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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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228<br />

Nakarattr were probably <strong>of</strong> Kannaa orig<strong>in</strong> as <strong>the</strong>se mercantile<br />

communities orig<strong>in</strong>ated <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kannaa country Accord<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

<strong>the</strong> Ct1lavasa, <strong>the</strong>re were Ker4as <strong>and</strong> Kaas at Polonnaruva<br />

serv<strong>in</strong>g under GajabThu II Nidka Nalla claims <strong>in</strong> his Kantaly<br />

Gal sana <strong>in</strong>scription that his queens from Karnna <strong>and</strong> 1ellru<br />

(<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Telugu country) brought with <strong>the</strong>m large ret<strong>in</strong>ues <strong>of</strong><br />

elephants <strong>and</strong> cavalry Though this may be a va<strong>in</strong> boast, it is<br />

possible that <strong>the</strong> matrimonial alliances contracted by Nia.ka<br />

Ma].la led to <strong>the</strong> arrival <strong>of</strong> Kannaa <strong>and</strong> Telugu courtiers <strong>and</strong><br />

soldiers with <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>cesses as was <strong>the</strong> custom <strong>in</strong> those days.<br />

Such groups, however, would not have considerably added to<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>Dravidian</strong> element <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> city. The Kannaa or Telugu<br />

element <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Dravidian</strong> population <strong>of</strong> Polor<strong>in</strong>aruva, or 1 for that<br />

matter, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong>, does not seem to have been strong. It is<br />

notable that <strong>the</strong>re is no Kannaa or Telugu <strong>in</strong>scription <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong> belong<strong>in</strong>g to this or any o<strong>the</strong>r period.<br />

At Dimbu].gala, about ten miles south-east <strong>of</strong><br />

Polonnaruva, is a rock <strong>in</strong>scription <strong>of</strong> Sundaram<strong>and</strong>evj, <strong>the</strong><br />

chief queen <strong>of</strong> VikramabThu I, which refers to a Dema-pTh<br />

(Pii, Dami4a-psda) <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> area We have already seen that<br />

1. See supra, p. ILt3<br />

2. Cv., 70:230.<br />

3. II, p.289.<br />

k. Ibid., p.195.

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