Tamburan.--For the following note on the Rajahs or Tamburans, I am indebted to the Travancore Census Report, 1901. "They form an endogamous community of Kshatriyas, and live as seven families in Travancore. They are distinguished by the localities in which they reside, viz., Mavelikkara, Ennaikkat, Kartikapalli, Mariappalli, Tiruvalla, Praikkara, and Aranmula. They are all related by blood, the connection between some of them being very close. Like the Koiltampurans, all the members of their community observe birth and death pollution with reference to each other. Their original home is Kolattunat in North Malabar, and their immigration into Travancore, where the reigning family is of the Kolattunat stock, was contemporaneous, in the main, with the invasion of Malabar by Tippu Sultan. The first family that came into the country from Kolattunat was the Putuppalli Kovilakam in the 5th century M.E. (Malabar era). The Travancore royal family then stood in need of adoption. The then Rajah arranged through a Koiltampuran of Tattarikkovilakam to bring from Kolattunat two princesses for adoption, as his negotiations with the then Kolattiri were fruitless. The Puttuppali Kovilakam members thus settled themselves at Kartikapalli, the last of whom died in 1030 M.E. The next family that migrated was Cheriyakovilakam, between 920 and 930 M.E. They also came for adoption. But their right was disputed by another house, Pallikkovilakam. They then settled themselves at Aranmula. The third series of migrations were during the invasion of Malabar by Tippu in 964 M.E. All the Rajahs living there at the time came over to Travancore, of whom, however, many returned home after a time. The Rajahs, like the Koiltampurans, belong to the Yajurveda section of Dvijas, but follow the sutra laid down by Baudhayana. Their gotra is that of Bhargava, i.e., Parasurama, indicating in a manner that these are Kshatriyas who were accepted by Parasurama, the uncompromising Brahmin of the Hindu Puranas. They have all the Brahminical Samskaras, only the Brahmin priest does most of them on their behalf. Chaulam, or tuft ceremony, is performed along with Upanayanam. The Samavartanam, or termination of the pupil stage, is celebrated on the fourth day of the thread investiture. Instruction in arms is then given to the Kshatriya boy, and is supposed to be kept up until the requisite skill has been obtained. The tali-tying (mangalya dharanam or pallikkettu of a Raja lady) is done by a Koiltampuran, who thereafter lives with her as her married husband. The Kanyakadanam, or giving away of the bride, is performed by the priest who attends also to the other Sastraic rites. The males take Sudra consorts. If the first husband leaves by death or otherwise, another Koiltampuran may be accepted. This is not called marriage, but kuttirikkuka (living together).