1834.] Memoir of the Survey of Travancore. 72 



nor should we be too readily disposed severely to arraign their 

 immoralities, at least our reprobation will be mitigated by knowing 

 that they are rather ascribable to the institutions, than any parti- 

 cular vice of the people. The Nair women cannot be said ta be 

 prolific, although it has been seen that the chance is not confined 

 to one. On the birth of a child, if a boy, the same musical cele- 

 bration that has been noticed is repeated, the enumeration of the 

 various subsequent ceremonies, and those observed on particular 

 occasions during its early years may be postponed. The uncle 

 charges himself with their performance, he alone is regarded as 

 protector of his sister's progeny. The father rarely contributes to 

 their support, shares but little of their regard, and if known is soon 

 forgftten, the mother however enjoys a more than ordinary share 

 of veneration and influence. The Nair should burn their dead» 

 but when poor they are necessitated to bury them, the corpse or 

 ashes are always entombed within the garden, south of, but con- 

 tiguous to the house ; they do not exhibit that scenick sorrow dis- 

 played by their eastern neighbours, but if their grief is less unruly, 

 its sobriety must not be ascribed to any coldness of domestic affec- 

 tion; it were tedious as unnecessary further to pursue the detail of 

 their other customs and ceremonies, which only differ in some 

 minute particulars from those common to the other portions of the 

 population. 



Various Classes of Shooders of the race common to the other 

 Coast — It will be seen that the Paundee Shooders, (for such is their 

 general designation) constitute a large portion of the population, 

 indeed they may be considered as forming an original portion of 

 the permanent inhabitants of Shenkotta, and the more southern 

 districts, but those found in the more southern parts of the coun- 

 try, contribute greatly to swell their amount, m the latter instance 

 they are chiefly emigrants, (or their descendants) from the easterr^ 

 coast, — Numbers possess lands and permanently remain, as in- 

 deed do all that can obtain a livelihood, a large portion are seen as 

 traders, artificers, peons, or servants &c. &c. The character of 

 this class is too familiarly known to require here any illustration. 

 Those composing it retain here all their ancient habits, and con- 

 tinue to form a distinct body. 



Mussulmen — As do the few Pautan Mussulmen found in the 

 country; they chiefly reside in the southern districts, and are for 

 the most part the descendants of a body of Pautan sepoys, that swelled 

 the military rabble retained by the latter princes of Travancore; 



