PREFACE,TABLE OF CONTENTS, ILLUSTRATIONS .

The Cochin State Manual written by Sri.C.Achyutha Menon, is a monumental work portraying the socioeconomic, political and cultural life of the erstwhile State of Cochin.  Before the publication of Cochin State Manual there had been very few books on the History of Cochin State.

As a historian with an objective mind, Menon consulted all the available original and secondary literary sources for the compilation of the Cochin State Manual.  His deep knowledge about the inscriptions and archaeological  sources of the Cochin State helped him to give a new touch to the History of Cochin. Cochin, being the major centre for trade and commerce, attracted the notice of many foreign travellers.  Sri.Menon made use of all these evidences in the preparation of this volume.

PREFACE

In preparing this Manual, I have generally followed the plan of the District Gazetteers of British India, the only points of difference being the omission of the chapters on Season and Rainfall and Local Self-government and the addition of the chapters on Religious and Charitable Instructions and General administration.  All that has to be said in regard to season and rainfall has been embodied in the chapter on Physical Description, and as municipal administration was introduced here only about this time last year, there is not much tobe said as yet on the subject.  As Cochin is a state and not a district, some account of the constitution of its Government was deemed to be necessary, as also the chapter on Religious and Charitable Institutions, since they form one of the administrative departments of the state.

As this Manual covers to a considerable extent the same ground as the District Manual and the District Gazetteer of Malabar, I have freely laid under contribution the information contained in those excellent works, to the authors of which my grateful acknowledgments are due.  Other authorities to which reference has been made have been quoted as far as possible in the footnotes. My grateful thanks are in a special manner due to Mr.A.Galletti, I.C.S, who was kind enough to allow me to peruse the proofs of his translation of Dutch records, and to the Rev.Father Montiero de Aguiar, Secretary to the Cochin Curia, who translated for me several interesting passages from Lendas, de India and other works.

The Manual owes its being to the present Diwan of Cochin, Mr.A.R.Banerji, I.C.S.  Not only did the idea originate with him, but the work itself was started under his orders and carried out under his supervision.  Although the book is thus an official publication, I am solely responsible for the correctness of the facts and comments contained in it.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I

PHISICAL DESCRIPTION

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Situation, boundaries and area (1) - Etymology of the name (2) - Divisions (3) - Towns (4) - Physical aspects (4) - HILLS: Western Ghats - (5) Peaks - (6) THE RIVER SYSTEM: The Alwaye or Periyar (7) - The Chalakudi - Tributaries of the Chalakudi (8) - The Karuvannur (8) - The Ponnani (9) - The Chittur (9) - Minor streams (10) - THE BLACK WATER STREAMS (10) - FRESH WATER LAKES (12) ISLANDS - (13)THE COAST LINE (13) - PORTS: Cochin (14) - Malipuram and Narakal - Cranganur (16) - THE NARAKAL MUD BANK: (16) Its origin and nature (17) - SOILS (19) - CLIMATE: Rainfall (19) - Humidity (21) Temperature (22) - Seasons (23) - Winds (24) - Natural calamities, etc. - (24) Effects of the climate (25) - GEOLOGY: (26) Laterite (29) - Minerals - (30) FLORA (24) - FAUNA: Big game (32) - Small game (32) - Domestic animals - Birds (33) - Reptiles-Fish (34).

back to top
CHAPTER II
POLITICAL HISTORY

HISTORY OF KERALA: Prefatory (37) - Origin of Kerala (39) - Colonization of Kerala - Aborigines (39) - Nayars (40) - Namburis - (41) Tiyyans or Izhuvans (43) - The Chera or Kerala Kingdom (43) - Chera Kings (44) - Government (45) - Early relations with the west (46) - The Perumals (47) - Cheraman Perumal (48) - His period and the division of his kingdom (48) - EARLY HISTORY OF COCHIN: (50) Early kings of Cochin (51) - Jews and Christians (52) - Panniyur and Chovaram factions (53) - Foreign invasions (54) - Fourteenth and Fifteenth centuries (56) - Accounts of travellers (57) - COCHIN IN 1500: Introductory - Extent of the state (59) - The royal family (60) - The government (61) - The Naduvazhis (62) - Devasvams (64) - The power of the king (64) - National assemblies (66) - Revenue (67) - Law and Justice (68) - The army and military training (70) - Arms and dress (71) - Methods of warfare (72) - Blood feuds (73) - Sham fights - Trade and occupation (74) - Means of communication (75) - THE ADVENT OF THE PORTUGUESE: Da Gama’s expedition (76) -
Cabral’s expedition (77) - Cabral in Cochin (78) - Cabral’s departure (79) - The Portuguese left in Cochin (80) - Da Nova’s expedition (80) - Da Gama’s second expedition (81) - THE STRUGGLE WITH THE ZAMORIN: Invasion of Cochin (83) - Defeat of the Cochin army (83)  - Retreat to Vaipin (85) - Rescued by reinforcements from Portugal (86) -Portuguese fort in Cochin (86) - The Zamorin again invades Cochin (87) - Pacheco’s defense of Cochin (88) - Defeat of the Zamorin’s army (89) - Sack of Cranganur (90) - Results of the war (91) -

