APJR1L — SEPT. 1859.] Copper Plates of Malabar. 



41 



unless they were Jewish and Christian principalities would never 

 have been appointed as they were by Document No. II. to be the 

 protectors or Trustees of the Tarisa Pully or Church erected by 

 Isodata Veeray. 



The city Manigramom above alluded to derived this name from 

 the wealth it then possessed and not as the Nazaraines think from 

 other reasons. Thus for example the Muckwas (or boatmen) in 

 their songs make mention of Nalla Maninagaram or " Great city 

 Mani of Maday in the Cavage Talook, whereas there never has 

 been, nor is, any city of that particular name at Maday. Again, 

 the best of any 10 things is called Mani (i. e. Principal or Chief) 

 and if the Manigramom of the documents in question had not had 

 that title given it merely on account of its then great wealth and 

 superiority, it would have existed still under the same name as is 

 the case with many other old cities. Further, there is no probabi- 

 lity attached to their assertion grounded on their own tradition 

 which alleges that the name of Manigramakar (inhabitants of 

 Manigramom) was derived from one Manica Vachaker (a Tamil 

 Poet) for if the name had its origin from any such person it would 

 have been Manica Vacchakennar and not Manigramakar. 



The tradition on this point is that many of the Nazaraines hav- 

 ing followed a certain heathen Conjuror named Manica Vachaker 

 and been thus drawn into error, they ever afterwards had the 

 name of Manigramakar, but that the rest who proved steadfast 

 to their faith received the name of Dhuariakel orDhairishalikel,that 

 is men of courage. From this tradition there may perhaps, if any 

 thing at all, be inferred that about the time when their city from 

 its wealth and importance had the title of Mani, many of the 

 Nazaraines thereof in some way or other became Schismatics, 

 while a few only adhered with courage (Dhairya) to their faith. 



The Document No. I. calls Iravi Corten a Chettian ; the weaver 

 as well as the oilmonger, is now as also formerly called Chettian ; 

 so that it is very probable that when Iravi Corten first came to 

 Kerala his trade was either in cloth or oil. 



It must not be inferred from the fact that the Kollatry or Chem- 

 kal Rajah is not named as a witness to the Documents No. I. or 

 No. III. along with other chieftains, that he was not then under the 

 Vol. xx. o. s. Vol. yx. n. s. 



