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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[NOVEMBER, 1916
Râmappaiya went direct to "mattan Sirukudi." Here he bestowed a lasting benefit on the people by subduing the fierce Kallas who had given them incessant trouble. From there he went by way Tiruppuvana 19 and Vâna-vîra Madurai to Pugalûr, where Kumara Alaha and other's resisted him. The Brahman general threatened to take very severe measures if they did not yield, and when they were obstinate, he attacked the place with wonted energy, took it, and with singular cruelty put the leaders to death. Pugalûr taken, Ramappaiya was able to promptly march through Attangarai20 and Vêdâni' (?), to the Pamban channel.
The building of the Pamban Causeway. Râmappaiyn's return to the Pamban was the sign of extraordinary activity in that quarter. Undaunted by any obstacle and undeterred, even by nature, he embraced the ''mad" idea of rebuilding, like his divine namesake, the Sêtu, and marching his gigantic army across it to attack. Everywhere the revelation of the general's design excited laughter. Men spoke that uniform victory had affected his brain, and that his folly was sure to bring him ruin. But Ramappaiya scorned all scorn. Opposition only strengthened his activity, and when many refused, he showed that he was true to any work by carrying the stone for the dam himself. Everybody was then surprised and ashamed, and the Naik and the Marava, the Telugu and the Tamil, the Canareso and the Malayali, combined together to build the dam. Each contributed, like the old monkeys, his share, and with the growth of the causeway their enthusiasm grew. Public women, says the poem in a true vein of humour, laughed at the soldiers, and asked, while they were lifting the stones, where their swords were, their robes, their ornaments. In great shame, the latter complained to the general, and he ordered the 7,000 danoing girls of the kingdom to join! Each was compelled to take seven stones, singing all t.e while! The mild and indolent Clettis, seeing their condition, clapped their hands in contempt, and asked where had gone their prou gait, their souriding ank ets were ! Were they not like Gopura asses lifting mud? In great anger, the fair victims of the taunt appealed to the Dala vâi, and he issued the mandate that every one of the 8,000 Chettis of the land slould join in the business and place 10 stones at least for the growing causeway! While the Chettis were paying the penalty of pride, an Audi forgot the lesson and remarked how well they deserved this punishment--they that told the beggars to come ever afterwards, taat would not pay a pie even if addressed as "father" and took the shoe when addressed as uncle ! The only result was that the Ancis and Paradeśis l.ad to contribute their si are to the grand undertaking !T..e progress of the dam in consequence was startlingly rapid, and Râmappaiya was ale to carry his men across and lay siege to the island.
Ramappaiya's alliance with the Portuguese. The Sêturati was now in serious danger and was indefatigable in his endeavours to save the island at all costs. Råmappaiya at this stage is said to have had some negotiations with the Paraugis of Singala, Colombo, Manaar and Cock.in, whom the Setupati had alienated by his colle, tiou of extravagant tribute. Ramapraiya offered them not only the freedom from tribute but the islanci itself in case they hclped lim, and they consented. It is not a difficult thing to way who those Parangis were. They should have been, of course, either the Dutch or the Portuguese 21 who were, as we have alr ay scen, tusy attacking each otherin this part of the
29 A very important religious centie, 16 miles off Sivagariga. See Antiquities I, p. 298.
24 This vilage is in the Remnad la.uk. Suuhuci is also here. I have not Leen blo to identify Vedat.i.
21 Seo Danvers, Vol. II.
