In Malabar, Tanjaur, and Madura, there once existed, before the incursion of Mohamed Aly, a sort of itinerant justice. A magistrate, together with four soldiers, went about through all the streets; and if they observed any disturbance, they quelled it on the spot, and punished the offenders. This custom prevails at present only in Malabar. A magistrate of this kind is called, in the Malabar dialect, _Pravaticàrer_, or _Adhigàri_; and has power to try offenders wherever he pleases; sometimes under the shade of a tree, and sometimes in a house; at one time in the market-place, and at another in the open fields. Some of these magistrates are very avaricious, and receive presents or bribes, _Kosha Colunnu_; but when such corrupt practices are brought to light, the king causes the unrighteous judges to be imprisoned, and their goods to be confiscated. Every thing I have here said relates to the Pagan natives; for among the Christians an establishment totally different prevails. CHAPTER VI. _Languages of the Indians._ The _Samskrda_ is the mother of all the languages in India. Its name implies that it must be a perfect and excellently formed language; for _Krda_ signifies a perfect, complete work; and the particle _Sam_, with each other, together, contains an allusion to the connection of its parts into one harmonious and regular whole. It is called the language of the gods and of philosophers; the sacred language. According to the doctrine of the Brahmans, it arose from the conversation which the _Ishvara_ (the Lord) had with the goddess _Shakti_ or _Bhavàni_ (Nature), when in conjunction they created the world. The original word _Samskrda_, which exists in no other language, is written in many different ways, not only by foreigners, but also by the Indians themselves, viz. _Samskrit_, _Samskretan_, _Samscrudam_, and _Samscret_. All these variations arise from the alphabets of the different provincial dialects which have been derived from this original language, and introduced into India. The case is the same here as with the Latin word _homo_, of which the Italians have made _uomo_, the French _homme_, and the Portuguese _homem_. The _Samskrda_ consists of fifty-two radical characters; and among this number there are many not to be found in any other language. It is, therefore, extremely difficult to pronounce properly the original Samscred words, and almost impossible to express them in other languages, and particularly the European. The Greeks, Persians, Romans, Chinese, Peguans, and Europeans have so corrupted and mutilated a great many Samscred words, that they can scarcely be known. Thus, for example, the river _Yamuna_ is in Pliny called _Jomanes_, and in Ptolemy _Djemna_ and _Diamuna_. M. De l’Isle calls it the _Gemené_, and Father Marcus à Tumba the _Giamuna_.