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206
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
( NOVEMBER, 1932
Pili tiru mudi kettivechchu
Wears her locks with grace Chandran valañña tiru nerri mél On her crescent shaped forehead, Marvințakiya tali måla
Wears her necklace, which heightens her charms, RamAyanam kotiya valaka! randam Bracelets worked with scenes from the Råmå
yanam, Keiviralkkañjinum ponmôtiram And rings on her fingers, Kunnikkuruvotta mukham vadive Face as smooth and round as the seed of the
kunni.50 Ata ñeriññututtukondu
And arranging her garments in graceful folds, Nêriya törttonñituttu penne
(She) takes a thin cloth Mêlmundu nånnâyi churrunnundu And wears it as an upper cloth, [and] Elassariññan ara murukki
Fastens the girdle round her waist. 51 Venila tinnu rasavum pårttu
Chewing betel and in high spirits (she] Ana nadayum nadannu pennu
Walks along with the majestic gait of an
elephant, Motira kei kondu mukhavum marachu Shading her face with her bejewelled hand, Koñji kupaññannu chellunnundu She proceeds flirting Patippura tannilum chennavaļum Towards the gatehouse. Kuftimâniyute varayukandu
Seeing Kuttimaņi approaching, Punchirikondu chirichchu Chandu Chandu smiles with delight.
Chandu is captivated and accompanies her to the house. Seating him on her cot, she bestows great personal attention on him, serves him betel, placing the folded leaves in his mouth. Presently she leaves him and returns with refreshments.
Veļļittaļika poți tutachchu Vellavil sarkara kadalippasam"
Chontanniļannirum kottatênna 53 Vellitalikayil vechchukondu Ponnumtalika kondákemudi Tariyitta kindiyil tannirayi Chandunrre arikattu chennu penne
Cleaning a silver tray, Gets white beaten rice, sugar and kadali
fruit, Red tender coocanut and pieces of copra, And placing all in the tray; Covers it with a golden tray, And with water in a bell-metal vessel, Approaches Chandu.
Inviting him to refresh himself, she gains Chandu's confidence. She wins him over to the side of her uncle, successfully coaxing him to agree to manoeuvre the fight to his advantage. At this junoture Ariññôter enters the room, and Chandu unties the bundle and shows him the churikas. He starts at the sight of the formidable weapons of Aromar, and pleads with Chandukutti to save him devising means to turn the fight to his own advantage. He
50 The form of the face is compared to the seed of the kunni (Abrus precatorius). The seed has a small rounded form, and is very smooth and bright.
51 Elassariandr, a girdle or chain round the waist, with an amulet. The amulet is made of gold or silver, and is hollow. In it is inserted a thin rolled-up piece of silver plate with charms and magic designs engraved on it. The chain with the amulet is worn sometimes above the garment, as stated here.
59 Kadaļi, plantain fruit (Mua sapientum). 58 Koffatteria, the dried kernel of the coco-nut, or copra, as it is called.