_Marava_ was formerly a province of the kingdom of _Madura_. The ruler of it was called _Nyaquen_, that is, the lord; but the Europeans have corrupted this word, and made of it _Naik_ or _Naiken_. The northern part of _Marava_ is at present under the dominion of the nabob Mohamed Aly and his friends the English; but the western is subject to the king of _Travancor_, who possesses also a part of _Madura_ and _Marava_ on the east, from Cape _Comari_, in consequence of a treaty which he entered into with the English and Mohamed Aly. This king of Travancor, however, is obliged to pay the _Coppa_, that is, a yearly tribute, to Mohamed Aly, who may be called a creature of the English, and whom they generally employ as a state engine when they wish to exercise their oppression against the Indian princes. The Jesuits formerly had a great many Christian congregations in _Marava_, and this missionary establishment was connected with those in _Tanjaur_ and _Madura_; but, in my time, these congregations had for the most part dropped off; and the few still remaining were under the direction of priests from _Goa_, who did not bestow too much attention upon them. The interior parts of _Madura_ and _Marava_, in matters of spiritual judicature, are subject to the archbishop of _Cudnegalur_ or _Craugalor_; and places on the sea-coast, which do not extend farther than ten miles into the country, belong to the diocese of the bishop of _Cochin_. _Tanjaur_ lies between the tenth and eleventh degree of latitude, and 25 seconds farther towards the north east. This kingdom is bounded on the south by the sea and the province of _Marava_, not far from the fortress of _Tiruvananganur_, which belongs to _Marava_. On the east it is washed also by the sea, and towards the north by the rivers _Cavèri_ and _Colàrru_, the latter of which is very improperly written _Colram_. In the Samscred language it signifies the river of the wild hogs; from _Cola_ a wild hog, and _Arru_ a river; for these animals were formerly found there in great abundance. Both these rivers, the _Cavèri_ and _Colàrru_, are exceedingly large, and are held in as great veneration by the eastern Indians as the Ganges is by the northern. Those who belong to the sect of the _Vishnuvites_, address their prayers to _Vishnu_ as the ruler of the waters; and they believe that he created the universe from water: for this reason they perform their lustrations at rivers, and on their return carry with them some bits of yellow earth, which they pick up on the banks. When an individual of this sect dies, his body is burnt, and the ashes are thrown into one of these rivers. From this it appears that the Indians show divine honours to the elements after the manner of the ancient Persians.