GLOSSARY

1 A’bkary Hind. A’bakari. (Strong) water manufacture. Excise revenue. derived from duties levied on the manufacture and sale of spirituous liquors.

2 Adiyaray Mal. Adiyara, Fee on purchase of privileges, levied by the Sirkar in cases of adoption, inheritance by distant heirs, &c.

3 Adookoovathu ... Mal. Adukkuvathu. Rights retained by the original proprietor from the purchaser. Fine or fee payable to a Jenmi at the periodical renewal of a lease. Succession duty levied on every change of incumbency of Vritti tenure.

4 Amani Hind. Held in trust or deposit. Collection of revenue direct from the cultivators or manufacturers by the officers of Government.

5 Ambalam Mal. An open building for the accommodation of travellers, &c.

6 Anubhogam Mal. Enjoyment, usufruct. Hereditary lands, granted to persons by sovereigns in reward of service at a peppercorn rent, or, small Rajabhogam tax

7 Athigari Mal. Adhikari. Ruler, officer. Same as Provertykaran.

8 A’ttuvari Mal. River-tax Irrigation tax.

9 Anandaravan Mal. From Sans. (Succeeding) without an interval. Successor, heir, younger brothers, children and grandchildren in Makkatayam system: younger brothers and nephews in Marumakkatayam.

10 Ayacut Mal. A’yakettu. From dyam, income Register of assessed land. Original lands belonging to a village.

11 Bankshall Mal. Pandisala. A warehouse. Government warehouse for salt, tobacco, &c.

12 Bandy Tam. & Mal. Vandi Mal. Kandi Cart, carriage.

13 Candy Mal. Kandi Measure of weight - 654 English pounds.

14 Candy of timber Mal. Kandi One kol or 28¼ English inches, cubic measure.

15 Cash Tam. and Tel. Kasu A small copper coin, sixteenth of a chuckram.

16 Cawnie (of Madras). Tam Kani. The eightieth part. 6400 square yards or 1.32 acre. Acre is 4,840 square yards.

17 Cattanar Syrian priest.

18 Codyettoo Mal. Kodiyettu. Hoisting a flag. Temple festival.

19 Conjee Tam. Kanji Rice gruel.

20 Cooly Mal. Kuli. Hire, daily wages. Hired labourer or porter.

21 Choutry Hind. Chawati. Mal. Chavadi Public building, open on one side for public lodging place, post station, &c.

22 Chit Mal. Chittu Note, bond, or deed.

23 Chokkarer Tam Co-heirs.

24 Chowkey Hind. Chauki Station of police or of customs.

25 Chuckrams Sans. Chakram. Wheel, circle. A small silver coin, worth about six-sevenths of a penny.

26 Chumadupanam Mal. Expense of carriage Commuted value of supplies due by Vritti holders without price.

27 Cutcherry Hind. Kachahri. Court, hall, office. Public office of the Dewan or Tahsildar.

28 Dalavoy Mal. Dalava, From Kanarese dala, an army Commander-in-chief, minister of state.

29 Dendoo Mal. Dandham, A stick, measure . A lineal measure of 4 kol or 10 feet. 435.6 square Dendoos = 1 English acre.

30 Dewan Pers Divan Chief officer of state, prime minister.

31 Durbar Hindi. Darbar Court levee.

32 Durkhast Pers. Darkhwasi. Tender for a rent or farm. Reduced tenure on which Sirkar Pauttom lands are allowed to occupants at rates lower than their full or ayacut assessment.

33 Edungaly Mal. Idangari A grain measure holding 4 nari and containing 92 cubic inches, or a third of a gallon. 22 1/9 edunaglies = 1 Eng. bushel, which is 2,218 cubi inches.

34 Fanam Mal. Panam. Money A coin worth 4 chuckrams, or one-seventh of a rupee - about 3½d

35 Garce of Salt Tel. Garisa A measured garce is 424 mercals, the official equivalent of 120 Indian maunds of 82 2/7 lbs. avoir. each, say about 4.4 tons Trav. Admin. Report makes 365 7 paras = 1 grace

36 Ghee Hind. Ghi Clarified butter used in cooking. Boiled and set to cool; when it remains in a semi-liquid state.

37 Gumastah Pers. Gumashta, Commissioned. A native accountant in the revenue department.

38 Huzzoor Ar. Huzur. The presence. The place where the chief officer presides.

39 Iyeenzafter Hind. A’in or Ayeen, laws, rules; and Zabti, sequestration. Lands which had been held free, now subjected to a money assessment. Wet lands in Shencottah.

40 Jenmi Sans. Janma, Birth, birthright. Freehold property viewed as hardly alienable. It cannot be sold without the concurrence of the heir-at-law. In Travancore, nominally free from all tax: when alienated, a light tax called Rajabhogam is imposed.

