History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v3.c41.s24.5

v3.c41.s24.5

“ The local administration seems to have been in the hands of hereditary chiefs. The country was divided into Nādus presided over by Nāduvālis and these into Deśams under Deśavālis. The Deśam was divided not into territorial groups but into caste or tribal groups such as the grāmams of the Namburis, the tara of the Nairs and the cheri of the low castes. The Nādu and Deśams of this coast differed from similar divisions elsewhere in that they consisted not of so many towns and villages but of so many Nairs etc.” (pp. 115-117).