lyS WESTERN HINDOOSTAN. 



men, who, flimulated by the caufe of their country and of their 

 religion, were crowned with vidory *. The Nayrs are the 

 nobility of Malabar, the antient dominions of the Zamorins, 

 and in times of their profperity formed the body guards. On 

 the firll: appearance of Cabral at Calicut^ the Zamorin fent two 

 of his Nayrs to compliment him on his arrival. They have at 

 all times been famed for their valour and love of war. They 

 are of the great military cafls the Kbatre t, and fupport to this 

 day the fpirit of their anceftors. They are exceffively proud, 

 and are never known to laugh. They are hefides fo very in- 

 folent to their inferiors, that it is faid, if a perfon of the lower 

 order dare to look at a Nayr, he may be put to death on the fpot 

 with impunity. Among the good qualities of the Nayrs, may be 

 reckoned their great fidelity. It is cuftomary for them to un- 

 dertake the condudl of Cbrljlian or Mahometan travellers, or 

 ilrangers, through their country. The latter never venture 

 without taking a lingle Nayr with them, who makes himfelf 

 refponfible for their fafety ; even an old decrepit man, or a 

 boy is fufficient for the purpofe %. Should any misfortune be- 

 fall the charge, it is related, that the Nayrs, imable to bear the 

 difgrace, have frequently been known to put themfelves to 

 death §. Notwithflanding this, at other times they are notorious 



* Britifli India, by the Hon, Charles Greville, Iii. 766 :— Alfo Mackenfie's Sketch of 

 the War with Tippoo Sultan, i. p. 17. 



•}■ Sir Thomas Herbert's Travels, 2d edit, p. 337 : He calls them Cuttcriss, meaning Khatres. 



% NieuhofF, in Churchill, 272, 273. 



^ Dellon's Voyage, 94, 95. 



robberss 



