1838.] The Malay atom country. 183 



Invocation. The incarnation of Parasu-rama and his destruction of 

 the cshetriyas. He formed the Kerala desam, which being infested 

 with serpents, he introduced the Arya brahmans, and located them in 

 sixty-four villages. Minor details of internal arrangements. Parasu- 

 rama procured from Indra the grant statedly of six months' rain in the 

 year. Other details concerning the classes of brahmans, and their 

 offices. The brahmans at first conducted the government on the prin- 

 ciples of a republic ; but not agreeing among themselves, and disputes 

 about property arising, Parasu-rama determined that it would be better 

 for the country to be governed by a king, and one was selected born by 

 a brahman father, by a cshetriya mother, thus combining brahmanical 

 and kingly descent. He was first settled in the Kerala division, whence 

 arose the name of Kerala desam, but the entire Malay alam country was 

 originally divided into four districts. Tuluva, Mushica, Keralam, Cuva-, 

 the latter on the extreme south : details of the villages. At a late period 

 in the Cali-yuga the bauddhas came to Keralu-desa; and the king Cheru- 

 man Perumal learnt from them their mode of religious credence. Being 

 favorably inclined to them, and having adopted their system, he intimat- 

 ed to the brahmans that they must unite with the bauddhas, and follow 

 their system. The brahmans were greatly alarmed and incensed, and 

 consulting with a leading individual among them at Tri-Cdrur, he pro- 

 mised to remove their difficulties. Following his advice the brahmans 

 went to the king and remonstrated with him, calling for a public dispu- 

 tation, when if they, the brahmans were vanquished, their tongues 

 should be cut out, and the like done to the bauddhas if these should be 

 overcome. The dispute was held, terminating favorably to the brahmans 

 in consequence of a magical influence emanating from the head brah- 

 man at Tri-Cdrdr: the tongues of the bauddhas* were cut out and 

 they were banished the country. The king who had adopted their sys- 

 tem was dethroned, and some lands were set apart for his support. He is 

 not the Cheruman Perumal who went to Mecca. His son was crowned 

 and an oath was taken from him, never to permit the bauddhas, or peo- 

 ple of any other religion to obtain public sanction. Other details of 

 some subsequent matters are given. At later periods, when the above 

 oath had fallen into desuetude, the bauddhas (Muhammadans) obtained 

 some footing in different places. The system of Bliattdchdrya obtained 

 in the Malay ala country, and the vedantists, of that class, received some 



* In Malayalam it seems that the Muhammadans are termed Bauddhas. The 

 Syrian Christians are called Marya-carer "people of a way;" but are never 

 designated Bauddhas. Such a use of the last term as applied to Muhammadans is, 

 I believe, peculiar to the Malayala country. 

 2 B 2 



