Dona Helena Vessiva, entre os
Mangueiraes cavando ao fundo quasi 2 bracas, descobrirao hua + floreada de
cobre pouco carcomydo, da forma como de cavaleyro de Calatrava de 3 palmos
de largo, e comprido sobre hua pedra de marmor, quadrada de largura e
comprimento da ditta +, entra huas ruynas de hua caza sobterranea de
tijolos como Ermida, e parece ser a + de algum christao de Meliapor, que
veo em companhia de mercadores de Choromandel a Malaca." (Godinho de
Eredia, fol. 15.) - MS. Note. - H.Y.]
The etymology of the name Mayilappur, popular among the native
Christians, is "Peacock-Town," and the peafowl are prominent in the old
legend of St. Thomas. Polo gives it no name; Marignolli (circa 1350)
calls it Mirapolis, the Catalan Map (1375) Mirapor; Conti (circa
1440) Malepor; Joseph of Cranganore (1500) Milapar (or Milapor); De
Barros and Couto, Meliapor. Mr. Burnell thinks it was probably
Malai-ppuram, "Mount-Town"; and the same as the Malifatan of the
Mahomedan writers; the last point needs further enquiry.
NOTE 5. - Dr. Caldwell, speaking of the devil-worship of the Shanars of
Tinnevelly (an important part of Ma'bar), says: "Where they erect an image
in imitation of their Brahman neighbours, the devil is generally of
Brahmanical lineage.
