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the same fondness that fathers in other parts of the world have for 
their own children; and he would be considered as an unnatural 
monster were he to shew such signs of grief at the death of a child 
which, from long cohabitation and love of its mother, he might 
suppose to be his own, as he did at the death of a child of his 
sister. A man’s mother manages his family; and after her death, 
his eldest sister assumes the direction. Brothers almost always 
live under the same roof; but, if one of the family separates from 
the rest, he is always accompanied by his favourite sister: even 
cousins, to the most remote degree of kindred, in the female line, 
generally live together in great harmony; for in this part of the 
country, love, jealousy, or disgust, never can disturb the peace of 
a Nair family. A man’s moveable property, after his death, is 
divided equally among the sons and daughters of all his sisters: 
his landed estate is managed by the eldest male of his family: but 
each individual has a right to a share of the income. In case of 
the eldest male being unable, from infirmity or incapacity, to ma- 
nage the affairs of the family, the next in rank does it in the name 
of his senior. 
“ In the north of Malabar the female Nairs, while children, go 
through the ceremony of marriage, both with Namburis and Nairs; 
but here, as well as in the south, the man and wife never cohabit. 
When the girl has come to maturity, she is taken to live in the 
house of some Nam bur i or Nair; and after she has given her con- 
sent to do so she cannot leave her keeper; but in case of infidelity 
to his bed, may be punished with death. If her keeper have in his 
family no mother nor sister, his mistress manages the household 
affairs. The keeper, whenever he pleases, may send his mistress 
