160 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
defiance of fanatical prejudice and religious detesta- 
tion. 
The Nairs of Malabar are pure Sudras, who form,, in 
fact, the third of the great social divisions among the 
Hindoo population : but throughout the southern coast 
of the peninsula there is no distinct class between them 
and the Brahmins. They all claim to be soldiers by 
birth, yet have no objection to adopt any trade or 
profession by which their social condition is likely to 
be improved. There are various gradations of rank 
among them ; but the aristocracy of their tribe is 
composed of cooks, who hold all other classes in 
proud contempt, as the Hindoo sacred canons en- 
join that every person should eat food prepared by a 
person of higher rank than himself: the office of 
cook, therefore, is held to be one of supereminent 
dignity by the idolaters of Hindostan. 
From the class of Nairs the militia of the country 
are draughted, and governed by petty princes, who 
assume the title of Rajah. Though, prior to their 
subjugation in 1776, they were remarkable for their 
submission to superiors, their arrogance towards 
those whom the distinction of caste placed beneath 
them was in proportion. A Nair did not hesitate to 
kill any one below him in the civil grade who hap- 
pened to come into immediate contact with his per- 
son. This was considered by the native authorities 
as a justifiable act of retaliation, and therefore passed 
with impunity. The Poliar was almost invariably 
subjected to this terrible penalty if, on meeting 
a Nair, he did not turn out of the path and 
allow his superior to pass without exposing him to 