41 Jummabundy Hind. Jama, amount; the bandi, binding, settlement The annual settlement made under. ryotwari system.

42 Kanappauttem Mal. Kanam, Possession, mortgage. A redeemable tenure.

43 Kanderuttu Mal. Record of what was seen. Survey of actual produce. Assessment

44 Kandukrishi Mal. Government agriculture. The home farms of the sovereign. Grain rent collected in kind.

45 Karanavan Mal. Head fo the family. In Makkatayam the father, elder brother, &c. In Marumakkatayam, the maternal uncle or eldest brother.

46 Kottah or Cottah Tam. Kottei In Nanjinad 164 Kottar padies or mercal. Nearly 4 bushels, or half a “quarter” of grain.

47 Kottah of land Tam. Kottei In Tennelvelly 1.62 acre.

48 Kudivaram Mal. Cultivator’s share of the produce.

49 Kudumi Tam. and Mal. The Hindu tuft or lock of hair.

50 Kurava cry Mal. A shrill ululation produced by the vibration of the tongue between the lips and teeth. By women at marriages, devil dancing, &c.

51 Kurikanam Mal.Kuri. Hole Lease allowing compensation for value of trees planted or other improvements by the tenant or mortgagee on relinquishing possession. A kind of tenant-right

52 Kuttikanam Mal. Kutti. Log Fee on timber trees cut down.

53 Lac or Lakh Sans. Laksha A hundred thousand.

54 Maicad Kanarese. Maikadu. Daily hire. Works executed without previous estimate.

55 Makkatayam Mal. The rights of sons to inherit as distinguished from Marumakkatayam.

56 M.E. Malabar Era. Quilon year. The date of its foundation. M.E.1059 begins on 16th August, 1883.

57 Malavaram Mal. Hill, Share Tax on waste land cleared. The proportion of such produce to the Sirkar.

58 Mantram Sans. Production of the mind. Prayer, text, charm, or incantation.

59 Marahmut Ar. Marammat, Repair. Public works. Marumakkatayam Mal. Succession to inheritance by sister’s sons, or in the female line. Nepotism.

60 Maund Hind. Man At Madras 25 to 30 lbs. Indian maund of salt 82 2/7 pounds avoir. (100 lbs, troy), supposed to measure 3 paras.

61 Meladi Mal. Rent paid in kind.

62 Meleltoopillay Mal.Registry clerk Accountant-general. Head of the Pilleymar.

63 Melwarom Mal.Melvaram The proportion of the crop or produce claimed by Government.

64 Mercal Tam. Marakkal Grain measure, now fixed at 800 cub. ins = 2 2/9 imperial gallons. Of salt weighs 24 lbs. 6 oz.

65 Michavaram Mal. Remainder, share. The proprietor’s rent of Jenmi property, after deducting the interest of the Kanam, or money advanced by the tenant.

66 Mofussil Hind. Mufassal. Separate, distinct. The country, as opposed to the principal station or town.

67 Munsif Hind. Equitable, just. A native judge subordinate to the zillah judge.

68 Mooparah Mal. Muppara. Three measures (three in ten). Assessment of three-tenths of the average of full tax on paddy lands.

69 Musnud Ar. Masnad. The Muhammadan seat of power In Delhi The throne of Travancore.

70 Naduvukuru Mal. Planting share. Allowance for expense of planting and rearing young trees.

71 Nair or Nayar Mal. Leader, lord The sudras of Malabar.

72 Nari or Nauly Mal. Nari A measure, chiefly of rice. Quarter of an edungaly. @3 cub.ins, or nearly 13 fluid ounces.

73 Neet Ar. Niyat. Will, allotment Royal decree

74 Nirthal Mal. Niruttal. Cessation Land abandoned on account of becoming unfit for cultivation. Sirkar lands left waste.

75 Nunjah Tam. Nanjei Soil fit for the cultivation of rice, admitting of artificial irrigation.

76 Ola Mal Leaf of palm used for writing or thatch

77 Oloogoo Mal.Orugu. Boundary. Register of the measurement and extent of fields and holdings

78 Oobhayempalisa Mal. Ubhayam, Covenant; palisa, interest Interest paid in kind.

79 Ootooperah Mal. U’ttu, Giving rice to Brahmins. Pura. House Free inn, where Brahmans are fed.

80 Otti Mal. Mortgage, especially a usufructuary mortgage, in which the Janmi yields to the tenants all the produce of the field in lieu of interest for his advances; or if the receipts exceed the interest, the difference (michavaram) is paid to the proprietor.

81 Paddy Malay. Padi Rice in the husk, whether growing or cut.

82 Pagoda Sans. Bhagavathi. A deity. Hindu temple. A gold coin worth 3 ½ rupees.

83 Pandal Mal.Tam. Temporary shed of leaves or wickerwork erected especially for marriage feasts, &c.

84 Pandara vaga Mal. Pandaram. Treasury, government. Government property.

85 Pandit Sans. Pandita A Brahman learned in the law and shastras. A law officer.

86 Para or Purrah Mal. Grain measure = 10 edungalies = .414 of a bushel. Para of seed may be taken at twofifths of a bushel. Para of rice land is equivalent to from one-eleventh to one-eighth of an acre, according to locality. Now fixed at 8 X 9 dendoos.

