COCHIN, a small feudato4 state on the western side of the Peninsula orIndia, with a seaport capital of the same name, lying' between lat. 9° 48' and 10° 50' N., and long. 76° 5' and 76° 58' E. ; the area, 1361 square miles, and popu lation in 1881, 600,278" souls. It has many marine lagoons, extending for 120 miles, and communicating with the sea; and its ghat forests have much valuable poon, angely, etc. Its rajas claim to be descended from Cheruman Perumal, who ruled over the whole country of Kerala, iucluding Travancore and Malabar, as viCeroy of the Chola kings, about the beginning of the 9th century, and afterwards established himself a8 independent ruler. Cochin felhto the Portuguese in the 16th century. In 1662 the, city was taken by the Dutch ; iu the 18th centusry,the Zamorin of Calicut held it for a short time • in 1776 Hyder Ali, and in 1790 Tipu, overran th'e country. On the fall of Seringapatam in the end of the 18th century, it became tributary to the •British. By a treaty in 1791, the British guaranteed the integrity of the kingdotu ; but in 1809, after the overthrow of the Mysore government, a faction 'made common .cause avith the Travancore people, and carried on an unsuccessful war against the British, and .in. 1819 the British assumed all military colttrol. The principal races are,—Maleali, 535,191 ; • Xonkani, 15,113 ; -.Tamular, 33,628 ; Teling, 9905. Of the population, 140,262 are Christians, 426,922 are Hindus, 12,499 Maho medans, and 1278 Jews ; the ehief Hindu castes being • Brahman, Kshatriya, Ambalavasi temple servants, Nair cultivators, PRIM government ser vants, Otter contractors,•Kanakvboatmen, Mopla polygars,i Vallamar freshwater, andtMarakan salt water fishermen and artisans, Ezhuwan labourers, Cherumar predial slaves, and Kada and Maleali hillmen and Jews.
The Jacobite and 'Nestorian .Christians are under the Archbishop of 'Antioch, the Romano Sylians, under the Archbishop of Malabar, and the liomish Christians under .the Archbishop of Goa. The cocoa palm is vastly cultivated ; fish is very abundant ; its ornamental work in metals, and its wood and ivory carving, are lamed. The raja's family claim Kshatriya descent, but follow the -rule of mari makatayum, or destensus ab utero, the children of sisters succeeding. If the raja's younger brother be sesiorto MI his nephews, he becomes elliah.,raja, or heir-apparent; but if the raja's eldest sister have a 'S013 older than the raja'S brother, the nephew ranks,in the line of succession before the,uncle.
The higher castes only are permitted to approach the royal dwelling, and handsome welMed -Brah mans, etc., thus form the entire population of that locality; and these are so clean and .neat in appearance, and of so fair aeolour, tha,t one seems to have been transported.among an entirely new and superior nation. The princesses and. their ladies wear an abundance of snow-white muslin around the hips; but no upper garment. The, neck is decorated with valuable ornaments, and the ears support very large and beautifully chased pendants. •The hair is either worn in a large double.knot on the crown, or on the.right side of the he,ad, and a band of gold strains it from off the face. The raja.and all the princes are indis tinguishable, in private, from the people around, for their dress consists simply of the muslin round the middle. The cocoanut palm grows abun dantly, and, while yielding large returns, allows leisure for other avocations.—Inip. Gctz.