atril — SErx. 1859.] Copper Plates of Malabar. 



37 



" nom,P and Tanichett// over the four Cheries/ in the city of 

 " Manigramom — moreover we have given him as slaves the oil 

 4 * manufacturers and the Ainkoody Cummalers.* We have given 

 " to the Lord of the Town, Iravi Corten, the Taragoo' and Choom- 

 " kom M of all that may be meted by the Para, u weighed by the 

 " balance, or measured by the string, of all that may be counted 

 " or carried, in a word, of all from salt to sugar, and from musk 

 " to lamp oil, w within the Codungalore harbour and the town 

 " between the four Talis and the gramoms (villages) adjoining 

 thereto. 



" We have written and given this Copper Plate with water, x 

 " kc. to Irawi Corten the Cheraman lokaperroom Chettian,^ and 

 " to his sons and son's sons, in regular succession. 



" With the knowledge of the Panniyoor Gramom and Chovoor 

 " Gramom 3 we have given it ; with the knowledge of Venadoo 



p. Furniture and decorations in the temporary erections on the occ a- 

 sion of a marriage, &c, permitted only to the higher castes. 



q. Sovereignty or executive jurisdiction. 



r. The four suburbs, streets or bazars assigned as usual to different 

 castes or occupations. 



s. The five sects or castes of Artificers, viz., the Ashari, Mooshari, 

 Tattan, Perning Collen, and Tol-Collen ; or Carpenter, Brazier, Gold- 

 smith, Blacksmith, and Tanner. The term Cummalar signifies, mean 

 or low, but the term is not applied to them from contempt of their pro- 

 fession, but because of the order assigned to them in the grand division 

 of castes, in which they are ranked as Artificers. It may perhaps be 

 surmised that the sense of contempt which this term now implies as 

 ' c low" and " mean" was adopted by the people of Malabar in conse- 

 quence of the five sects comprised under this designation being given 

 to the degrading and shameful custom of marrying one girl among 

 three or four brothers. 



t. Brokerage. 



u. Dues or customs. 



v. A measure containing 10 dungalies, but really varying in different 

 parts of Malabar, sometimes as for salt equivalent to the Indian maund. 



tv. These are familiar phrases and signify all and everything. 



x. That is with water and flowers, for every fee simple or Janum 

 is transferred with the ceremony of pouring water with some flowers 

 strewed upon it into the hands of him who receives it. 



y. Grand or chief merchant of the Cheraman country. 



z. The two grand divisions of the Brahmins of Malabar before men • 

 tioned, 



