THE COAST OF MALABAR. II 



of thefe countries there were at the fame time two 

 Hakims > or rulers; in others three, and in fome even 

 more; having diftinct bodies of men attached to them 

 reflectively; whence hatred and warfare were, he ob- 

 ferves, fometimes generated between them, which 

 never, however, terminated in any entire feparation 

 between the parties; and adding, that at that time the 

 three greateit powers were the Calaflrian Rajah to the 

 north, the Samoory or Zamorin in the centre; and far- 

 ther fouth a Prince who ruled from the town of Kolum, 

 or Coulim, to Cape Comorin, comprehending the 

 ffates now held by the Rajah of Travancore. 



XIV. The author next proceeds to an enumeration 

 of what he confidered as the chief peculiarities in the 

 manners of the Malabarians, from which I (hall literally 

 tranfcribe, into the body of this narrative, the follow- 

 ing particulars from the tranflation of Zeirreddien's 

 original work; fubjoining in notes fuch particulars as 

 my own enquiries, or other information, may tend to 

 corroborate, define, or illuftrate, in refpect to fome of 

 the circumftances he has related. 



lit. <% If their ruler be flain in war, his army bc- 

 " come quite defperate, and will fo violently attack 

 <c and prefs upon their faid deceafed ruler's enemy, and 

 cc upon the troops of the latter, and fo obftinately 

 " perievere in forcing their way into his country, and 

 " to ruin it, that either they will completely in this 

 " way affect their revenge, or continue their efforts till 

 " none of them furvive; and therefore the killing of a 

 " ruler is greatly dreaded, and never commanded; and 

 " this is a very ancient cuMom of theirs, which in mo- 

 " dern times has, however, fallen with the majority 

 " into difuetude. 



2d. " The rulers of Malabar are of two claffes or 

 " parties, one of which acts in fupport of the Samoory 



Rajah, 



