a town of Asia, in the kingdom of the same name, on the Malabar coast. The Dutch have here here a small fort named Cranganore, which lies about three miles up the river. Formerly it bore the name of a kingdom; and was once a republic of Jews, who at that time could reckon 80,000 families, but are now reduced to 4000. They have a synagogue at Cochin near the king's palace, in which are preserved their records, engraven on copper-plates in the Hebrew characters; and when any of the characters decay, they have them freshly cut. They declare themselves to be of the tribe of Manasseh, a part whereof was by Nebuchadnezzar carried to the most eastern province of his dominions, which, according to them, extended as far as Cape Comorin: and this journey 20,000 of them performed in three years after their setting out from Babylon. When they arrived in Malabar, they were received with great civility by the inhabitants, who allowed them liberty of conscience, and the use of their own customs. There, having increased in number and riches, they at length purchased the little kingdom of Cranganore, and chose two sons of an eminent family to govern the commonwealth, and reign jointly over them. But one of the brothers having killed the other, the son revenged his father's death by that of the murderer; upon which the state fell again into democracy, and still continues. The lands have long reverted into the hands of the Malabars, and many of the Jews through poverty have embraced the Hindoo religion.