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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[SEPTEMBER, 1895.
when, floating down in the fulness of time, their influence came to be felt, the nett, or skeleton, results alone sank into the structure of her society to be preserved unmolested for ages to follow. Thus taking all in all, Travancore, I earnestly believe, deserves more attention from the students of Indian history than at first sight her apparent geographical and historical isolation would seem to entitle her to; her population being so remarkably varied and typical, and the social fabric & veritable mine of precious antiquities in many a department of anthropology.
To the best of my knowledge the mine remains unworked - nay even unnoticed - up to date. I do not complain that the history of the people is yet to be written; but I confoss I am surprised to find that the political history of this principality, one of the most ancient in all India, is itself a blank beyond the immediate present. Even of the ruling dynasty, whose origin, Mr. Shangoonny Menon observes, tradition reckons as coeval with creation itself, what information are we in a position to offer to the critical historian beyond a couple of centuries ago ? The Travancore Government Almanac publishes, no doubt, year after year, a list of 35 sovereigns from 1335 A. D., as having immediately preceded the present Mahârâja ; but, apart from such indefinite and suspicious names as. Wanaut Moota Rajah,' which cannot but detract from the scientific value of the document, what little I know from independent and indubitable sources of knowledge is not in favour of its accuracy. Mr. Shungoonny Menon begins, indeed, his History with Brahmâ the Creator, but he fills up his first chapter, which brings down the account to Mårtândavarman, who began his rule just 164 years ago, i. e., within the memory in all probability of the historian's own grandfather, with such questionable materials as to render it difficult to rebut Mr. Seweil's condemnation of the whole as devoid of historical value. Considering that of the political history of the country, of the history of the unquestionably ancient royal dynasty itself, we know so little, it is no wonder that we should know still less in the more obscure and less attractive branches of Travancore archæology
But how long are we to remain in what I cannot but describe as a lamentable, if not disgraceful, condition of ignorance? To a native of Travancore - and I am one - it cannot but be galling to have to wait till competent foreign, scholars find leisure to investigate and enlighten him on the history of his own fatherland. He would rather, whether fally qualified for it or not, gird up his loins and be doing something, than be simply moaning over the fact till the fortunate advent of a competent savant. But even should one be willing to wait, the sources of sure information, the facts and things to be observed, do not seem to be endowed with equal placid patience. With the rapid spread of education and the general aprising and commingling of the masses, the very things of archeological import are fast vanishing out of sight. No one with wakeful eyes could live a decade now in Travancore without being constantly reminded of the extraordinary rapidity with which the tide of progress is washing away all old landmarks, even in this retired creek of the so-called "changeless East.” Traditional beliefs, ways, and manners are dissolving like spectres in the air. Every caste seems bent now upon giving up its own, for the sake of the forms and ceremonies, dress and ornaments, and even the modes of speech, of some other, which it supposes to be superior to itself. What traits of the primitive Dravidian Vêņad chiefs could one discover in the Anglicized Nair, or of the Vedic age of simplicity in the Nambúri police constable? However desirable such changes may be from other points of view, to the antiquarian they cannot be more gratifying than the too rapid gyrations of an animalcole can be to the microscopist. To neglect vaccination and
Vide the opening sentence of Mr. Shungoonny Menon's History of Travancore. • Vide page 43, Part II. of the Almanac for 1894.
6 Means but the ruling sovereign of Travancore,' Wanaut' being Vépad or Travancore, and Moota Rajah' or Hitta Tampiran, being the popular way of styling the eldest member of the royal family.
Vide Sewell's Lists of Antiquities, Vol. II, part treating of Travancore.
