The enquiry into cases of adultery is described as follows by Mr. Subramani Aiyar. "It is conducted by the Smarta, and hence arises the name (smartavicharam) by which it is known. Whenever a Nambutiri woman's chastity is suspected, she is at once handed over to society for enquiry, no considerations of personal affection or public policy intervening. The mother or brother may be the first and only spectator of a shady act, but feels no less bound to invite, and generally pay very heavily for a public enquiry by society according to its recognised rules. The suspect is at once transferred to an isolation shed in the same compound, variously called by the name of anchampura or fifth room (outside the nalukettu or quadrangle), or the pachcholappura, a new shed with green thatch roofing put up for the occasion. She may be seen here by her husband, his father and uncles, her father, father's father, father's maternal grandfather, and their sons, but by none else. Once a prohibited member sees her, the brand of infamy indubitably settles on her, and the smartavicharam is considered foreclosed. For beginning a smartavicharam, the sanction of the ruling Raja has to be obtained. The matter is carried to his ears, after a preliminary enquiry, called dasivicharam, has been gone through. For this, the woman's male relations, in conjunction with the Brahmans of the neighbourhood, interrogate the Dasi or Nayar maid-servant attached to the suspected woman. Along with the application for royal sanction in Travancore, a fee of sixty-four fanams or nine rupees has to be sent in, and is credited to the treasury of Sri Padmanabha Swami, as whose deputy the Maharaja is supposed to rule the country. The Maharaja then appoints a Smarta (judge), two Mimamsakas, an Akakkoyimma, and a Purakkoyimma. The office of Smarta is hereditary. If a family becomes extinct, the Yoga or village union nominates another in its place. The Mimamsakas are Nambutiris learned in the law, and their office is seldom hereditary. They are appointed to help the Smarta in his enquiries. The Akakkoyimma, or person whose business is to preserve order, holds his appointment by heredity. The Purakkoyimma is the proxy of the sovereign himself. In ancient days, and even so late as the time of the great Martanda Varma, the ruling sovereign himself was present during the trial, and preserved order. Now a deputy is sent by the Maharaja. He is generally the magistrate of the taluk, who, if he finds it inconvenient to attend the meeting, delegates the function to the chief village officer. The Smarta, when he receives the royal commission (neet) for holding the enquiry, receives from the woman's relations a small tribute of money (dakshina). The Mimamsakas, it may be observed, are selected by the Smarta. In Travancore alone is the Smarta's authority supreme, for no Vaidika lives in this territory, and none are generally invited. In other parts of Malabar, where