^Gtf Beport 071 the Maclte7izie Manuscripts. [April 



2, or sacred ashes. He drew away several families. The head of the 

 Christians received various privileLres and imniunities from Cheruman 

 Perumal, who always directed the election of the Metran. A council, or 

 synod, was formed for the settling of disputes. Other details are given ; 

 with mention of the first arrival of the Portuguese, teraiecl the Cochin- 

 Feringhis. An interference of a Roman Catholic, claiming authority 

 over the Christians, is mf'ntioned ; whom the Cochin roja put in fetters, 

 'A reference was made to Rome on the subject. Subsequent matters are 

 stated; chiefly relating to discussions between the Syrian, and Roman 

 Catholic Christians. A Roman Catholic bishop arrived ; whom the 

 Syrians refused to recognise. The affairs of the Syrian church in Tra- 

 vancore are narrated, down to a recent period. 



■ Remark. — The preceding abstract is much too brief; and very imper- 

 fect. But I have allowed it to be so, partlj'- because it is probable that 

 I may take an early opportunity to translate the document, which is of 

 some length; and, as it seems to me, of soma value as an authority. 



Section 3. Account of the fane of Callara-cota in Malayalam.-^ 

 Legendary reference to birds killed with an arrow by Arjuna. A fane 

 was built; but there is no SVhaia-'puranam relative thereto. 



A sort of itinerary follows, written by Niiala Narayan ; briefly men= 

 Honing heathen edifices visited by the way. Four of these have only a 

 few lines appropriated to each ; with trifling details of no value. In the 

 table of contents, each of these short paragraphs is entered as a section. 

 Section 8, relates to Vallabha C^helram, concerning which a long legen- 

 dary account is given, but as puerile as can well be possible. A fev^ 

 dates of the early part of the Collam era. are stated, with mention of some 

 rulers, which may be of use. The place seems to have risen to celebrity, 

 and to be one of much resort at its festivals. Sections 9, ]0, 11, 12, are 

 merely brief paragraphs of an itinerary : the subjects relating to ])luces 

 of inferior note,- 



Section 13. Aeaounl of the fa.ne Pa?mii/anna-naru-cdvu Bhugavixti 

 near to Manar, in the district of Tiruvatla. — With this section a 

 third division of the manuscript book begins. Some legendary mat- 

 ter, of no consec^uence, is stated. It then appears in the state- 

 mentj that an annual human sacrifice of peculiar atrocity, was 

 accustomed to be offered, 'i'he person proper to be so sacrificed was a 

 woman, pregnant with her first child. Such a woman, being selected 

 was brought to the shrine; and there killed by being beheaded 

 %ith a sword; so thut the head rolled up to the image, and the 



