PREFACE.
This work is described under D. No. 1466-A in Volume VI (Vacana Kavyas) of the Descriptive Catalogue of the Telugu Manuscripts in the Library. This is a prose work written by one Kola Sesacala Kavi belonging to Yadava class and dedicated to Sri Gode Venkata Jaggaraya, an enlightened Zamindar of Visakhapattanamu.
The work gives an account of the Journey made by Sesacala Kavi to the Nilagiris in 1846 following the retinue of the then Governor of Madras. It describes vividly the climate of the places, the nature of the people and their peculiar customs and manners that the author came across during his journey. Besides, the work gives an account of the flora and fauna of the Nilagiri hills.
The style of the work is thoroughly classical (granthika) and it is one of the best Vacana Kavyas in Telugu literature. For the clarification of the new vocabulary he used, he gives foot-notes explaining their origin and intonation. The work gives minute details regarding geographical positions, latitudes and longitudes and meteorological observations. It is highly useful as a source of information regarding those times. As prose works of this type are few and far between in Telugu literature, this publication is expected to be a welcome addition. My thanks are due to Srimathi B. Adilakshmi, B.A., formerly temporary Pandit of this library for preparing the Press copy and to Sri S. Krishnamurthi, M. A., Telugu Pandit of this Library, for correcting the proofs.
T. CHANDRASEKHARAN, M.A., L.T., Curator.
GOVERNMENT ORIENTAL MANUSCRIPTS LIBRARY, MADRAS, 27th May 1953.
