302 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



[Oct. 



Section 11. Account of the tribe of Plapalli Brahmans at the Mantapa, 

 (alms-house) of Amhalapul. 



They are descendants of Brahmans, v;lio were fishermen ; who, in 

 consequence, were afterwards rejected by other Brahmans^ and received 

 the distinctive name of Plapalli ; the substance of a fish, being termed 

 Pla, and palli is a common tituhir name of an inferior class. They are 

 regarded as of a low order. 



Section 12. Account of the tribe of Farii/arjati, in the same neigh- 

 bourhood. 



The origin of the class is traced up to a time when a Tamhiran, or 

 ascetic, ordered some of his disciples to take up the bones of a dead 

 body, which had been burnt, and on their refusing to do it, on account of 

 caste, he directed a disciple for whom he had a special regard to do so. 

 This one obeyed ; and the name of Vari, was applied to him, as an epi- 

 thet of reproach. The assembled, and had him expelled from 

 his caste, for having touched the bones of a dead-body. The Tamhiran 

 in consequence took particular care of this disciple, by carefully training 

 him in learning. He became a schoolmaster ; and his descendants, the 

 V ariijar, follow the like occupation. 



Bection 13. Account of the lUalcar, or first tribe, among the Nayars. 



The mode of domestic life, and m.arriage ceremonies, preceded by as- 

 trological computations. The various parts of the ceremony minutely 

 described ; expenses, and presents. The tie is lax, and connected with 

 polygamy. The Namhuri Brahmans, and the Nayar husbands, are 

 much the same. The funeral ceremonies are described; together with 

 the fruits, and other matters, prepared on these occasions. 



Section 17. Account of grants and rules of the people in Malay alum. 



Under this section-heading in the Catalogue must, I imagine, be in- 

 tended a paper containing questions and replies, on statistical matters, 

 pertaining to Mirasi rights, or property in the soil ; modes of transfer ; 

 purchase ; and the like ; as connected with the possessing, mortgaging. 