back to top

PORTUGUESE SUPREMACY:  Abdication of Goda Varma and coronation of Rama Varma (92) - Cochin made the seat of Government (93) - Arrival of Alfonso D’Albuquerque (94) - Disputed succession in Cochin (94) - Albuquerque and the Zamorin (95) - Goa (97) - Death of Albuquerque (98) - Albuquerque’s immediate successors (99) - Vasco Da Gama again (99) - Cochin after Vasco Da Gama’s time (100) - Porakad (102) - Cranganur (103) - The Zamorin (104) - Tekkumkur (105) - Portuguese Cochin (107) - Decline of the Portuguese power (108) - The Dutch and English (110) - THE DUTCH CONQUEST OF COCHIN: Disputed succession (111) - The first advance of the Dutch (113) - Capture of Cranganur (114) - Battle of Mattancheri (115) - Siege of Cochin (117) - The siege raised  (118) - Second siege of Cochin (119) - Capture of Cochin (119) - DUTCH SUPRIMACY: (121) Dutch Cochin (120) - The new King of Cochin (121) - The Paliyat Acchan (122) - The Zamorin and Cochin (124) - An attempted revolution (125) - War with the Zamorin (127) - Renewal of hostilities (128) - Dutch reverses (129) - Final success (130) - Raja Rama Varma (131) - Internal Troubles (132) - Raja Rama Varma (133) - Ravi Varma’s successor (134) - The rice of Travancore (135) - The Dutch war with Travancore (136) - Conclusion of peace (137) - COCHIN BETWEEN TWO FIRES: Travancore and Cochin (139) - The Chazhur dispute (140) - Peace negotiations (141) - The campaign in Porakad (142) - The advance of Travancore (143) - Komi Acchan (144) - The Zamorin’s invasion (145) - Fights with the Zamorin’s men (146) - New treaty with Travancore (148) - Defeat of the Zamorin (148) - Travancore lines (150) - Treatment of the

back to top

chiefs (151) - Administrative changes (151) - Troubles with the Dutch (152) - MYSORIAN SUPREMACY: Haidar’s invasion of Malabar (154) - Cochin made tributary to Haider (155) - Haider and Dutch (156) - Haider’s relation with Cochin (158) - Two deaths in Cochin (159) - Troubles with Christians (160) - Tipu’s designs on Travancore (161) - Tipu’s persecutions (162) - Tipu’s casus belli against Travancore (163) - Tipu’s march through Cochin (165) - Tipu’s attack and capture of the lines (166) - Tipu’s retreat (167) - SUBSIDIARY ALLIANCE WITH THE BRITISH: Terms of the first treaty (168) - Raja Rama Varma (169) - Settlement of claims (170) - Kavalapara, Tenmalapuram and Vadamalapuram (171) - Chetva, Cranganur and Vanneri (172) - Parur, Alangad, and Kunnatnad (173) - Misunderstandings with the Dutch (174) - Capture of Cochin by the English (175) - The Raja’s relations with the English (177) - Death of the Raja (177) - Religious ferment (177) - Paliyath Acchan again (178) - Destruction of British Cochin (179) - Disaffection in Travancore (180) - Cochin joins Travancore (181) - Preparation for revolt (182) - Outbreak of the insurrection (182) - Insurrection quelled (184) - BRITISH SUPREMACY: The new treaty (184) - The new minister (186) - Change of Resident (187) - State of country (188) - Colonel Munro as Resident-Diwan (189) - The Resident and the Raja (190) - Suppression of lawlessness and corruption (191) - Administrative reforms (192) - Revenue and finance (193) - Reduction of subsidy (194) - Jurisdiction over Christians, etc.  (195) - The first Diwan appointed (196) - Nanjappayya’s  administration (197) - Revenue settlement (198) - Diwan Seshagiri Rau : death of the Raja (199) - Diwan Sankara Menon (200) - Diwan Venkitasubbayya (201) - Judicial reforms (202) - Revenue and agriculture (203) - Sundry reforms (204) - Venkitasubbayya’s  relations with the Raja (204) - Venkitasubbayya’s retirement (205) - Appointment of Sankara Variyar (206) - ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRESS: Sankara Variyar’s antecedence (207) - His administration (208) - Financial (209) - Public works (210) - Agriculture and trade (212) - Other measures (213) - The Madras government on administration (213) - The Court of Directors on the administration (215) - Death of the Raja (216) - His successor’s relations with the Diwan (217) - Opinion of the Court of Directors (218) - Death of the Raja (219) - Raja Vira Kerala Varma (220) - Death of Sankara Variyar (221) - Diwan Venkata Rau (222) - His retirement (223) - Retirement of General Cullen (224) - Diwan Sankunny Menon (226) - Raja Sir Ravi Varma (226) - Judicial reforms (227) - The Inter Portal Trade Convention (228) - Revenue and finance (229) - Public works (229) - Other improvements (230) - Sankunny Menon’s retirement (231) - Diwan Govinda Menon (231) - Settlement of boundary disputes with Travancore (232) - Raja Sir Vira Kerala Varma (233) - Diwans Tiruvenkatachariar and Subramanya Pillai (233) - Raja Sir Rama Varma (234) - Recent progress (235).

