1839.] 



Report on the MacJ^enzie Manuscripts. 



357 



Section 5. Copy of a record concerning Calicut, preserved in the 

 hand-writing of a Senatipati, written before the times of disturbance. — 

 (This section is in the Tamil character, and in the midst of Tamil 

 docaments; but, on examination, the language was found to be Malay- 

 alam). 



The above mentioned Senapaii, or commander of troops, was in the 

 service of the Calicut-raja. He w^as of the Taracal-vamsa ; a family 

 which possessed peculiar privileges, as military chiefs, in connexion with 

 the raja. Mention is made of one such chief, and of the subsequent want 

 of posterity, supplied by adoption. Various kinds of deeds, grants, or- 

 ders, and the like, were not valid, merely on the signature of the raja] 

 requiring also that of the chief of this family, and the signature of ano- 

 ther minister of the Mang7iatacha family. These things bear on the local 

 customs, and gnvernraent, of that part of the Malayalam country; but 

 there does nut appear to be any thing of historical interest of a general 

 kind. 



Section 6. Geographical account, written in the Malayalam language. 

 — In this paper also the characters are Tamil, the language is Malayalam. 

 The document is an itinerary, or travelling journal, of one named Ca- 

 nvwrw-A'awiAwr^, during a period of 11 or 12 years, between Collam era 

 863 and 874, respecting his journey from the Malayalam country to Casi 

 or Benares ; stating the names of places of repute, as shrines, or bathing 

 pools, visited by him ; and lying intermediate between Benares, and Ra- 

 maseram. He further adverts to Himalaya, on the north, and to Irza 

 or Singhdla, on the south ; the latter of which he terms Lanca. 



Section 7. Copy of a palm-leaf record of the Cxilheri-valta-narjar of 

 Naduvaitom in the Palcad district. — This section is also Malayalam, 

 in the Tamil character. It relates to the local rules, or customs on 

 which the fief or barony, of the said Nayar is held from the Sa^ 

 motiri-rnja, or Calicut ruler. On the installation of a new Nayar, 

 a certain sum is paid to the minister of the Calicut ruler. On the 

 death of a iV^ayar information must be sent to Calicut, with the 

 mention of the legal apparent successor whose nomination needs con- 

 firmation from Calicut. The expences incurred on occasions of the in- 

 stallation, marriage, or funeral, of a Nayar, are stated. The form 

 of writing to the Calicut chief, announcing the death of a Nayar, with 

 the legal successor, and the form of the Calicut ruler's official reply, when 

 atSimative, as to a successor, are given. 