87 Pathivu chit Mal. Register document. Document to acknowledge the ryots’ right to cultivate.

88 Pattayam Mal. Deed of lease or gift.

89 Payittu pattam Mal. Pulse rent Rent or tax levied on dry lands or gardens. An edungaly of such land is 8 X 8 dendoos.

90 Peon Inferior officer of police or customs or of courts of justice, usually wearing a badge.

91 Peishar Pers. Peshkar. A foreman, manager. Collector, or magistrate over a province in Travancore.

92 Pidipadu Mal. Any deed or security of possession.

93 Pilley Mal. Tam. Pillei. A child. Honarary title of Sudras and others. An accountant.

94 Plantain Lat. Plantago Same as banana. Fruit of Musa sapientum

95 Pokkuvaravu Mal. Transfer of registry of lands.

96 Provertykaran or Parvatyakaran Sans. Pravarttaka. Presiding over. Mal. Pravruttikaran A subordinate revenue officer having charge of the collections of one or more villages.

97 Puddy Tam. Padi. A measure Seer Puddy of rice in Tinnevelly is nearly an English quart. It measures about 66 1/2 cub. ins., containing 75 tolahs’ weight of rice when struck, and 82 heaped pretty full. 168 of these = 1 kottah. Kottar stamped puddy said to be 42 = 1 bushel, which would be 52.8 cub.ins.

98 Poojah Tam. Mal. Puja Worship. Adoration of the gods with the proper ceremonies.

99 Punjah Mal. Land fit for dry grain cultivation, not being irrigated.

100 Puthuval Mal. Newness Reclaimed or newly cultivated land.

101 Ranee Hind. Rani A princess. The sisters or nieces of the Rajah of Travancore.

102 Royassom Mal. Rayasam Secretaryship.

103 Rupee Hind. Rupay An Indian silver coin, nominally worth two shillings, though at present the current value is nearly a fifth less. Throughout this book, where pounds sterlings are mentioned, the pound is used to represent 10 rupees.

104 Ryot Ar. Riayat. Protected one, subject commoner. A cultivator of the soil.

105 Ryotwari Ar. Riayat. Protected one, subject commoner. The system by which each landholder is dealt with directly, and land tax collected from each by the servants of the Government.

106 Sadr or Sudder Hind. Sadr. Eminence. Supreme (Court).

107 Sanjayam Mal. Collection Collection of tax on the temporary and occasional cultivation of waste lands.

108 Sepoy Pers. Sipahi A soldier of native infantry.

109 Seshakar Mal. Survivors, relatives, descendants.

110 Sheristadar Pers. Sirishtahdar. Keeper of the records. Head native officer of a cutchery or department.

111 Sirkar Pers. Sar, head; kar, business The native Government.

112 Stridhanam Sans. Woman’s wealth Dowry. The peculiar property of a woman or wife, over which she has independent control, and which descends to her daughter or next of kin.

Sumprithy or Samprathy Mal. Samprathi Principal accountants in the Tahsildar’s cutcherry, and immediate assistant to the Tahsildar.

Tahsildar Hindi. Tahsil. Collection. A native collector and sub-magistrate in charge of a Taluk.

Taiteeroo Tam. Teittir Sale of trees and produce without the land on which the trees stand.

Tali and Minnu Tam. Mal Marriage badge. The centre or sole ornament of a necklace which is tied on the neck of the bride by the bridegroom at the time of marriage.

Taluk Hind. Taalluk. Dependence. Division of a province. District under the management of a Tahsildar. (A county)

Tarawad Mal The Malabar family or united community, whose entire property is managed by its senior member for the benefit of the family - the strictest and oldest form of corporate union.

Tola Hind. Tol. Weight A weight usually regarded as equivalent to the weight of the Sicca rupee or 179.666 troy grains. Now fixed at 180 troy grains, the weight of the current rupee. British rupees 38.9 weigh 1 lb. avoir. 350 tolas = 9 lbs. Weight of a florin is 174. 54 grains.

Unjel Mal. Anchal. A stage relay. Letter post.

Vakalatnamah Power of attorney.

Vakeel Hind. Wakil Delegate, agent An authorised attorney. A pleader in a court of justice.

Vedam or Vetham Sans. Veda The four ancient scriptures of the Hindus. A religion having a sacred book.

Vellola Mal. Blank leaf Unregistered document.

Vempattam Mal. Verumpattam. Simple rent. Rent of lands without any advance or loan. Lands paying full tax.

Virutti or Vritty Sans. Increase, prosperity; and Mal. Feudal tenure. Lands granted rent and tax free for services formerly due, or still required without pay or at nominal rates.

Zillah Hind. Zila. Side, division Province.