DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2374#0406
394
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
I
I
CHAPTER although, if they choose, they may employ the higher ranks of
XIp Nairs; but the sacred character of the Namburis almost always pro-
Dec, 10, u. cures them a preference. The ladies live in the houses of their
brothers; for any amorous intercourse between them and their
husbands would be reckoned scandalous. The eldest man of the
family is the Tamuri Raja, called by Europeans the Zamorin. He
is also called Mana Vicrama Samudri Rfijd, and is crowned. The se-
cond male of the family is called Eralpata, the third Munalpata,
the fourth Edatara Patana Raja, the fifth Nirirupa Muta Eraleradi
Tirumulpata Raja, and the sixth Ellearadi Tirumulpata Raja. The
younger Tamburans are not distinguished by any particular title.
If the eldest Tamburetti happen to be older than the Tamuri, she is
considered as of higher rank. The Tamuri pretends to be of a
higher rank than the Brdhmans, and to be inferior only to the invi-
sible gods; a pretension that was acknowledged by his subjects,
but which is held as absurd and abominable by the Brdhmans, by
whom he is only treated as a Sudra.
Government. During the government of the Tdmuris, the business of the state
was conducted, under his authority, by four Savadi Carigars, whose
offices were hereditary, and by certain inferior Carigars, appointed
and removed at the pleasure of the sovereign. The Savadi Carigars
are, 1st. Mangutachan, a Nair of the tribe called Sudra; £d. Te-
nancheri Elliadi, a Brahman; 3d. Bermamuta Panycary, also a Sudra
Nair; and 4th. Paranambi, a Nair of the kind called Najnbichan.
The inferior Carigars managed the private estates, or Chericul lands,
of the Tamuri, and collected the revenues. These consisted of the
customs, of a fifth part of all the moveable estates of every person
that died, and of fines; of course, the Carigars were the adminis-
trators of justice, or rather of what was called law. They were
always assisted by four assessors; but, the selection of these being
left to themselves, this provision gave little security to the subject.
Eight tenths of all fines went to the Tamuri, and two tenths to the
judge. For capital punishments, the mandate of the Tamuri was
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
I
I
CHAPTER although, if they choose, they may employ the higher ranks of
XIp Nairs; but the sacred character of the Namburis almost always pro-
Dec, 10, u. cures them a preference. The ladies live in the houses of their
brothers; for any amorous intercourse between them and their
husbands would be reckoned scandalous. The eldest man of the
family is the Tamuri Raja, called by Europeans the Zamorin. He
is also called Mana Vicrama Samudri Rfijd, and is crowned. The se-
cond male of the family is called Eralpata, the third Munalpata,
the fourth Edatara Patana Raja, the fifth Nirirupa Muta Eraleradi
Tirumulpata Raja, and the sixth Ellearadi Tirumulpata Raja. The
younger Tamburans are not distinguished by any particular title.
If the eldest Tamburetti happen to be older than the Tamuri, she is
considered as of higher rank. The Tamuri pretends to be of a
higher rank than the Brdhmans, and to be inferior only to the invi-
sible gods; a pretension that was acknowledged by his subjects,
but which is held as absurd and abominable by the Brdhmans, by
whom he is only treated as a Sudra.
Government. During the government of the Tdmuris, the business of the state
was conducted, under his authority, by four Savadi Carigars, whose
offices were hereditary, and by certain inferior Carigars, appointed
and removed at the pleasure of the sovereign. The Savadi Carigars
are, 1st. Mangutachan, a Nair of the tribe called Sudra; £d. Te-
nancheri Elliadi, a Brahman; 3d. Bermamuta Panycary, also a Sudra
Nair; and 4th. Paranambi, a Nair of the kind called Najnbichan.
The inferior Carigars managed the private estates, or Chericul lands,
of the Tamuri, and collected the revenues. These consisted of the
customs, of a fifth part of all the moveable estates of every person
that died, and of fines; of course, the Carigars were the adminis-
trators of justice, or rather of what was called law. They were
always assisted by four assessors; but, the selection of these being
left to themselves, this provision gave little security to the subject.
Eight tenths of all fines went to the Tamuri, and two tenths to the
judge. For capital punishments, the mandate of the Tamuri was