"Ghi is not in a great requisition. Gingelly oil never enters the kitchen. Milk is not taken except as porridge, which goes by the name of prathaman (first). A bolus-like preparation of boiled rice-flour with cocoanut scrapings, called kozhakkatta, is in great favour, and is known as Parasu Rama's palaharam, or the light refreshment originally prescribed by Parasu Rama. Conji, or rice gruel, served up with the usual accessories, is the Nambutiri's favourite luncheon. Cold drinks are rarely taken. The drinking water is boiled, and flavoured with coriander, cummin seeds, etc., to form a pleasant beverage." The horse is a sacred animal, and cannot be kept. The cow, buffalo, dog, and cat are the animals ordinarily kept in domestication; and it is said that a parrot is sometimes taught to repeat Sanskrit slokas. There are families, in which the business of the magician and sorcerer is hereditary, chiefly in South Malabar and among the Chela [94] Nambutiris, as those are termed who, in the turbulent period of Tippu's invasion, were made Muhammadans by force. True, these returned almost at once to their own religion, but a stigma attaches to them, and they are not looked on as true Nambutiris. It is extremely difficult to obtain reliable information regarding magic or anything allied to it among any people, and most difficult of all among the Nambutiris. They possess magic books, but they will neither produce nor expound them. Hara Mekhala is the name of one of these, which is most used. It is said that the sorcerer aims at the following:-- (1) Destruction (marana). (2) Subjection of the will of another (vasikarana). (3) Exorcism (uchchatana). (4) Stupefaction (stambhana). (5) Separation of friends (vidveshana). (6) Enticement as for love (mohana).