52 On the Syrian and Jewish [No. 9, new series. 



mal was Stanoo Ravigoopten. Now when a Vaisya or Soodra 

 rises to the dignity of Royalty, " Goopten" is properly always 

 added to his name just as Sharmen is to that of a Brahmin and 

 Varmen to that of a Chettrya ; though in these modern days, 

 some of the Soodra Rajas assume to add to their names the word 

 " Varmen" contrary to the established customs of former days, 

 There does not though appear to be any peculiar meaning attach- 

 ed to the words Sharmen, Varnen, and Goopten ; but their sole 

 use is for the purpose of honorary distinction between the castes. 



When a deed of Attiper (i. e. an Estate in absolute fee-simple) is 

 executed, it should, according to the custom of the country, be with 

 the knowledge of neighbours and heads of the villages* — and 

 the concurrence of the next heir of the granter in the presence of, 

 or before, the Palace of the then ruling sovereign. Though in the 

 present day such documents are not executed in the presence of 

 the local authorities, yet it is almost invariable still to retain the 

 old phraseology that the deed was " executed before the ruling 

 Sovereign's, palace." 



The Eeyoover or Teeyer (toddy drawers) are a section of the 

 servile class of people who during the time of the Brahmins and 

 Peroomals came to Malabar from Ceylon to earn their livelihood. 

 It cannot however be accounted for, how they, in many parts, 

 though not throughout the whole of Malabar, come to adopt the 

 beastly custom of the Kummalers of the country of a single girl 

 being married to 3 and 4 brothers ; and likewise in some parts of 

 the country, where this sad custom is not so generally prevalent 

 amongst them, the practice of taking their deceased's brother's 

 widows for wives as the Mussulman Mapillas do. It is only in 

 the Talooks of Needoonganad, Coottanad, Chowghaut, and some 

 parts of Yettutnad and a few adjoining spots in South Malabar 

 alone, that a woman among the Nairs is kept at the same time by 

 2 or 3 different men, who are though never brothers. It is though 

 very possible that the Teeyers may have taken the idea from this 

 latter error and themselves fallen into the other and more shame- 

 ful one, or perhaps they observe the custom as they in general are, 



* Ayal-wnpatigum A yal vicinity, neighbourhood. Pati-chie, head 

 lord. 



