7 



nor shall we regret the credulity, that puts at least one check on 

 the caprice of their owners. 



Vaiduns and Oola7idurs — The Vaiduns Oolandurs are the least 

 domesticated of the Proedial slaves, they are employed in cutting 

 Timber, making Fences, guarding Crops, declining or being pro- 

 hibited from giving any aid in the other rural labours. The former 

 claims a superiority but the existence and subsistence of both is 

 indescribably miserable. They are not insensible to the vanity of 

 ornaments, the neck being hung round with shells, but they use 

 no Cloth, a verdant fringe of leaves strung round the loins being 

 their only covering. A dark confplexion, restless glance, and 

 exuberance of hair, gives them a wild appearance ; but they are 

 extremely gentle, and so timid, that on the lowest sound of approach > 

 the shock headed savage flies into the' woods. Though reduced 

 to a low state of debasement, they are yet superior to the 



Naiadees — Naiadees who in the opinion of ail are at the very 

 last step of vileness. This wretched race is only found in the 

 Northern parts of Cochin, they are banished the Villages, and live 

 on the low hills near the cultivated lands — a bush or rock being 

 their only shelter. The Naiadees present a state of society not 

 seen in any other part of India; wild amidst civilized inhabitants, 

 starving amongst cultivation, nearly naked; they wander about 

 in search of a few roots, but depend more on charity, which the 

 traveller is surprised at their clamorous impetuosity in soliciting, 

 ascending the little slopes that overlook the Village or road. 

 Whatever charity they receive is placed on the ground near where 

 they stand, but on observing their Petitions are heard they retire 

 from the spot, that they may not defile by their presence those 

 coming to their relief. 



{To he continued.) 



An Historical account of the Christians on the Malabar coast^ hy 

 the Venerable Archdeacon T.Robinson A. M, (in three parts.) 



Part 1st. 



their early history. 



(Read at a Meeting of the M. L. S. & A. R. A. S. held on the 8th August, 



1833.) 



The Churches of the Christians of St. Thomas in the countries of 

 Travancore and Cochin, have always formed one of the most inter-- 

 csting objects of enquiry to the general scholar as well as to the 



