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.CORONATION OF A HINDU RAJA. :3 



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• the adoption of this mode of delegated government neGelTary is, that a§ 

 the number of princes, in the family is generally confiderabie, (the 

 ' fons of all the daughters iucceedirig each other according to priority of 

 birth) the fenior is always far advanced in years and pa a the term of 

 a6ive hfe, before he comes to that dignity. The fenior raja, in the 

 prefent indance was a very aged man, riot lefs, I judged, than 70 years 

 of age. He had hitherto remained in Travancore, probably to avoid the 

 expence necefTary for bis eilabliOiment, but was now brought from 

 thefe, that the finances of the Rdj might be recruited with the contri- 

 butions due, by cuftom, not only from its own fubjeds but from the 

 other rajas and chiefrains conneded with it, on the performance 

 of this ceremony; at which alfo attended deputies from the fet- 

 tlement of TllaAfc and TelUcherry, each prefenting a box containing a 

 certain fum in gold, in conformity to ancient cuftom. The bramins 

 having fixed on an aufpidous day in the month of December 177S-9 

 notice of It, and invitations, were fenl far and near, and great prepara- 

 tions Were made by the ailing r??ja for the aciommodation, and enter- 

 tainment, of the multitude that were expeded to alTemble from all 

 parts of Malabar and the countries of Cochiriy Travancore and PdlghaL 



The place which immemorial cuO:om had prefcribed for the perfor- 

 mctnce of this ceremony was a fort, name^ Maday^ fituated between the 

 rivers o{ Balliapatam z.udCavay,m din. open fpot, and more fpacious than 

 Malabar toxts generally are. Here on nn elevated fpot under a canopy, a 

 kind of throne, but not higher than a common chair, was placed. 

 About one o'clock p. m. the raja was brought in a covered palankeen, 

 attended by many hramins, to this chair, and feated in ir, but concealed 

 from the fpeftators by /'^r^^/j held up before him, whiHl the people 

 were made to fall back to a diftance of 20 to 30 yards in front, and 

 hiamim were there Ilationed to prevent any perfbn going beyond thofe 



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