MALABAR (ante), a country lying on the western coast of India, and extending from cape Comorin to the river Chandragiri in 12° 30' n. lat. The British province of 3Ialabar is a portion of this tract between 10° and 13° n. lat., bounded n. by the province of Canara; s. by the territories of the rajah of Cochin; w. by the ocean, and e. by the chain of the western Gliauts. Between these and the sea Malabar lies, extending 200 m. along the coast, with an average breadth of 40 miles. The country may be divided into two parts, the first of which lies on the sea-coast about 3 m. wide, and consists of a poor sandy soil, covered with cocoanut trees. Near the termination of the low hills, which are offsets of the Ghauts, the soil is better, and is planted with rice. The sandy coast is remarkably intersected by inlets of the sea, which often run for great lengths parallel to the coast, receiving the various mountain streams, and communicating with the ocean by different narrow shallow openings. In other places the fresh water descending from the mountains into the low lands within the downs upon the sea-coast in the rainy season, totally overflows them as they have no outlet, and when the water is evaporated, these lands are cultivated and yield rich crops of rice. The second and most extensive por tion of Malabar is in the vicinity of the Ghauts, and consists of low hills with narrow valleys between, which are rendered very fertile by the fine particles of mold washed down from the hills. The hills are low, their summits are level, dry and bare, present ing large surfaces of naked rock, with remarkably steep sides. These sides having the best soil are formed into terraces, and highly cultivated. The uplands are barren, and not much cultivated, and the inhabitants reside chiefly in the valleys and extensive ravines, upon the banks of the rivers and inlets. There are no large rivers, but innu merable small streams water the country. The climate though hot is generally healthful. The thermometer generally rises to about 90° in the shade, and seldom falls below 70°. The hot season is from February to May, and the wet from May to October. The low country of Malabar and the whole region under the western Ghauts are excessively hot in February, and the vapors aud exhalations are so thick that objects can with difficulty be distinguished at a distance of 5 miles. At the commencement of the western monsoon the rains fall very heavily both in the low country and OD the mountains. These rains wash away the soil, leaviug nothing but loose stones and sand on the hills. Forest trees abound, sometimes intermixed with corn-fields and plantationsof fruit trees. The teak is produced in great abundance. Sandal wood not produced in 3Ialabar, grows e. of the western Ghauts, and is exported from the ports of Malabar. Cocoanut trees abound. Black pepper is grown extensively, and is the chief export by Europeans who purchase about live-eizhths of what is raised, and send it either directly to Europe, or to Bombay and China. The remaiuder is exported by native traders to the bay of Bengal, Surat,
Scinde, and other places in mw. India, and a portion is sent to the Arabian_ ports of Muscat, Mocha, and the British port of Aden. Ginger, betel-nuts, cardamoms, turmeric, and arrow-root are grown. Cardamoms grow on the face of the mountains in forest lands. Within a few years the English have cultivated coffee on plantations situated on the slopes of mountains 2,000 ft. above sea-level. They obtain land either of the government or of natives, and not much capital being required, aDd the wages of native laborers being small, the profits are larg,e. Rice is raised, but not enough for home consumption. Ginger is largely cultivated and exported to Europe. The animals are the elephant and bison in the forests, and some tigers, leopards, deer, bears, hogs, por cupines, monkeys, ancl squirrels. There is an animal of the ox species, called the gayal, found in the recesses of the mountains, 10 ft. high, with beautiful horns. There are but few horses. There is a small bullock used for tilling the ground and drawing vehicles, but not rnuch in the transportation of goods, that being done by porters. Poultry has been introduced by Europeans, and common fowl now are abundant. Slavery existed in 3falabar until a legislative act was passed in 1843 abolishing it throughout the British possessions. 3falabar being intersected by many rivers, and inclosed by high mountains has been less disturbed than other parts of India by 3fohammedan invasion, until in 1763 it was invaded and conquered by Hyder Ali. On this account the manners and customs of the Hindus here have been less changed than in other parts of India. The population consists of Hindus, Mohammedans, Christians, and some Jews. The Hindus constitute the great proportion. They are divided into the following castes: The Brahmins called Namburies are the highest, and another more numerous class of Brahmins called Puttars. The Nairs are the next, and then the Teers or Tiars who cultivate the land, and are freemen. Lastly the Patiars or Poliars, who were formerly slaves. The most remarkable caste is the Nairs who claim to be born soldiers, though they are of various ranks and professions. They are of 11 ranks, aud form the militia of Malabar under the Brahmins and rajahs. They are very arrogant and formerly a Nair did not hesitate to strike down a cultivator or a fisherman who defiled him by touching his person, or a Patiar who did not turn aside when meeting him. The ancient Hindu state of property prevailing in 3falabar, most of the land cultivated or uncultivated belongs to individuals, who have an absolute control of it.