OF MALABAR. 



185 



instance of this inhuman custom to be found in the ancient 

 history of Malabar. This is one of the Anacharas. The 

 widow does not get her head shaved after the death of her 

 husband. The only distinction of a widow is that she does 

 not wear ornaments for the remainder of her life. 



The usual ornaments worn by Namburi women are — a 

 pair of golden earrings of a peculiar shape and make, a 

 string of neck ornaments known as Thalikuttam, and a number 

 of brass bracelets. 



There are four days of marriage ceremony for the 

 Namburis. On the first day the tying of the tali takes place. 

 As soon as this is done some people take their wives to their 

 Illams (houses). The entry of the wife in her husband's 

 house is called Kutyiruthal. 



Between €h.e 7th and 9th months of a woman's pregnancy 

 a ceremony called Pumsamnam is performed by the husband. 

 The principal part of this ceremony consists in komas (sacri- 

 fices) in the Oupdsanagm or the fire which had been lighted 

 and kept unextinguished from the sacrificial fire of the first 

 day of the marriage. The object of this ceremony is the 

 good of the child. This is done owing to the belief that if 

 the female or her husband perform sacrifices and pray the 

 Almighty the female will have a child born to her under a 

 good constellation. 



The rules regarding chastity are very severe. When 

 after careful inquiry it is found that a female has violated 

 her chastity she and the adulterer are excommunicated. 16 



It is a curious fact that the eldest brother of a family is 

 alone allowed to marry. The object of this law is to secure 

 the family property intact. The question which naturally 

 arises here is this : " If only the eldest member is allowed to 

 marry how are the other brothers to gain heaven since they 



(16) For a detailed account of [this subject see M. P. Shung-oonny M&non's 

 work on " The History of Travancore," pages 76-78. 



