356 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



[April 



Remark. — This book having been found to be in a wretched plight as 

 to paper, ink and general preservation, vv'as given to a copyist to do 

 what he could with it; and the results are stated in what goes before, af- 

 ter hearing the whole read over. They are of so little value, that the 

 book might have been allowed to perish ; though it is my wish not to 

 permit any part of the collection to do so if it can be preserved ; that is 

 if recoverable. 



Manuscript book. No. 7 — Countermark 900. 



Section i. Details concerning the Brahmanical, and other tribes, in 

 Malayalam.— Some details concerning Brahmans, and divisions of tribe, 

 originated by Parasu Mama. Afterwards the Musu-jati, a tribe of 

 temple servants are described, and the Faitii/ar, or medical class. The 

 uril-parichi deduce their origin from the circumstances of a war entered 

 into by Kulase&hara Perumal. The Cshetriya-jati, or military class, 

 ia subdivided into three tribes. Amhala-vdsi or dwellers in a fane, are 

 of mixed origin. The Pushpacanmar have no restriction, as to not 

 marrying a second time ; they gather flowers for the use of the idol. 

 The Pshdrodi, derived their origin from a Brahman who forfeited the 

 privileges of his tribe. The Variyar derive from the marriage of a 

 Brahman with a Sudra woman ; and perform various offices, as servile 

 assistants to Brahmans. The Marayan-jaii beat drums, &c. in fanes at 

 the time of offerings. The Curupu play a kind of lute. Chdkiydr-nam- 

 biydr are minstrels, who sing the praises of Brahmans, and kings. Atizal 

 were Brahmans, who from becoming worshippers of the Sacti, or nega- 

 tive power in nature, became degraded. A list of subdivisions of the 

 Sudra tribe follows. 



Sectioti 2. Account of the fane at Tirukan-kodu from the writing of 

 a Brahman. — In the year of the Collam era 982, two brothers gave some 

 land to this place. There is nothing else in this very brief section. 



Section 3. Account of proceeds of different kinds of lands in the 

 Cavalapar-nad. — This short paper relates to revenue proceeds, of no 

 permanent consequence. 



Section 4. The genealogy of the zemindar of the said district, is in 

 the Telugu language. (See that part of this report). 



