is a hill man ; and Ambu is an arrow. The Eyinas. were considered good archers.
All these point to their former greatness, the vestiges thereof still survive in the form of rights and privileges which cling to them in the village organization. The settlement of a land dispute by one Vesali Paraiyan and his councillors regarding the ownership of a field belonging to a temple at the village of Nudepakavar is mentioned in an inscription of the eleventh century; and the Paraivar's decision was deemed final and absolute.[1]
The Evinas or hunters of the above districts were the earliest of the Naga-Dravidian tribes to clear the forests of Dandakaranya and Shadaranya for purposes of cultivation and to build small forts therein for their safety. Such of them as had been employed in the clearing of jungles came to be called the Vettiyan (hewers), while others engaged in the sinking of wells and the digging of tanks for irrigation grew up into the tôti (tondu, to dig) or digger caste. As early as the third or fourth century A. D. they had their chieftains reigning at Ambur, Vellore and other places. The Eyinas had well supplied granaries (kottakaram) and strong forts (eyil) with deep ditches and lofty walls ; they had musicians and dancers (Panans) to amuse them when out of work; they had priests (Valluvans), carpenters, masons, weavers (Koliyans), gymnastic instructors
- ↑ The Madras Government Epigraphist's Report, dated the 25th July 1910, p. 94,