back to top

CHAPTER III

THE PEOPLE

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Density of the population (237) - Urban and rural population (238) - Parent tongue (239) - Malayalam language and literature (239) - Education and occupation (240) - religion (240) - THE HINDUS: Their religion (241) - Tutelary deities (242) - Demon worship, sorcery and witchcraft (243) - Serpent worship (244) - Other worships and beliefs (244) - Caste system (245) - marriage and inheritance (246) - Origin of the system (247) - Its present position (249) - ONSPECTUS OF MALABAR CASTES: Social precedence (249) - Namburis (251) - Namburi subdivisions (252) - Elayads and Muttads (254) - Kshatriyas (254) - Ambalavasis (255) - Samantans (257) - Nayars (257) - Nayar titles and sub-castes (258) - Tarakans (259) - Law class Sudras (260) - Kammalans (260) - Izhuvans (261) - Fishermen and boatmen (261) - Other polluting castes (262) - Slave castes (262) - Hill tribes (263) - FOREIGN CASTES: (264) Tamil Brahmanas (265) - Kankani Brahmanas (265) - Other Brahmanas (266) - Vaniyans and Kudumis (267) - Other castes (267) - DOMESTIC AND SOCIAL LIFE: Dwellings (268) - House sites (270) - House names (270) - Ordinary dress (270) - Ceremonial dress (271) - Ornaments (272) - Games and amusements (272) - Festivals (273) - Enangu (274) - Social etiquette (275) - Ceremonies (276) - Agricultural ceremonies (277) - THE CHRISTIANS: Origin of Christianity in Malabar (278) - Probable date of  its introduction (279) - Early Malabar church Nestorian (280) - Thomas Cana and the Malabar church (280) - Copper-plate grants to Christians (281) - The Malabar church in the Middle ages (282) - Advent of the Portuguese (282) - Synod of Diamper (283) - Revolt of the Syrians (287) - Chaldean Syrians (288) - Protestants (289) - Church government, ritual, etc.  (289) - General characteristics (290) - Syrian Christian nomenclature (291) - Statistics of Christian sects (292) - THE MUHAMMADANS: Origin of Muhammadanism in Malabar (292) - Muhammadan races and sects (293) - Characteristics (294) - Religion (295) - THE JEWS: (295) Their first settlement in Cochin (296) - Their subsequent history (297) - White and Black Jews (297) - Characteristics (298).

back to top

CHAPTER IV

AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

AGRICULTURAL STATITICS: Arable lands (300) - Nilam (300) - Parambas (301) - Unassigned lands (301) - PADDY CULTIVATION: (301) Double crop lands (302) - Single crop lands (303) - Kole lands (303) - Kari, puli and chal lands (305) - Fugitive cultivation (305) - Rotation crops (305) - PARAMBA CULTIVATION: The coconut palm (307) - The areca palm (309) - Jack and Mango trees (309) - Other fruit trees (310) - Plantain (310) - Other vegetables (311) - Edibles roots (311) - Spices and condiments (312) - Special products - Coffee (312) - Tea (313) - Rubber (313) - IRRIGATION: (314) Chittur irrigation works (314) - Other irrigation projects (315) - Possible irrigation projects (316) - ECONOMIC CONDITION: Condition of the agricultural population (316) - Agricultural methods and conditions (317) - Agricultural improvement (318).
back to top

