By V. Chappu Menon, B.A.

This is a tract of land about 2,364 acres in extent in Cannanore belonging to the Mappilla Raja of Cannanore and which is held by his family under an agreement entered into with the British Government, as already described in Vol. I.

The judicial administration of the Kirar territory is conducted by the officers of the British Government. The raja is merely permitted to collect rents on the lands comprised within the Kirar limits, and has no power to interfere with the collection of special rates chargeable under the municipal or fiscal law. His palace is situated in what is called the old town of Cannanore, and is known as the Arakkal palace. A lamp is kept burning throughout the day and night in one of the rooms in the palace, the belief being that if extinguished the prosperity of the house would be destroyed.

The maladministration of the Laccadive Islands belonging to the raja led to endless outbreaks and defiance of authority on the part of the islanders, and the revenue due to him was threatened with extinction. The peishcush due to Government also fell into arrears, and the Government of India therefore assumed the management of the islands till such time as the arrears remained unpaid and a better system of administration has been introduced into them. A detailed account of the islands is given separately.

The temples and mosques within the Kirar territory are shown below :

The peishcush due by Sultan Ali Raja of Cannanore, according to the engagement, dated 28th October 1796, is Rs. 15,000 per annum.

N.B.—The exact amount appearing in the Revenue accounts is Rs. 15,000-0-11, payable in three equal instalments—the first on the 15th of Dhanu (8th December), the second on the 15th of Medam (6th April), and the third at the end of Chingam (15th September).

An abatement of 1,500 star pagodas, equivalent to Rs. 5,260, was allowed by the Court of Directors in 1822 as compensation for the loss of the Amin Divi Islands attached to the South Canara district.