14 HISTORICAL REMARKS ON 



ff diftribution of time is made fo as to afford to each 

 " one night, in like manner as a fimilar diftribution 

 * c of time is made among the true believers of Malabar 

 " for cohabiting with their wives; and it but rarely 

 " happens that enmity and jealoufy break out among 

 <c them on this account. 



8th. " The lower cafts, fuch as carpenters, iron- 

 " fmiths, and others, have fallen into the imitation of 

 c< their fuperiors, the Nayrs> with this difference, 

 <c however, that the joint concern in a female is, 

 '• among thefe laft, limited to the brethren and male 

 xt relations by blood, * to the end that no alienation 

 ,f may take place in the courfe of the fucceflion and the 

 " right of inheritance. 



9th. " Among the Nayrs the whole body is kept 

 <€ uncovered, except a little about the middle. They 

 s * make no difference in male or female attire ; and 



" among 



from having more than one male connection at a time ; for failure 

 in which {he is liable to chaftifement ; without, however, incur- 

 ring lofs of caft, unlefs the paramour be of a lower tribe than her 

 own. 



* " Alone in lewdnefs, riotous and free, 



" No ipoufal rights withhold, and no degree ; 



" In unendear'd embraces free they blend, 



" Yet but the hu (band's kindred may afcend 



'• The nuptial couch. Alas! too bleft, they know 



" Nor jealoufy's lufpenfe, nor burning woe ; 



t; The bitter drops which oft from dear affe&ion flow." 



Mickle's Camoens, Book vii, 



This cuflom prevails among the five low cafts of Teer ; of Agaree t 

 or carpenters: Muzalie, or brafs- founders ; T attain, or gold- 

 fmiths ; and Kullcn PerimcolUn, or blackfmiths ; who live promif- 

 cuoufly with one or more women: and fometimes two, three, 

 four, or more brothers cohabit with one woman. The child, or 

 children, who are the offspring of this connection, inherit the 

 property of the whole fraternity; and whenever the female of 

 the houfe is engaged with either of the brethren, his knife is faid 

 to be hung up at the door of the apartment as a fignal of its being 

 occupied. It is, however, but juftice to add, that thiscuftom is 

 laid to be local, and praftifed only in a few of the fouthem 

 di(rrict.s ; and even among thefe five cafts there is no prohibition 

 againfl any man's keeping for himfelf, either one or as many 

 women as he can maintain. 



