The Kanara—which, like the Tamul and Telinga, is both High and Low—literary or vulgar.
Amongst these four well-known forms of the South Tamulian tongue, may be distributed several dialects and sub-dialects. Such as the Tulava for the parts between Goa and Mangalore, and the Coorgi of the Rajahship of Coorg, not to mention the several varieties in the language of the hill-tribes.
Now all the populations of the present chapter agree in this particular—their language is generally[149] admitted to be Tamulian at the present moment, or if not, to have been so at some earlier period. With the languages next under notice, the original Tamulian character is not so admitted—indeed, it is so far denied as to make the affirmation of it partake of the nature of paradox.
The distinction then is raised on the existence of the doubt in question, or rather on the differences that such a doubt implies. Hence the division of the languages of India into the Hindú and the Tamulian is practical rather than scientific—the Hindú meaning those for which a Sanskrit, rather than a Tamul affinity is claimed.
Sanskrit is the name of a language; a name upon which nine-tenths of the controversial points in Indian ethnology and in Indian history turn.
FOOTNOTES:
[22] "Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal," vol. viii.
[23] "Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Bengal," vol. vi. part 2. See also pp. [112], [113] of the present volume.
[24] Described by Lieutenants Phayre and Latter in "Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal."
[25] Dr. Helfer, "Asiatic Society of Bengal," vol. viii.