DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2374#0578
MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR. 565
The Moplays of the place I found very intelligent and communi- CHAPTER
cative. They did not conceal their hatred to the Nairs ; and, how- ^^r^>
ever much these and the Namburis may be discontented, as I believe ™n',15'
they almost universally are, their only safety depends on the English
retaining the province. If left to their own strength, the Moplays
Avould very soon force them to retire into the woods and mountains,
to which they were confined when the English arrived.
Malabar province, which I am now about to quit, may be divided Gener.al ap-
. . . • t» c- i • • ^ n ptarance of
into two portions. Joy far the most extensive part consists of low Malabar.
hills, separated by narrow vallies; and from the Ghats this always
extends a considerable distance to the westward, and sometimes
even to the sea. These hills, when cleared, are called Parum, or
Parumba ; and when covered with trees, which are only cut down
once in ten or twelve years, they are called Ponna or Ponnum.
They are seldom of any considerable height, but in general have
steep sides and level summits. The sides possess the best soil; and
in Parum land, in order to prevent the soil from being washed away
by the rain, are formed into terraces. The summits in many places
are bare; and, especially towards the north, expose to the view
large surfaces of naked rock. The vallies, called Candum or Paddum
land, contain in general rivulets that convey away the superfluous
water: but in some places, the level is not sufficient; and in the
rainy season the grounds are much overflowed. The soil in these
vallies is extremely fertile.
The other portion of Malabar consists of a poor sandy soil, and
is confined to the plains on the sea coast, seldom above three miles
wide, and in general not so much. Near the low hills, these plains
are in general the most level, and best fitted for the cultivation of
rice. Nearer the sea, they are more unequal in their surface, and
rise into low downs, which form a kind of Parum land admirably
adapted for the coco-nut palm. This division of the country is
wonderfully intersected by inlets from the sea, which often run for
great lengths parallel to the coast, receiving the various mountain
The Moplays of the place I found very intelligent and communi- CHAPTER
cative. They did not conceal their hatred to the Nairs ; and, how- ^^r^>
ever much these and the Namburis may be discontented, as I believe ™n',15'
they almost universally are, their only safety depends on the English
retaining the province. If left to their own strength, the Moplays
Avould very soon force them to retire into the woods and mountains,
to which they were confined when the English arrived.
Malabar province, which I am now about to quit, may be divided Gener.al ap-
. . . • t» c- i • • ^ n ptarance of
into two portions. Joy far the most extensive part consists of low Malabar.
hills, separated by narrow vallies; and from the Ghats this always
extends a considerable distance to the westward, and sometimes
even to the sea. These hills, when cleared, are called Parum, or
Parumba ; and when covered with trees, which are only cut down
once in ten or twelve years, they are called Ponna or Ponnum.
They are seldom of any considerable height, but in general have
steep sides and level summits. The sides possess the best soil; and
in Parum land, in order to prevent the soil from being washed away
by the rain, are formed into terraces. The summits in many places
are bare; and, especially towards the north, expose to the view
large surfaces of naked rock. The vallies, called Candum or Paddum
land, contain in general rivulets that convey away the superfluous
water: but in some places, the level is not sufficient; and in the
rainy season the grounds are much overflowed. The soil in these
vallies is extremely fertile.
The other portion of Malabar consists of a poor sandy soil, and
is confined to the plains on the sea coast, seldom above three miles
wide, and in general not so much. Near the low hills, these plains
are in general the most level, and best fitted for the cultivation of
rice. Nearer the sea, they are more unequal in their surface, and
rise into low downs, which form a kind of Parum land admirably
adapted for the coco-nut palm. This division of the country is
wonderfully intersected by inlets from the sea, which often run for
great lengths parallel to the coast, receiving the various mountain