Historical Geography of Ancient India c5.s3.18

c5.s3.18

The Damiḷas who had two settlements on both sides of the Ganges are identified with the Tamils. They were warlike, and the island of Laṅkā was very much troubled by them from time to time. They are described as uncultured (*anariyā*). ‘Might is right’ was their policy which they rigidly followed, with the result that they were defeated and mercilessly massacred in almost all the battles with the Ceylonese (*Mahāvaṃsaṭīkā*, 482; Law, *Tribes in Ancient India*, 168ff.; Law, *Geographical Essays*, Ch. IV). They were disrespectful to the Buddhist Stūpas (*Mahāvaṃsa-Ṭīkā*, 447).