3 12 
the inhabitants, can, in general, have acquired a very superficial 
knowledge, by whatever channel derived: I confess I have found 
myself involved in many errors, by believing the accounts both of 
Europeans and natives, whom I occasionally consulted, on the 
Malabar coast. Subsequent visits, and better information, have 
enabled me to correct those mistakes; many authentic sources of 
intelligence yet remain, and of these, few are equal to Dr. Francis 
Buchanan’s journey through the Malabar districts: he mentions 
many singular usages in the country contiguous to Mangulore, 
particularly in the tribe of Bimtar, who are the highest rank of 
sudras in Talava , and resemble the Nairs of Malayala , or Malabar. 
“ Among them a man’s own children are not his heirs: during his 
life-time he may give them money; but all of which he dies pos- 
sessed, goes to his sisters, and to their children. If a man has a 
mother’s brother’s daughter, he must marry her; but he may take 
two or three wives besides: the ceremony is performed by the 
girl’s father, or other near kinsman. When a man marries several 
wives, none of them can leave him without his consent; but when 
discord runs high, he generally sends one of the disputants back to 
her brother’s house; and then she is at liberty to marry again. A 
man at any time, if he dislikes his wife, may send her back to her 
brother’s house; and he can do no more if she has committed 
adultery. In all these cases, or when a widow returns to her bro- 
ther’s house on her husband’s death, she is accompanied by her 
children; and may marry again, unless she has committed adultery 
with a person of low caste: but if that crime has been commit- 
ted with a brahmin , kshatri , vaisya , or bunt, she is well received; 
her children become her brother’s heirs, and no man will have 
