The Denver Jewish news., 1922-04-05

expected that there would be general
prosperity and peace in Malabar.
Prosperity is fairly well distributed,
but the motley of religions makes
pence more difficult; and every now
and then 1t brings about such turbu-
lence us is known these days in other
parts of India. The fierce fanaticl3in
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 us
much II Mohammedan land as Arabia
or Persia. The truth is that barely 30
per cent of the population are follow
ers of the prophet, while about GS per
cent are votaries of Hinduism and
sorie = per cent are Christians.
In prestige the Hindus are much the
most important. The Sambudri Brah-
mans, at the very top of the caste
scale, number only 10000 in the total
population of 100000 of the Malabsr
district. but are looked up to with the
greatest reverence. Nearly all of them
are landholders many of very large es-
tates. They hold alcof from public
affairs and scorn modern education,
holding more tena ciously, probably.
than their fellow rellgionsts In any
other part of India, to the ancient Gus
toms of their faith. The old concei,-
tlon of ceremonial pollution is a living
thing in Malabar and is strictly ad-
hered TO except In the cities. There
are varying distances within which the
mere presence of a member of lower
caste is supposed to defile the Brah-
A bitfI mi,
his cleansing bath shouts out that ne
is approaching, and the low-castc
members huinbly retire TO the roadside
or into the fields until he has passed.
Even many Aohammcdans follow this
custom lest economic pressure be
brought TO bear through boycotts or
other means TO destroy their liveli-
hood.
The Mohammedans of Malabnr--the
Moplahs-dlfrer greatly from other H.
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 fannti-
cism of the ticrcest Mohammedans of
the Arabian deserts. To them have
been been added converts from lower
caste Hindus.
EoPlahs in Periodic Outbreaks.
For considerable periods the Moplahs
accept their somewhat submerged con-
ditions and live in peace beside the
IIindus. But their lust for turbulence
and blood is only slumbering, and sud
denly ii breuils out with the assussna-
tion OF n Hindu landowner, the dafiling
of Hindu temple or the looting OF Il
house. The little group engaged III
these episodes runs riot over the re-
gion, their numbers g.owing until a
fanatical mob is formed. 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
us possible when opposed. In the past
battles with bands of Mopiahs have
snacked of fights of the Paris police
with the notorious .'apaches." In some
Instances 1t has been necessary TO
dynamite buildings in which the Mo-
plahs had made their stand and from
which they shot down ;ill who ap-
preached them.
One of the pecu;inrities of the Maia-
bar region is its system of Inheritance
through the mother. y mans property
does not go to his children. hut his
sisters children are his nearest heirs.
The Malnbar district is under direct
British control. bat in Trayuncore. 10
the south, which is a native state, the
succession to the throne is through
the sister. and a rulers sons are of no
political or family consequence. Wom-
en-, especially those ce the upper
classes, have Il marked degree of in
dependence and may divorce rheir 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 quenty 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
has almost died out and this original
home of calico now actually imports
the cloth.