Evening journal., 1921-09-12
MAPLAHS OF
OLD MALABAR
Indian City Again Scene
of Rioting, Crocodiles
Tigers
HAS LONG HELD
RIOT RECORD

WASHINGTON. d. c. - "Mala-
bar. scene OF rioting. is an India OF
human frictions. but otherwise an
India Of quiet backwaters, of lux
uriant vegetation OF crocodiles
tigers. leopards and wild elephants
the East Of traditions and dreams
says a bulletin from the Washing
ton. D. c.. headquarters Of the Ma
tional Geographic Society Of the re-
rion where British forces are try
ing to restore order
THE Moplahs Of Malabar number
about a million. Most Of them are
descendants OF Arab traders who
landed on the west coast in the ninth
century. although some are de-
scended from converts Of Hinduism
and other indigenous Moharar edar
groups.
"Malabar still has considerable
commerce but the large foreign
trade has departed for ports wher'
steamships can safely anchor and
dock. Although Calicut gave It's
name to calico. the weaving OF thi:
cloth has almost died out and piece
goods are among the most impor-
tant imports.
'Malabar's paddy fields. backed
by graceful cocoanut groves, which
also fringe the coast. and its wealth
Of pepper, cardamons. ginger. tea
coffee ana teak. suggest the Orient
10 those who do not know OF the
imports of machinery, hardware
fabrics and Kerosene. which are
changing a fairy land into a mod
srn district This small region, shut
In between the towering mountains
and the blue sea, perfumed with
spices and rich with food is the last
place that one would look for re-
bellion or organized revolt. But
the Moplahs. who sell their lives
dearly and are the type which de-
light the reader of adventure and
harass the police and soldiery, are
once more rallied beneath the green
flag which the followers of the
Prophet once carried TO Spain and
to the gates OF Vienna. Time and
naain they have revolted against
he Hindus and so fierce is their
.anatcism that native bayonets have
been useless against them. In 1900
Two years after the arrival of Vasco
ia Cana, on his famous voyage
which established a new trade route
20 the East. a Portuguese factory
was destroyed by the Moplahs, oi
Mopillas. and the inmates murdered
This led to bombardment of Cali
cut by Portuguese men-of-war
(Cahcut is not 10 be confused will
caicutta)
For nearly a century. the peac
Of Malabar has been periodically dis
turbed by these fanatical Moslemi
Since 1851. detachment of Brits
Infantry has been stationed at Ma
appuram, and attacks made agains
his group were repulsed some day
ago. In 1873. the Aoplshs stsrte
A serious outbreak at Kolattur an
Twelve years later a small group o
these fanatics took up a strong po
sidon in a Hindu temple in Trik
klur. from which they we're routed
by the use Of dynamite. In 1894
gang OF 55 Moplahs at Mannarakka
we're dispersed by howitzer fire an6
In 1896. a hundred men were sho
In Manjeri. a village Of 1000 In Er
mad taluk. which had been thu
scene Of an earlier Moplah outrage
in 1s49.
'Malabar is a narrow coasta
plain $50 miles in length from nortl
to south. fronting on the Arabian
Sea on the Europeward side OF In
dia. and backed by the Westeri
Chats. 1000 TO 5000 feet high AM
from 20 to so miles from the coast
The only break in the mountain wal
is at Palghat Gap. 16 miles wide
through which the railways enter
the otherwise segregated regior
The railway line divides at Shoranul
near the Ponnani River. one for
turning south to Cochin and tn
other north to Mangalore. passin
through Calicut. the French settle
rnent Of Maize and cannanore on II
way to the South Kanara district.
Just now. Maiabar is being sweI
hy the southwest monsoon whic
discharges heavy rains along III
coast. and turns the short river
that cut the seaward face OF III
Western Chats into rushing toi
rents
"Alone the coast there is a nai
row everglade region made up
backwaters and iagoons. many {
which are connected by canals whic
are important features in the con
munications Of the region. Here Il
nora Is varied and luNuriant bl
malaria Is common. Game anima
are numerous among the foothill
The uplands are heavily wooded
most parts. They consist OF pr
cipitous peaks with dark green r.
vines in which silver streams d.
scend in numerous waterfalls. 4
uniting TO form scenes OF unrivalls
beauty. Malabar Is the most beal
>tffnl. the richest and most fertile
Madras Presidency.
"One hundred and fifty miles {
the mainland. but included in Il
Malabar political district are Il
hundred thousand islands the La
cadlves.
"Malabar has never known far
inc. and foods are rare. Trade on
DISTINGUISHED the region and W
carried on with the Phoeniciar
with the Jews under Solomon, &
seleucid Syrians. the Ptolems
Egyptians. the traders OF imperi
Rome. the Arabs. and the Italia
whose argosies representing Veni'
Florence and Genoa once anchor
within the shifting mudbanks viii