CEREMONIES - 



OBSERVED AT THE CORONATION OF A HINDU RAJA, 



Br Mr.. BROWK..- 



S the obfervancs of any public ceremonies araongfl' the Hmdu^ 

 population of /«iz(^ is daily falling into difufe, and as they will con«- 

 fequently be known at nodiftant period from tradition alone, it may 

 perhaps form part of theobjed:s of the Afiatic Society, to procure fueh 

 defcriptions of them as eye-witncffes of their performances are qualifi- 

 ed to contribute, and to preferve in the tranfadions of the fociety, fuch 

 memorials of their pad exiftence — with this view I beg leave to offer' 

 to the acceptance of the fociety the following account of the corona-* 

 tion of the Raja. of Colaftri^ at which I happened to be prefent. 



In order fully to comprehend the caufes that then led to that cere- 

 mony, it is neceifary for me to ft ate the political fituation of the Raj 

 of Ca/fjy?r/ at that period. 



The arms of the T<^rf^r conquerors o^- India ntwtr penetrated into 

 Malabar^ the inhabitants of which preferved their ancient government,. 

 reU2,ion, and cuftoms, until the invafion of Hyder Ally from the neigh- 

 bouring provirxe of Canara about the year ij66, with a numerous 

 tarmy, put an end to the Hindu government, by the expulfion of the 

 Majas and chief men, mofl of whom fled to Travancar^. As the Mapilla. 

 chitk^\n.oi Cananore, Ali Raja, had urged Hyder to, and alTi lied him in 

 \his conqueltj.he, as a. reward put hmi in. poilcfTion. of the Ruj of 



