34^ Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. [April 



require to be specified somewhat more fully : the doing of which would 

 entrench too much on other matter, which I am anxious to pass out of 

 hand. An appropriate place for the remainder of the foregoing local 

 puranam, may perhaps be found in a following report. 



Manuscript book, No. 1 7 — Countermark 910. 



This document is entirely occupied with an ,'iccountof different tribes, 

 and orders of men in the A/«/a//a/am countr)'. Fifteen kinds of Brahmans 

 are specified ; the xV"am6?irz class being at the head. Sixteen subordi- 

 nate orders, or tribes, are detailed ; one of them being the Cshefriya, or 

 kingly caste, and another the Samanda rajas, or chiefs, at Calicut. Of 

 several of the different classes, notices have appeared in the shape of 

 abstracts from papers in the Malaijalam languages; yet not to such an 

 extent as to supersede the fuller details contained in this volume. They 

 are many of them very minute, extending to a specification of distinctive 

 modes of dress, and like details. The distance to be observed by each 

 tribe in approaching another, is stated. An abstract of such matters 

 would be in a manner impossible. A translation might be curious ; 

 and to some degree interesting ; but it might be deferred until other 

 documents had been previously disposed of. This book is of small size, 

 and wholly written on stout China paper ; the ink being very legible. 

 The hand-writing is peculiar ; being the Tamil writing of a native of 

 Malayalam. The book has escaped injury remarkably well : the paste 

 of the covers has attracted insects, but their work of destruction seems 

 to have been interrupted ; and, with common care, the book will last, 

 as it is, for some time to come. 



Manuscript book. No. 52— Countermark 102L 



According to the English label this book originally contained copies 

 of inscriptions from the south of India. The number assists in referring 

 to the Des. Calal. vol. 2, p, cxxvi : from which it appears to have con- 

 sisted of 126 copies of inscriptions on stone and copper from Coimba- 

 tore, Caroor, and Bhurapuram. The book, as received by me, has only 

 the covers; all the inside being wanting. How this loss occurred 1 

 cannot say, but I return the envelope bim^jly as received. 



