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

associates and belong to about the twelfth and thirteenth centuries
In these inscriptions, we find references to a community called
the lku }u (Four Countries), who were among the associates
of the Aififlh1uvar. They were probably a trading community like
the lu Nakarattr (Those of the Four Cities) bit there is no
evidence on this point. The ku Nu Tamiar o Tm11- of the
Nku Nu, mentioned in our inscription from Anurdhapura, seeni
to have been members of the same community as the lku I4u of
the Kannada inscriptions. It is interesting to note that this
community of Tamila erected a Buddhist temple at Anurdhapura
some time in the ninth century and named it )kktai-pai.
}kktai is an epithet that refers to the Cra or Keraja king
The fact that the Buddhist or vihra built by the Tamils
WLS
of the Nku I tu, suests that they may have hailed from Kerala.
On the basis of the mounds of tile fragments and
potsherds met with all over the area of the Tamil Ruins, H.C.P.Bei].
has surmised that the TRmII community relegated to this quarter
would appear to be the caste of the potters Tt would, however,
seem rather difficult to ascertain the profession of the community
67
1. ., VIII, p . 89 of the text ; see infra p.-o
2. M.LR. for 1916, No.130 of 1916.
3. T.A.S., V, p. 100 fa.
4. A.S.C.A.R. for 1893, p. 5.