Neṭuñceḻiaṉ in Pope’s view is the foremost of the ancient Kings and Chieftains celebrated in Tamil songs. Sundaram Pillai translated for the Madras Christian College Magazine the “Pattuppāṭṭu” which also sings about Neṭun̄ceḻiaṉ. Pope feels that the songs sung about this almost “forgotten chief” will mirror truly the life and conditions of ancient South India. It was a valuable suggestion for the student of social history.

The 18th song of the Puṟanāṉūṟū deals elaborately with agriculture and its various aspects. This is in Pope’s view, a very magnificent poem of advice.¹⁹⁷

Pope was deeply interested in this Tamil work. In 1906, before the commencement of the Tamil New Year in April, he conveyed his new year greeting in the magazine “The Light of Truth” by quoting a poem from the “Puṟanāṉūṟū” which he believes was perhaps older than the Kuṟaḷ.¹⁹⁸ The Puṟanāṉūṟū has caught the appreciative observation of Dr. Pope. He has made a searching study of it from all aspects and his conclusions show the entire work as a remarkable composition. Pope’s articles on this work have shown his foreign readers the great quality of this Tamil work, “which abounds in short passages of great beauty casting vivid light upon many old customs and giving fitting expression to feelings and sentiments which are common to all the world.”

MEDICINE

J. E. Grundler, a contemporary of Ziegenbalg wrote a “Treatise on the Malabarian Medicus,” What had been accomplished in the medical field by the Tamil is reported in this paper. The translator wished to be of service to European men with it and the manuscript is preserved in the archives of the Mission Library at Halle.¹⁹⁹

197. Ibid. No. 7, Dec. 1899 Pp. 141-142

198. Ibid. Vol, VII No. 1, Ap. 1906

199. Arno Lehmann, “Tamil Culture,” Col- IX No. 2, 1961, P. 114