Coinage of Jravancore- 
By Kev. S. MATEER. f. l. s. 
Teavancoee is a Native State on tlie West Coast of ludia 
stretching southwards from Cochin to Cape Comoriu. It 
was originally but a small territory extending from north 
of Quilon to the Cape, and occasionally into Tinnevelly. 
It was probably ruled over at various periods from the 
ninth to the twelfth centaries by the -Pandian kings of 
Madura, by Mysore, or by Taujore, as each of these states 
in turn succeeded in obtaining ascendency. The present 
kingdom rose at the beginning of the fourteenth century. 
Nearest to Trevandrum the country was divided amongst 
a race of turbulent chieftains called " the Chief s of the 
Eight Districts " all claiming independence but finally 
subdued by the Rajah of Venadu or Travancore about A. D. 
1730- The kingdom was extended to almost its present 
limits and consolidated by conquest about the year 1760. 
The present population is two and a half millions. The 
ruling dynasty still retains many primitive usages, espe- 
cially the strange nepotistic law by which not sons but 
nephews inherit, through the female line. 
As the origin of the native rulers and the kingdom is 
traditionally traced to the mythical Parasu Rama and to 
king Cheruman Perumal of Calicut, it is probable that the 
coinage was originally introduced from the Zamorin's king- 
dom of Calicut. The earliest gold coin still in use, the 
Rasi, is attributed by natives to Parasu Rama. Probably 
some coins were also imitated from Madura. The earliest 
date of coinage in Travancore of the gold fanam and the 
Chuckram and Kasu appears not to be discoverable. Dr 
