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Malabar Manual : Along with commentary by VED from VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS, Volume 1 & 2

By Logan, William

Book Id: WPLBN0100301699
Format Type: PDF (eBook)
File Size: 60.96 MB
Reproduction Date: 07/1/1887

Title:	Malabar Manual : Along with commentary by VED from VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS, Volume 1 & 2
Author:	Logan, William
Volume:	Volume 1 & 2
Language:	English
Subject:	Non Fiction, Social Sciences, Malabar
Collections:	History, Authors Community, Education
Historic Publication Date:	1887
Publisher:	VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS, Aaradhana, DEVERKOVIL 673508

Member Page:	VED from VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS
Citation APA MLA Chicago Logan, W. (1887). Malabar Manual : Along with commentary by VED from VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS, Volume 1 & 2. Retrieved from http://www.gutenberg.cc/

Description
COMMENTARY My aim First of all, I would like to place on record what my interest in this book is. I do not have any great interest in the minor details of Malabar or Travancore. Nor about the various castes and their aspirations, claims and counterclaims. My interest is basically connected to my interest in the English colonial rule in the South Asian Subcontinent and elsewhere. I would quite categorically mention that it is ‘English colonialism’ and not British Colonialism (which has a slight connection to Irish, Gaelic and Welsh (Celtic language) populations). Even though I am not sure about this, I think the book Malabar was made as part of the Madras Presidency government’s endeavour to create a district manual for each of the districts of Madras Presidency. William Logan was a District Collector of the Malabar district of Madras Presidency. The time period of his work in the district is given in this book as: 6th June 1875 to 20th March 1876 (around 9 months) as Ag. Collector. From 9th May 1878 to 21st April 1879 (around 11 months) as Collector. From 23rd November 1880 to 3rd February 1881 (around 2 months) as Collector. Then from 23rd January 1883 to 17th April 1883 (around 3 months) as Collector. After all this, he is again posted as the Collector from 22nd November 1884. In this book, the termination date of his appointment is not given. Moreover, I have no idea as to why he had a number of breaks within his tenure as the district Collector of Malabar district. Since this book is seen as published on the 7th of January 1887, it can safely be assumed that he was working on this book during his last appointment as Collector on the 22nd of November 1884. From this book no personal information about William Logan, Esq. can be found out or arrived at. It is seen mentioned in a low-quality content website that he is a ‘Scottish officer’ working for the British government. Even though this categorisation of him as being different from British subjects / citizens has its own deficiencies, there are some positive points that can be attached to it also. He has claimed the authorship of this book. There are locations where other persons are attributed as the authors of those specific locations. Also, there is this statement: QUOTE: The foot-notes to Mr. Græmo’s text are by an experienced Native Revenue Officer, Mr. P. Karunakara Menon. END OF QUOTE. The tidy fact is that the whole book has been tampered with or doctored by many others who were the natives of this subcontinent. Their mood and mental inclinations are found in various locations of the book. The only exception might be the location where Logan himself has dealt with the history writing. More or less connected to the part where the written records from the English Factory at Tellicherry are dealt with. His claim, asserted or hinted at, of being the author of the text wherein he is mentioned as the author is in many parts possibly a lie. In that sense, his being a ‘Scottish officer’, and not an ‘English officer’ might have some value. The book Malabar ostensibly written by William Logan does not seem to have been written by him. It is true that there is a very specific location where it is evident that it is Logan who has written the text. However, in the vast locations of the textual matter, there are locations where it can be felt that he is not the author at all. There are many other issues with this book. I will come to them presently. Let me first take up my own background with regard to this kind of books and scholarly writings.

Summary
The following text error (typo) was found on page no. 852 of this book - 3rd paragraph: QUOTE........... the institution of the Onam festival, the great animal festival of the Malayali, ...................... END OF QUOTE This has been corrected to: QUOTE............ the institution of the Onam festival, the great annual festival of the Malayali, ...................... END OF QUOTE All persons who have downloaded the file on any day before 26th October 2019, are encouraged to download the new file and to delete the earlier downloaded file. Please note that there can be other typos also.

Excerpt
APPENDIX XII COLLECTION OF DEEDS No. 1 a. Hail ! Sri—The King who has taken the supreme rule, King (Perumal) Sri Bhaskara Ravi Varman, wielding the sceptre and ruling for many 100,000 years, in his time, in the thirty-sixth year against1 the second cycle (literally, year), on the day when he was pleased to sit in Muyirikodu, he was pleased to grant this favour. [N.B. - The Jewish translation, particularly incorrect in the rendering of this sentence, deserves perhaps, to be listened to in its translation of Muyirikodu “residing in Kranganur or Kodungalur." Perhaps the Musiris of the ancients is to be sought so far south. The calculation of the thirty-sixth year against the second cycle, which Mr. Whish has attempted, guided by the authority of other documents of considerable age, I am not prepared to criticise, as I am doubtful of the signification of "Etir” against (before ?).] b. We have given to Joseph Rabban (the principality) Anjuvannam, along with the 72 Janmi2 rights, such as (going) with elephants and (other) conveyances, tribute from subordinate landholders, and the possession (or revenue) of Anjuvannam, the light by day, the spreading cloth, the litter, the umbrella, the Vaduca drum (Jews' transl: "drum beaten with two sticks’’), the trumpet, the gateway with seats, ornamental arches, and similar awnings and garlands (charawu, i.e,, T.காவை) and the rest. [N.B. - Here the name of Anjuvannam has been mistaken by the Jewish and other translators. The Jews translate it “five colours,” and the revenue of Anjuvannam is converted by them into a right to convert from the five castes. But the language of the document forbids to take “anju ” for the numeral 5 : it would have been “aintu” as in the later document, Ila3. The present translation of vidu peru, generally mistaken for a gift of houses, or even for a gift to 72 families is fully secured by document II3 m several places ; vidu (cf. II, k3) is the verbal noun of vidu, “ to leave,” signifies “remittance, freedom,” hence in ancient T. Synonymous with S. mocsha ; the derived meaning is “freehold, Janmam,” hence the modem signification “gardens house.” Some of the privileges are not quite determined ; pacudam (T.tribute) is, in the Jewish translation the right of calling from the comers of the street that low castes may retire. After “umbrella” the Jews have inserted a word of which they do not know the meaning.]

Table of Contents
CONTENTS OF VOL. I CHAPTER I.—The District. (a) Its Limits and Physical Features (b) Mountains (c) Rivers, Backwaters and Canals (d) Geological Formation (e) Climate and Natural Phenomena (f ) Fauna and Flora (g) Passes, Roads and Railway (h) Ports and Shipping Facilities CHAPTER II.—The People (a) Numbers, Density of Population, Civil Condition, Sex and Age (b) Towns, Villages, Dwellings and Rural Organization (c) The Language, Literature, and State of Education (d) Caste and Occupations (e) Manners, Customs, etc. (f )Religion: Hindus, Muhammadans, Christians (g) Famine, Diseases, Medicine