The region was originally called Kerala. It had been held by a chief styled Perumál Chéramán, a deputy of the kings of the Chéra dynasty, whose dominion appears to have extended over all the country west of the gháts, from Gokarnam in North Kánara down to about the ninth degree of north latitude. Tradition says that the last of these Viceroys became a Musalmán about the year 825 A.D., and resolved to go to Mecca, but, before doing so, he divided his possessions among his principal chiefs. To the Chirakkal or Kolattiri chief he left his regalia and the northern part of his territory; to the Utayavar of Venát, ancestor of the Travancore Rájá, the southern part; to the Perimpatappa chief, who is supposed to have been his son, Cochin; and to the Zamorin his sword, and as much country as the crowing of a cock could be heard over[1]. The language spoken in this part of Southern India is Malayálim, a Dravidian tongue
- ↑ Another version is that the partition referred to was made on his death-bed, but although the cause assigned for the bequests varies as represented respectively by Hindu or Musalmán authorities, the fact of the division is universally accepted.
De cabeça de Imperio, rica, e bella:
Samorí se intitula o Senhor della.'
'Esta Provincia, cujo porto agora
Tornado tendes, Malabar se chama:
Do culto antigo os idolos adora,
Que cá por estas partes se derrama:
De diversos Reis he, mas d' hum'só fora
N' outro tempo, segundo a antigua fama:
Saramâ Perimal foi derradeiro
Rei, que este Reino teve unido, e inteiro.'
