br />

<strong>of</strong> settlement. Normally <strong>the</strong> provenance as well as <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternal

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!