Hamilton’s account of the east indies. 375

penalty if they tranfgrefs that law, but they are not confined to a fet number of wives,us the women are to hufbands.

When a woman is married to the firft of her hufbands, fhe has an houfe built forher own conveniency, and that hufband cohabits with her till file takes a fecond, orfo many as fhe is prescribed by law, and the hufbands agree very well, for they co-habit with her in their turns, according to their priority of marriage, ten days, moreor Ids, according as they can fix a term among themfelves, and he that cohabits withher, maintains her in all things neceftary, for his time, fo that fire is plentifully pro-vided for by a conftant circulation.

When the man that cohabits with her goes into her houfe, he leaves his arms atthe door, and none dare remove them, or enter the houfe, on pain of death 5 but, ifthere are no arms to guard the door, any acquaintance may freely vifit her. And allthe time of cohabitation fhe ferves her hufband as purveyor and cook, and keeps hisclothes and arms clean.

When fhe proves with child, fhe nominates its father, who takes care of its educa-tion, after fhe has fuckled it, and brought it to walk or fpeak; but the children arenever heirs to their fathers’ eftates, but the father’s filler’s children are, and if thereare none, then to the nearefl in confanguinity from his grandmother. And this cuf-tom is alfo practifed among the Mahometan Malabars.

There are many degrees or dignities in the church as well as in the flate. TheNambouries are the firft in both capacities of church and flate, and forne of them arepopes, being fovereign princes in both. The Brahmans or Bramanies are the fecondin the church only. The Buts or magicians are next to them, and are in great vene-ration. The Nayers or gentlemen are next, and are very numerous. The Teyveesare the farmers of cocoa-nut trees, and are next to the gentry. Merchants are ofall orders, except Nambouries, and are in fome efleem. The Poulias produce thelabourers and mechanicks. They may marry into lower tribes without danger ofexcommunication, and fo may the Muckwas or fifhers, who, I think, are an highertribe than the Poulias, but the Poulichees are the lowefl order of human creatures, andare excluded from the benefit of human and divine laws.

If a Poulia or Teyvee meet a Nayer on the road, he mufl go afide to let his wor-fhip pafs by, left the air fhould be tainted, on pain of a fevere chaflifement, if not ofdeath; but the Poulichees are in a much worfe flate, for, by the law, they are notpermitted to converfe with any ether tribe, nor can they wear any fort of cloth, butonly a little ftraw made fall before their privities, with a line round their middle.They are not permitted to build houfes or huts on the ground, nor to inhabit the'plains where there is corn ground, but mufl dwell in woods, and build on the boughsof trees, like birds, with grafs and ftraw. If accidentally they fee any body comingtowards them, they will howl like dogs, and run away, left thofe of quality fhouldtake offence at their breathing in the fame air that they do. They are not permittedto till and fow the ground, only in obfeure places of the woods; they plant fruits andfoots, whofe feeds they fteal from their neighbouring gardens in the plains, in theflight, and if they are caught ftealing, death is their punifhment on the fpot wherethey are taken, without any form or procefs of law. When they want food, theycome to the fkirts of their woods, and howl like foxes, and the charitable Poulias andleyvees relieve them with rice boiled or raw, and fome cocoa-nuts and other fruits,^hich they lay down in a convenient place; and when their benefactors come withintwenty paces of them with their alms, they walk off, and let the Poulichees come to*keir food, which they forthwith carry into the woods. They are very fwift in run-