DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2375#0075
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66
CIIAPTt
XV.
Feb. 1.
Strata of
Tulava.
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
R their mothers, and the remainder are given in marriage to the
Slanikas.
The Brahmany women who do not choose to live in the temple,
and the women of the three lower casts, cohabit with any man of
pure descent that they please; but they must pay annually to the
temple from one sixteenth to half a Pagoda. Their children also
are called Moylar; those descended from Brahmany women can
marry the daughters of the Moylar who live in the temples; but
neither of them ever intermarry with persons descended from a
woman of inferior cast. It is remarkable in this cast, where, from
the corrupt example of their mothers, the chastity of the women
might be considered as doubtful, that a man's children are his heirs;
while in most other casts the custom of Tulava requires a man's
sister's children, by way of securing the succession in the family.
The Moylar differ much in their customs, each endeavouring to
follow those of the cast from which his mother derived her origin.
Thus the descendants of a Brahmany prostitute wear the thread,
eat no animal food, drink no spirituous liquors, and make marks on
their faces and bodies similar to those which are used by the sacred
cast. They are not, however, permitted to read the Vedas, nor the
eighteen Purdnas. Indeed but very of them learn to keep accompts,
or to read songs written in the vulgar language. Contrary to the
custom of the Brdhmans, a widow is permitted to marry. They burn
the dead, and believe in the transmigration of souls, but seem to
have very crude notions on this subject. They are, indeed, very
ignorant of the doctrine of the Brdhmans, who utterly despise them,
and will not act as their Gurus to give them Upadesa. They will
attend, however, at the ceremonies of the Moylar, and read the
services proper on the occasion, and will accept from them both
Dhana and Dharma.
The strata of Tulava, near the sea-coast, resemble entirely those
of Malayala, and consist of Laterite or brickstone, with a very few
rocks of granite interspersed. This granite is covered with a dark
66
CIIAPTt
XV.
Feb. 1.
Strata of
Tulava.
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
R their mothers, and the remainder are given in marriage to the
Slanikas.
The Brahmany women who do not choose to live in the temple,
and the women of the three lower casts, cohabit with any man of
pure descent that they please; but they must pay annually to the
temple from one sixteenth to half a Pagoda. Their children also
are called Moylar; those descended from Brahmany women can
marry the daughters of the Moylar who live in the temples; but
neither of them ever intermarry with persons descended from a
woman of inferior cast. It is remarkable in this cast, where, from
the corrupt example of their mothers, the chastity of the women
might be considered as doubtful, that a man's children are his heirs;
while in most other casts the custom of Tulava requires a man's
sister's children, by way of securing the succession in the family.
The Moylar differ much in their customs, each endeavouring to
follow those of the cast from which his mother derived her origin.
Thus the descendants of a Brahmany prostitute wear the thread,
eat no animal food, drink no spirituous liquors, and make marks on
their faces and bodies similar to those which are used by the sacred
cast. They are not, however, permitted to read the Vedas, nor the
eighteen Purdnas. Indeed but very of them learn to keep accompts,
or to read songs written in the vulgar language. Contrary to the
custom of the Brdhmans, a widow is permitted to marry. They burn
the dead, and believe in the transmigration of souls, but seem to
have very crude notions on this subject. They are, indeed, very
ignorant of the doctrine of the Brdhmans, who utterly despise them,
and will not act as their Gurus to give them Upadesa. They will
attend, however, at the ceremonies of the Moylar, and read the
services proper on the occasion, and will accept from them both
Dhana and Dharma.
The strata of Tulava, near the sea-coast, resemble entirely those
of Malayala, and consist of Laterite or brickstone, with a very few
rocks of granite interspersed. This granite is covered with a dark