242 



JOURNAL, E.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. X. 



by the Tamils, Chonahar, on which term I shall comment 

 hereafter. 1 



In order to appreciate the relations (social, lingual, and 

 physical) which the " Coast Moors " bear to the " Ceylon 

 Moors," and which both bear to the rest of the Muhammadans 

 in India, we have to remember a few facts brought to light by 

 the Census of 1881. Of the fifty millions of Muhammadans 

 on that peninsula, Bengal claims 21,800,000 (or 31 per cent, 

 of the Hindus); Punjab 11,700,000 (or 51 per cent.); the 

 North- Western Provinces and Oude 6,300,000 (or 14 per 

 cent.); the Bombay Presidency 3,700,000 (or 18 per cent.); 

 the Madras Presidency 1,900,000 (or 6 per cent.); Assam 

 1,300,000 (or 27 per cent.); the State of Haiderabad 930,000 

 (or 9 per cent.); Rajaputana 860,000 (or 9 per cent.); and 

 Central India 510,000 (or 6 per cent.). It will thus be seen 

 that Islam is as strong in North India, where Hindustani is 

 the ruling language, as it is weak in the Madras Presidency, 

 where Tamil is the ruling language. It is also certain that 

 more than 50 per cent, of the Muhammadans of this Presidency 

 are found in the districts of the extreme south, namely, 

 Tinnevelli, Madura, Malabar, and Tan j ore, 2 and that while 



as meaning " intelligent, prudent " (literally, " having a heart," luV), and 

 lubbaika as meaning " here I am, I am your servant," &c. He further 

 says that in the Hamasa, p. 789, lubbay is used as a noun, whether sul> 

 stantive or proper he does not mention. Perhaps lubbay, when affixed to 

 a name, means " a pandit, a learned man." 



The " Moors " say it means " priest," but the religion of Muhammad does 

 not admit of priests, as we understand it. It recognises imam, the leader 

 at prayers ; and a hhatib, the preacher, A maulavi is a teacher, and muazzin 

 is a crier who summons the congregation to prayers. 



1 See p. 257. 



2 The Muhammadans in the Madras Presidency are distributed as 

 follows in its twenty districts : — 



Malabar 



652,000 



North Arcot 



82,000 



Madura 



141,000 



Karnual 



82,000 



Tan j ore 



112,000 



Bellary 



70,000 



Cuddappah 



98,000 



Nellur 



61,500 



Tinnevelli 



90,000 



Salem 



51,000 



Kistna 



87,000 



South Arcot 



49,000 



South Kanara ... 



83,000 



Godaveri 



39,000 