CHAPTER V

FOREST ADMINISTRATION
  FORESTS: Extent (320) - Ownership (320) - Administrative divisions (321) - Natural divisions (321) - Flora (322) - Monopoly trees  (322) - Junglewood (323) - Other exploitable trees (324) - Minor forest produce (324) - EARLY ADMINISRATION: The leasing of forests (325) - Introduction of departmental working (325) - Organisation of department (326) - Departmental system (326) - Permit system (326) - Contract system (328) - Degradation of the forests (329) - Plantations (330) - Elephants (330) - PRESENT ADMINISRATION: Report on the forests (331) - Reorganisation of the department (332) - New system of the working of the forests (333) -Forest crimes and forest laws (334) - Forest settlement (334) - FOREST TRAMWAY: It’s origin (335) - Development of the scheme (336) - Description of the Tramway (337) - Incline ways (338) - Rolling stock (338) - Tramway administration (339) - Financial (339).

back to top

CHAPTER VI

OCCUPATIONS AND TRADE

OCCUPATIONS: Their distribution (340) - Industrial occupations (341) - Professional classes (341) - INDUSTRIES: Weaving (342) - Development of weaving industry (344) - Coconut fibre industry (344) - Grass mats (344) - Coarse mats and baskets (345) - Coconut oil (345) - Other oils (346) - Toddy drawing (346) - Arecanut preparation (347) - Timber trade (348) - Bricks and tiles (348) - Rice mills (349) - Artisans (349) - Bell-metal (350) - TRADE: Sea-born trade (351) - Exports (351) - Imports (351) - Inland trade (352) - WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: (352) Weights (352) - Measures of capacity (353) - Measures of length, etc.  (353).

CHAPTER VII

MEANS OF COMMUNICATION

WATERWAYS: Back-waters and rivers (355) - Their development and present condition (355) - Ferries (356) - Boats (357) - ROADS: (357) Old highways (357) - Road making (358) - Existing roads and their maintenance (358) - Avenues (359) - Traveller’s bungalows (360) - Tolls (360) - STATE HIGHWAY: Early projects (360) - Introduction of the railway (361) - Working agreement (362).

CHAPTER VIII
PUBLIC HEALTH

GENERAL HEALTH: (365) Endemic diseases (365) - Epidemic diseases (365) - Vaccination (366) - Infirmities (367) - MEDICAL RELIEF: Indigenous (367) - Introduction of European treatment (368) - Medical institutions (369) - Special institutions (369) - Departmental supervision (370) - SANITATION: Sanitary Boards (370) - Department of Public Health (371) - Municipalities (371) - Vital statistics (372).
back to top

CHAPTER IX

EDUCATION

HISTORICAL: Indigenous system of education (373) - First state schools (374) - Early English schools (374) - Subsequent progress (375) - EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: Ernakulam College (376) - Upper secondary schools (376) - Lower secondary schools (377) - Primary schools (377) - Special schools (378) - Government Industrial and Technical schools (378) - Female education (379) - Recent Educational reforms (379) - Direction and Inspection (382) - LITERACY: (382) Literacy by religion, caste, etc.  (383).

CHAPTER X
LAND REVENUE ADMINISRATION

LAND TENURES: Prefatory (385) - Traditionary account (386) - Probable origin (387) - Verumpattam (388) - Kanam (389) - Inam (390) - Other tenures (390) - ORIGIN OF LAND REVENUE: (391) Previous sources of revenue (391) - What necessitated levy of land tax (392) - Kettezhuttus and kandezhuttus (393) - Units of measurement (393) - Division of lands (394) - EARLY SETTLEMENT: Kettezhuttu of 937 M. E (1761-2) (395) Subsequent Kettezhuttus (395) - Kettezhuttu of parambas (396) - Kandezhuttu of nilams (398) - Communication rates (400) - House tax (401) - Water cess (402) - THE NEW SETTLEMENT: (402) - Survey operations (403) - Outrun and cost of survey (404) - Settlement legislation (404) - General principles (405) - Rates of assessment - Nilams (406) - parambas (407) - Tirumulkazhcha (408) - Inams (408) - Land revenue assignments (409) - The old and the new rates (410) - Financial results (411) - Concluding remarks (412) - THE VILLAGE SYSTEM: Old village organisation (412) - Change of system (414) - Villages (414) - Uzhiyam service (415) - TALUK AND DIVISION CHARGES: Taluks (415) - Divisions (416).
back to top

