The Ordway new era., 1922-03-17

expected that there would be general
prosperity and peace in Malabar.
Prosperity Is fairly well distributed,
but the motley of religions makes
peace more difficult; and every now
and then it brings about such turbu-
lence 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 to the belief that this is as
much Mohammedan land as Arabia
or Persia. The truth is that barely 80
per cent of the population are follow
ers of the prophet, while about 6S per
cent are votaries of Hinduism and
some per cent are Christians.
In prestige the Hindus are much the
most important. The Nambudri Brah-
mans, at 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 aloof from public
affairs and scorn modern education,
holding more tenaciously, probably,
than their fellow religionists in any
other part of India, to the ancient Gus
toms of their faith. The old concep-
tion of ceremonial pollution is living
thing in Malabar and is strictly ad-
hered to except in the cities. There
are varying distances within which the
mere presence of member of a lower
caste is supposed to 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 to the roadside
or into the fields until he has passed.
Even many Mohammedans follow this
custom lest economic pressure be
brought to bear through boycotts or
other means to destroy their liveli-
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
to the west coast in very early times,
and they have retained all the fanati-
cism of the fiercest MohammedanS of
the Arabian deserts. To them have
been been added converts from lower
caste Hindus.
MopIahs 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 it breaks out with the assassina
tion of Hindu landowner, the defiling
of Hindu temple or the looting of
house. The little group engaged in
these episodes runs riot over the re-
gion, their numbers growing until
fanatical mob is formed. A band U.s.
ually Is formed whose members de-
finitely decide to make martyrs of
themselves, are consecrated, refuse to
surrender and sell their lives as dearly
as possible when opposed. In the past
battles with bands of Moplahs have
smacked of fights of the Paris police
with the notorious "apaches." In some
instances it has been necessary to
dynamite buildings in which the Mo-
plahs had made their stand and from
which they shot down all who ap-
preached them.
One of the peculiarities of the Mala-
bar region is it's system of Inheritance
through the mother. A mans property
does not go to his children, but his
sisters children are his nearest heirs.
The Malabar district is under direct
British control, but in Travancore, to
the south, which Is native state, the
succession to the throne is through
the sister, and rulers sons are of no
political or family consequence. Wom-
en-, especially those of the upper
classes, have marked degree of in
dependence, and may divorce their hus-
bands at villa privilege, however,
which is usually exercised with discre-
tion.
When the Portuguese first arrived
at Calicut the natives were weaving
cloth of excellent quality and It became
an article of commerce with the west.
The town, in fact, gave its name to
calico. But the weaving Of that fabric
has almost died out and this original
home Of calico now actually imports
the cloth.