The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-12-03
gPrepared by the National Geographic So
clatY. Washingtnn- d ca


Christian as dewan or prime
minister of Travancore, long
considered one of the most
Braman-ridden of the Indian native
states turns attention to this last
corner of India
Such an appointment of a non-Hindu
is without precedent in the state.
Caste has meant-and Of course still
means everything in Travancore. The
high caste members can eat only food
prepared by Bramans. Railroad travel'
is almost prohibitively expensive for
man of high caste He must take
retinue of Braman servants with him,
and must stop off at some station each
time a meal is desired so that his
seryitors can prepare it.
The dogma of "untouchabIeness" is
rampant. Progressive as the state is
in many ways, one may at times hear
on all sides the high caste man calling
out as he walks, In order that the
lower castles, whose mere proximity Is
supposed to defile him, may withdraw
to the roadside However, European
lied Bramans may feel secretly about
all this, they must follow the ritual
and keep the traditions to the letter
or suffer the contempt of their fellows
and ostracism from all good society.
Even crossing the sea is supposed to
defile one and .Hindus who have trav-
eled to Europe are looked down upon.
This esprit de corps In maintaining
the old traditions is one of the greatest
bandicaps Christianity has encoun-
tered in its efforts to reach the better
people of India. especially in the
"Braman-ridden" communities.
1t does not do for travelling West
erners TO analyze too closely the pc
culiar customs that they encounter
in Travancore Even the most i'm
portant British governmental digni-
S taries are received by the maharajah
of Travancore at seven o'clock in the
morning 1t is vexatious thing for
a Westerner to have to tumble out of
bed for such an unusual appointment.
But the early engagement Is more than
veXatious when the visitor learns the
real reason for It, The maharajah
bathes ceremonially at eight O'clock
He must have the necessary contacts
with persons not OF his caste before
the hath so that he will be "uncon-
Taminated" for the remainder Of the
day. Thesmorning audience has there
fore been "a bitter pill for many a
proud British dignitary
The MatriarchaI System.
IN 40. e m Hv1-
ny peculiar matriarchal system. The
son of maharajah does not succeed
his father Instead, the throne goes
TO the maharajah's nephew, or if he
has no sister or no nephew, the success
sion passes to the son of his niece or
of female cousin.
Always there must be two potential
mothers Of maharajahs in the Travan-
core royal household. These are the
senior and junior ranis, or princess
es who are little if any less royal
than the reigning maharajah himself.
They are either the Indianapolis blood
sisters or other acceptable kinswoman
adopted as. sisters. The husbands of
ranis. though Of high caste. are not
royal merely conSOrtS.
Trayancore extends from the ex-
treme southern end of India, Cape
Cormorin up the west coast for 174
miles and inland for an average dis
rance Of so miles to the Western
Chats. Lying within only few de-
grees Of the equator, the country is
of course hot Moisture is abundant
B and the vegetation luxuriantly tropical
II Is rated by many travellers the most
fertile and picturesque area in India,
being linked In the latter regard with
tar differently situated Kashmir.
The country's claim to picturesque
ness rests largely on its coastal strip.
Sand splits form a series of lagoOns
and back waters which have been con-
nected by canals. On the shores of
these lagoons are a number of the
more important towns of Travancore,
and between them are the scattered
homes of the lagoon dwellers. The
few travellers who have penetrated
so far from the beaten path and who
do not mind hardships commend as
one Of the most picturesque journeys
in the world a voyage by "cahin-boat''
through the Travancore lagoons.
Travel by Cabin Boat.
The cabin-hoat Is long galley-like
affair with sort of hooded cabin not
high ..gh for one to stand erect.
The boat is propelled by a dozen or
mere oarsmen who work in shifts.
Because of the heat travelling is done
mostly at night The lord Of the boat
reclines in his cabin and enjoys the
breeze which sweeps through because
Of the motion Of the craft. On top
Of the cabin Is a bench on which the
voyager may sit in state, II he likes,
facing the rowers The boatmen sing
as they swing their oars-songs said
to he most interesting but entirely
unmelotlions. During the day cabin