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the thoughtless proprietor passes most of his time in apathy and 
indolence. 
The tools and implements of agriculture and mechanism, are 
extremely simple: a light sandy soil requires only one yoke of oxen 
to a wooden plough, which slightly turns the surface: the rice, 
natchnee, and early grains, are sown at the commencement of the 
rainy seasons, and reaped soon after they cease; the latter crops 
are then sown, as already mentioned in the Concan. 
The method of inflicting punishment on criminals and debtors 
in Travencore, is in some respects singular: for capital crimes the 
culprits generally suffer death; although, as in most oriental go- 
vernments, money and interest may purchase a pardon; except for 
the dreadful sin of killing a cow, or selling one for slaughter: this 
subjects them to the most cruel death. For debts, and non-pay- 
ment of fines, inflicted as a punishment, they are confined by the 
caricar, or chief of the district; who draws a circle round the pri- 
soner, from which he dare not move; then, gently laying a sharp 
stone on the crown of his head, demands payment of the sum 
required: on a refusal, he places a large flat stone over the other, 
and ties it firmly on; additional weights are gradually accumulated, 
with a repetition of the demand, until the sharp stone penetrating 
the head, either insures payment, or causes a painful death. 
Having described the higher castes, and drawn a few sketches 
of the inferior tribes of Malabar, I now descend to the degraded 
Pooleahs; an abject and unfortunate race, who, by cruel laws and 
tyrannical customs, are reduced to a wretched state; while the 
monkeys are adored as sylvan deities, and in some parts of Mala- 
bar have temples and daily sacrifices. I have often lamented 
