Page:Tamil studies.djvu/82

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THE TAMIL PEOPLE
57

of the Ramayana—had had their original home in the submerged continent before they entered India from the south. Of these the Negritos must have been the earlier immigrants, and they must have been driven to the hills and forests by the mixed race of Nagas who came after them and occupied mostly the maritime districts. The date of their migration cannot be given as we have no data for it. Thirdly, came the Dravidians from Upper India about eleven hundred B.C., who carved out three or four small kingdoms by subduing the petty chieftains of the Naga tribes. Their original home seems to have been Asia-Minor, and they entered India by the North-Western gate long before the arrival of the Aryans; and before they marched southward both the races should have lived together in Northern India at least for some centuries. And lastly, came the Aryans not as conquerors but as teachers of religion and philosophy to the semi-civilized Dravidians, mostly on the invitation of their kings.