- Black Tigers and black Leopards are not very rare in Travancore
(See Welsh's Mil. Reminiscences, II. 102.)
NOTE 6. - Probably founded on local or caste customs of marriage, several
of which in South India are very peculiar; e.g., see Nelson's Madura,
Pt. II. p. 51.
[1] The etymology of the name seems to be doubtful. Dr. Caldwell tells me
it is an error to connect it (as in the first edition) with the word
for a Tank, which is Kulam. The apparent meaning of Kollam is
"slaughter," but he thinks the name is best explained as "Palace" or
"Royal Residence."
[2] There is still a Syrian church of St. George at Quilon, and a
mosque of some importance; - the representatives at least of those
noted above, though no actual trace of antiquity of any kind remains
at the place. A vague tradition of extensive trade with China yet
survives. The form Columbum is accounted for by an inscription,
published by the Prince of Travancore (Ind. Antiq. II. 360), which
shows that the city was called in Sanskrit Kolamba. May not the real
etymology be Sansk. Kolam, "Black Pepper"?
On the suggestion ventured in this note Dr. Caldwell writes:
"I fancy Kola, a name for pepper in Sanskrit, may be derived from
the name of the country Kolam, North Malabar, which is much more
celebrated for its pepper than the country around Quilon.
