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quotations from Dr. Francis Buchanan’s interesting journey in the 
Malabar province, the beginning of the present century. 
“ The Pooleahs are called churmun , a term applied to slaves in 
general: the Pooleahs are divided into many different clans, who 
can eat together, and intermarry: they have no hereditary chiefs; 
all the business of the caste is settled in assemblies of their elders: 
they never excommunicate any person, but they impose fines: 
when they can procure it, they eat animal food, and drink spiritu- 
ous liquors, but reject carrion: none of them can read. When a 
man becomes tired of his wife, and she gives her consent, he may 
sell her to any other person who will pay back the expense incurred 
at the marriage; which in presents to the girl’s master, her parents, 
cloth for the bride and bridegroom, and charges of the wedding 
dinner, generally amounts to twenty-four fanams, or sixteen shil- 
lings sterling. The goddess worshipped by the Pooleahs is named 
Paradevata, and is represented by a stone placed on a mound in 
the open air: they have a sort of priests, but never give any thing 
to the brahmins, nor do they pray to the great gods whom they 
worship. The Pariars are also divided into clans: the highest eat 
carrion, and even beef; so that they are looked upon as equally 
impure with Mussulmans or Christians; and they may lawfully 
drink spirituous liquors. Even among these wretched creatures 
the pride of caste has full influence; and if a Pooleali be touched 
by one of the Pariar tribe, he is defiled, and must wash his head, 
and pray.” 
About a fourth part of the inhabitants of Malabar are Mop- 
lahs, or Mahomedans, descended from the Moors and Arabians, 
who have settled there at different times, and married Malabar 
3 F 
