Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 2.djvu/520

JEW a garland, and so forth. We have remitted tolls and the tax on balances. Moreover, we have granted with (these) copper-leaves that he need not pay(the dues) which the (other) inhabitants of the city pay to the royal palace(kōyil), and that (he) may enjoy(the benefits) which (they) enjoy. To Issuppu Irappān of Anjuvannam, to the male children and to the female children born of him, to his nephews, and to the sons-in-law who have married (his) daughters (we have given) Anjuvannam (as) an hereditary estate for as long as the world and the moon shall exist. Hail! Thus do I know, Gōvardhana-Mārtāndan of Vēnādu. Thus do I know, Kōdai Srīkanthan of Vēnāpalinādu. Thus do I know, Māna-vēpala-Mānavyan of Ērālanādu. Thus do I know,Īrāyiram of Valluvanādu. Thus do I know, Kōdai Ravi of Nedumpuraiyūrnādu. Thus do I know, Mūrkham Sāttan, who holds the office of sub-commander of the forces. The writing of the Under-Secretary Van — Talaisēri — Gandan Kunrappōlan." "The date of the inscription," Dr. Hultzsch adds,"was the thirty-sixth year opposite to the second year. As I have shown on a previous occasion,* the meaning of this mysterious phrase is probably 'the thirty-sixth year (of the king's coronation, which took place) after the second year (of the king's yauvarājya).' The inscription records a grant which the king made to Issuppu Irappān,i.e., Joseph Rabbān. The occurrence of this Semitic name, combined with the two facts that the plates are still with the Cochin Jews, and that the latter possess a Hebrew translation of the document, proves that the donee was a member of the ancient Jewish colony on the western coast. The grant was made at Muriyikkōdu.