The
female children are generally brought up to the trade of the mothers. It is
customary with a few castes to present their superfluous daughters to the
Pagodas." (Nelson's Madura Country, Pt. II. 79.) A full account of this
matter appears to have been read by Dr. Shortt of Madras before the
Anthropological Society But I have only seen a newspaper notice of it.
NOTE 19. - The first part of this paragraph is rendered by Marsden: "The
natives make use of a kind of bedstead or cot of very light canework, so
ingeniously contrived that when they repose on them, and are inclined to
sleep, they can draw close the curtains about them by pulling a string."
This is not translation. An approximate illustration of the real statement
is found in Pyrard de Laval, who says (of the Maldive Islanders): "Their
beds are hung up by four cords to a bar supported by two pillars.... The
beds of the king, the grandees, and rich folk are made thus that they may
be swung and rocked with facility." (Charton, IV. 277.) In the Ras
Mala swinging cots are several times alluded to. (I. 173, 247, 423.) In
one case the bed is mentioned as suspended to the ceiling by chains.
[Illustration: Pagoda at Tanjore.]
[1] "Audax omnia perpeti," etc.
[2] The G.T. has nuns, "Li nosnain do mostier." But in Ramusio it is
monks; which is more probable, and I have adopted it.
[3] M. Pauthier has suggested the same explanation in his notes.
[4] Running a-muck in the genuine Malay fashion is not unknown among the
Rajputs; see two notable instances in Tod, II. 45 and 315. [See
Hobson-Jobson.]
[5] See Journ. Asiat. ser. VI. tom. xi. pp. 505 and 512. May not the
dinar of red gold have been the gold mohr of those days, popularly
known as the red tanga, which Ibn Batuta repeatedly tells us was
equal to 2-1/2 dinars of the west. 220 red tangas would be equivalent
to 550 western dinars, or saggi, of Polo. (Elliot, II. 332, III.
582.)
[6] I observe, however, that Sir Walter Elliot thinks it possible that the
Paraya which appears on the oldest of Indian inscriptions as the name
of a nation, coupled with Chola and Kerala (Coromandel and Malabar), is
that of the modern despised tribe. (J. Ethn. Soc. n.s. I. 103.)
CHAPTER XVIII.
DISCOURSING OF THE PLACE WHERE LIETH THE BODY OF ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE;
AND OF THE MIRACLES THEREOF.
[Illustration: Ancient Cross with Pehlevi Inscription on St. Thomas's
Mount, near Madras. (From Photograph.)]
The Body of Messer St. Thomas the Apostle lies in this province of Maabar
at a certain little town having no great population. 'Tis a place where
few traders go, because there is very little merchandize to be got there,
and it is a place not very accessible.[NOTE 1] Both Christians and
Saracens, however, greatly frequent it in pilgrimage.
