Cochin Tribes and Castes

The volumes on The Castes and Tribes off Cochin, which form the present state of Kerala, by the famous ethnologist L.K. Anantha Krishna Iyer are a rich and varied collection of data on the numerous castes which inhabit this area. These volumes are the fruit of the lifelong research off an enthusiastic and energetic ethnologist. The first volume gives a descriptive account of the hill and jungle tribes and other low castes off this part of the country in the ascending order of social status. These tribal folks have a peculiar interest for anthropologists as they appear to retain many of the customs and beliefs which we may well suppose characterized making in very ancient times.
The second and third volume of this most important monograph on a part of the country which is most fortunate in possessing an assemblage off tribes and castes which is without parallel elsewhere in an area of equal size, deals with other groups which are higher in social grade. The higher castes in local term means Ambalvasies, Elayads, Muthads, Brahmans, Jews, Muhammadan, Christians and few other foreign castes. The major tribes and castes dealt with by the learned author in all the three volumes are described below.
In the first volume the castes described are—The Kadara, the Malayans, the Nattu Malayans and the Konga Malayans, the Eravallens, the Nayadis, the Ulladans, the Parayans, the Pulayans, the Vettuvans, the Koodans, the Kanakkans, the Pulluvans, the Velans, the Panans, the Kaniyans, the Fishing castes viz., the Valans, the Katalarayans, the Mukkuvans, the Izhuvans, the Kammalans, beside many other minor castes.
The other two volumes contain material on the Nayars, the Kudupattans. The Velakkathalarans, the Veluthedans, the Chaliyans, the Tarakans, the Ambalavasis, the Nambidis, the Adikals, the Muttatus, the Ilayatus, the Chakkiyars, Muttavilasam, Kuttus, the Nambiyars, the Chengezhi Namiyar, the Tamil Brahmans, the Embrans and Konkani Brahmans, the non-indigenous castes of the Ambattan, Audi-chakkan, Kaikkolan, Kavaras, Kudumi Chethi, Kumubaran, Odden, the Jews, the Syrian Christian, Jonakan Mappillas etc., etc; alongwith their traditions, customs, rites and ceremonies. All the volumes are profusely illustrated with art plates.