1838.] 



Report on the Mackenzie Mmiuscripi's. 



265 



the Nayars are stated. Their marriage, and domestic, customs are de- 

 tailed. The military office of the Nayars. Funeral customs. 



Remark.-— From this paper it appears to me evident, that the Nayars 

 are the descendants of the aboriguial inhabitants of Kerala, who pro- 

 bably were brought ihtd some measure of civilization by the colonist 

 Brahmans ; yet retaining so much of their own manners as to be a peo- 

 ple, inclusive of the mixed tribes, teiy different from gtimm^ HindMS. 

 There are traces of resemblance between their customs and those of the 

 Maravas ; and I have little doubt that they " were aboriginally por- 

 tions of one homogeneous, but excessively barbarous, people. At pre- 

 sent the Maravas seem to have the advantage, such as it is, in point oF 

 tQoral relations, and domestic order. 



Note. — This paper was much damaged : it has been restored. 



Section 2. Is in the Telugu language. 



Section 3. Account of the Nanji'-curavar who ruled, in foriiiet timeSj 

 in the Nanji-nad, 



The commencement is merely legendary, or traditional. The origin 

 of the Cwmyttr is dated in the time of the Pandiya kings. The obtain- 

 ing of power is ascribed to the discovery of an oil-well, which had the 

 property of taming iron into gold ; first seen in the instance of a sickle 

 accidentally dropped therein. Afterwards all iron-uten-iils were so al- 

 chymized ; the secret being carefully kept in the family. By means 

 of the great wealth, so acquired, they engaged troops, and spread their 

 power. At length the king of this Curava tribe, desired a daughter of 

 one of the neighbouring Vellazha Muthaliars for his wife ; and, after 

 some consultation with his caste, the Muthaliar consented, prescribing 

 (is a condition, that the ceremony should not be conducted in a com- 

 mon booth of palm-branches, but in a stone-building specially erected 

 for the purpose. The building was formed b}'- workmen under the in- 

 fliience of the Muthaliars ; and was so contrived as to appear strong, 

 yet to be capable of being thrown down iti an instant. The ceremony 

 was also so managed as to leave, at a particular tinie, only the Curava 

 king, and his people, withinside ; on whom the building was caused to 

 fkll. Some of his posterity ruled. Names and periods are specified ; 

 and they would appear to have been superseded by the Fellazhar, and 

 these by the English authorities. 