CHAPTER XI
RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS

DEVASVAMS: Their former position (418) - Minor Devasvams (419) - Assumption of Devasvams by the state (420) - Incorporated Devasvams (420) - Administration of Devasvams (422) - Devasvam lands (422) - Finances (423) - Investigation of Devasvam administration (424) - Reorganisation and reform (424) - CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS: (425) Uttupuras (425) - Their number and cost (426) - Water pandals (426) - Other charities (426).

CHAPTER XII
SALT, ABKARI AND MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE

MONOPOLY SYSTEM-SALT: Old system (428) - Present system (429) - Fish-curing (430) - ABKARI: (430) Present system (431) - Opium and ganja (432) - TOBACCO: Monopoly system (432) - Licensing system (432) - Present system (433) - MISCELLANIOUS: Customs (433) - Pepper (434) - Excise administration (434) - Financial (434).
back to top

CHAPTER XIII
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

PRE-BRITISH PERIOD: (436) Mode of administrating justice (437) - Punishment (438) - Trial by ordeal (439) - Proceedings against debtors (440) - An eighteenth century account (440) - Caste tribunals (441) - BRITISH PERIOD: Colonel Munro’s reforms (444) - Early civil courts (445) - Later changes (446) - Present civil courts (448) - Civil procedure (449) - Limitation (449) - Court fees (449) - Stamps (450) - Registration (451) - Pleaders (451) - Volume of litigation (452) - Early criminal courts (453) - The reforms of 1010 (453) - Subsequent charges (454) - Present criminal courts (455) - Special Magistrates (456) - Crime (457) - Police (457) - Jails (458) - Military (459).

CHAPTER XIV
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

THE GOVERNMENT: his Highness the Raja (461) - The civil list (462) - The Diwan (463) - The Huzur Secretariat (464) - Legislation (465) - Coinage (465) - Finance (466) - ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS: Departmental heads (467) - Accounts (467) - Public Work (468) - Anchal (469).
back to top

CHAPTER XV

GAZETTEER

CHITTUR TALUK: Chittur (470) - Ayilur (473) - Chittur (473) - Kozhinjampara (474) - Mulattara (474) - Nallepilli (475) - Nelliampatis (475) - Nemmara (476) - Parambikolam (476) - Pattancheri (477) - Tattamangalam (477) - COCHIN - KANAYANNUR TALUK: (477) Andikadavu (479) - Chellanam (479) - Chennamangalam (479) - Cheranellur (480) - Chovara (480) - Elankunnapuzha (480) - Ernakulam (481) - Kumbalam (483) - Kuzhupilli (483) - Malayattur (483) - Malipuram (484) - Mattancheri (485) - Mulavukad (485) - Mulavukad (485) - Narakal (486) - Pallipuram (486) - Pallurutti (486) - Tripunittura (486) - Vadavukod (487) - Vaipin Island (487) - Vellarapilli (489) - Vendurutti (489) - CRANGANUR TALUK (489) - MUKUNDAPURAM TALUK: (492) Adur (494) - Chalakudi (495) - Irinjalakuda (495) - Kalleyyumkara (496) - Kanjirapilli (496) - Karupadanna (496) - Mala (497) - Nellayi (497) - Pudukad (497) - Tiruvanchikulam (497) - Trikkur (498) - Varandarapilli (498) - TALAPILLI TALUK: (498) Arthat (500) - Chelakara (500) - Cheruturutti (501) - Chovannur (501) - Kadavallur (501) - Kunnamkulam (502) - Kuttampilli (502) - Mullurkara (503) - Nelluvaya (503) - Pazhayannur  (503) - Tiruvilvamala (504) - Vadakancheri (504) - TRICHUR TALUK: (505) - Antikad (506) - Aranattukara (506) - Arrattupuzha (507) - Killannur (507) - Manalur (508) - Mundur (508) - Ollur (509) - Pattikad (509) - Perumanam (509) - Trichur (510) - Urakam (512) - Viyyur (512).
back to top

ILLUSTRATIONS

KING OF COCHIN RIDING ON AN ELEPHANT ATTENDED BY HIS NAYARS (SIXTEENTH CENTURY)

SIXTEENTH CENTURY BOATS AND BOATMEN

PORTUGUESE COCHIN