Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-03-22

expected that there would be general
prosperity and peace I'm Malabar.
Prosperity is fairly well distributed,
but the motley OF religions makes
peace more difficult: and every now
and then IL brings about such turbu-
lenee as Is known these days In other
parts OF India. The fierce fanaticism
Of the Mohammedan Moplahs and the
stories OF their bloody and furious out
breaks which reach the outside world
may lead 10 the belief that this is as
much a MOhammedan land az Arabia
OF Persia. The truth Is that barsiy -
per cent OF the population are follow
ers Of the prophet. while about Is per
cent are vOtaries OF Hinduism and
some per cent are Christians.
In prestige the Hindns are much the
most important The NAmbudti Brah-
mans. az the very top Of the caste
scale. number only 10000 In the total
population OF 100000 Of the Malabar
district. but are looked up TO with the
greatest reverence. Nearly all Of them
are landholders. many Of very large es-
tates. They hold ploof from public
affairs and Scom modern education,
holding more tenaciously. probably.
than their fellow reliElonists In any
other part Of India. 10 the ancient Gus
toms 81 their faith. The old c)neep-
ton OF ceremonial pollution is a living
thing in Malabar and is strictly adj
hered 90 except Ia the cities. There
are varying distances within which the
mere presence OF a member OF lower
caste Is supposed 60 defile the Brah-
man. A high-caste man returning from
his cleansing bath shouts out that he
Is approaching. and the low-caste
members humbly retire 10 the roadside
or into the fields until he has passed.
Even many Mohammedans follow this
custom lest economic pressure be
brought 20 bear through boycotts or
other means 10 destroy their llyeli-
hood.
The MOhammedans OF Malabar-the
Moplahs-differ greatly from other In
dian Moslems Many Of them are de-
scendants OF Arab traders who came
O. the west coast in very early times.
and they have retained all the fanati-
clsm 81 the fercest Mohammedans Of
the Arabian deserts To them have
been been added converts from lower
caste Hlndus.
moplahs in Periodic Outbreaks.
For considerable periods the Moplahs
accept their somewhat submerged con-
dItions and live In peace beside the
Hindus. But their lust for turbulence
and blood Is only slumbering. and sud-
denly II breaks out with the assassina-
ton OF a Hindu landowner. the defiling
OF a Hindu temple or the footing OF
house. The little group engaged In
these episodes runs riot over the re-
zion. their numbers gEowing until a
fanatical mob Is formed. A band us
uaIIy Is formed whose members de-
inltely decide TO make martyrs OF
themselves. are consecrated. refuse 10
surrender and sell their lives as dearly
rs possible when opposed. In the past
battles with bands OF Moplahs have
smaeked Of fights OF the Paris police
with the notorious "apaches." In some
instances IL has been necessary 10
dynamite buildings In which the Mo-
plahs had made their stand and from
which they shot down all who APP
preached them.
one OF the peculiarities Of the Mala-
bar region Is its system Of Inheritance
through the mother. A mans property
does not 90 20 his children, but ha
sisters children are his nearest heirs.
The Malabar district Is under direct
British control. but In Travancore. TO
the south. which is a native state. the
succession 20 the throne Is through
the sister. and a rulers sons are OF no
political or family consequence. Wom-
en-. especially those OF the upper
classes. have a marked degree OF In
dependence. and may divorce their hus-
bands AT villa privilege. however
which Is usually exercised with discre-
ton.
When the Portuguese first arrived
NJ Callcut the natives were weaving
cloth OF excellent quanty and II became
an article OF commerce with the west
The town. In fact. gave its name TO
calico. But the weaving Of that fabric
mas almost died out and this original
nome OF calico now actually imports
the cloth.