152, 
CHINCHOOR. 
proportion of the Mahratta nation, to be an incarnation of their 
favourite deity Gunputty. Immediately on my arrival I sent a mes- 
senger to Chinta-mun-Deo, who is the present reigning Deity, with ' 
the usual compliments, notifying my intention of paying him a visit 
in the evening, and requesting that he would, in the mean time, 
send to me some learned Brahmins, who could give me an account 
of his family. A most gracious answer was returned ; and with the 
most learned of his Brahmins came one of his own relations. 
Colonel Close undertook most kindly to make every inquiry that 
I wished, and by his assistance, and that of Captain Frissell, I col- 
lected the following history of the Deo's ancestors. 
Mooraba Gosseyn was a native of Beder, and a Mahratta or 
country Brahmin, hi his youth he would attend to no business, 
but used to run up and down the country collecting flowers, and 
offering them to the deities. His father, finding he could make 
nothing of him, turned him out of doors. In passing Moraishwer, 
near Baramutty5 he was struck with the deity Gunputty, and de- 
termined to pay him regular devotion. He however went on to 
Chinchoor, which had then but two houses, and no name : pleased 
with the spot, he took up his residence there. In the morning he 
regularly performed the ablutions in the river, and then set off for 
Moraishwer, distant twenty-five coss, where he performed his dcr 
votions to Gunputty, and at night returned to Chinchoor. The 
Pingli family of Mahratta Brahmins were at that time in great 
power at Moraishwer, and performed the Pooja. On the first grand 
festival of Gunnais Chout, Mooraba, having prepared his necessary 
offerings and flowers, conceived great hopes of his being able to 
perform the ceremony, which he thought would be particularly 
