1834,] Memoir of the Survey of Travancore. 74 



many conjectures already offered regarding them, that little of 

 novelty can be added ; however curious a very minute investigation 

 would necessarily be difficult, as the people know but little of their 

 own history, and possess fesv documents that could illustrate it. 

 Agreeably to the loose tradition, that still holds amongst the Naza- 

 rines, Christianity owes its introduction into this part of the Penin- 

 sula to the Apostle Saint Thomas, who entered Malliallum in 52 A. 

 D. He estabhshed seven churches, ordained two persons of con- 

 sideration from Nomboorie families, and took other measures to 

 promote the practice of the divine doctrines he preached ; returning 

 towards the eastern coast, from this successful mission, he under- 

 went the last honors of Christianity. The martyrdom of the Apos- 

 tU first relaxed, and then almost extinguished, the zeal of his con- 

 verts, who rapidly sunk into their old superstitions, their numbers 

 and hopes were after a lapse of nearly two centuries reduced to 

 eight families. At this eventful period A. D, 345 the Patriarchs 

 of Antioch, who exercised a nominal sway over this distant con- 

 gregation, despatched under the guidance of Kennai Thomay, 

 a wealthy merchant, a bishop, some clergymen ; and four 

 hundred and seventy two christian families to its relief ; they were 

 viewed with kindness by the reigning prince Sharum Permaul, who 

 established them at Kodungaloor, readily protected their belief, and 

 conferred on them some valuable immunities, and honorary privileg- 

 es. So seasonable a succour raised the drooping spirits of the rem- 

 nants of the faithful, thus patronized they rapidly increased in pow- 

 er and number. Antioch supplied an uninterrupted succession of 

 bishops, who governed in spiritual concerns, till the arrival of the 

 Portuguese in 1498. This people, who without the excuse, emulated 

 the fanaticism of the early Mahomedans, tried every means of inti- 

 midation and persuasion to restore those heretics to the true faith, 

 when their eloquence failed, force carried the necessary conviction, 

 and the synod of Uddiumpayroor, under the guidance of A. Lexis 

 de Menzes, Archbishop of Goa, dictated the faith of the Syrians. 

 The union of the churches continued from 1598 to 1653 when it 

 was dissolved : an event partly hastened by the violence of the Por- 

 tuguese to their unwilling converts, who no longer able to endure 

 such a domination, vindicr-.ted the ancient creed, assembled a coun- 

 cil at Aullungaad, and elevated an archdeacon (a descendant of 

 one of the earliest ones consecrated by Saint Thomas) to the digni- 

 ty of bishop. We shall not be surprised at the Syrians revolting from 

 a faith that had been imposed by violence, but it is curious that 

 amidst the persecutions to which they were subject, we never find 



