32 SOCIAL SCIENTIST A study of the eviction statistics provides a melancholy story of the main burden of the tenantry (both non-cultivating tenants and peasants), the threat of eviction. It should be noted that since the official statistics of evictions relate only to those which figured in the law courts and since many evictions were carried out without resorting to legal processes (by threats and intimidations by the big landlords), the magnitude of the evil is only partially reflected in the official statistics.88 NUMBER OF EVICTION SUITS FILED AND DISPOSED OF IN THE SEVERAL COURTS IN THE DISTRICT OF MALABAR FOR THE PERIOD 1916-1926 Total Yearly Decided ex-parte Decided for plaintiff NoofDecress Number Average Total %of(l) Number %of(l) actually executed No Yearly % of average (1) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) 51,730 4,703 6,620 8.9 32,103 62 24,258 2401 43 After the passing of the Malabar Tenancy Act, 1929 the eviction suits did not in any way decline as shown by the following figures for the period 1940 to 1946: NUMBER OF EVICTION SUITS FILED AND DISPOSED OF IN THE PERIOD 1940 TO 1946 IN THE DISTRICT OF MALABAR Total Yearly Renewals Dismissed on deposit Evictions Number average ordered of arrears of rent actually ordered Number % Number % Number % of(l) of(l) of(l) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) 37,080 5294 2896 8 2552 6.9 20,070 54.1 Evictions were directed on the one hand against a large number of the intermediary tenants showing a drive by thejenmis to eliminate the kanakkarans, On the other hand, a large number of the peasants holding-land under various tenures, particularly under long-term tenures w^re also affected. Eviction meant that a peasant was often thrown out of his dwelling which was situated on the paramba leased from the landlord. Melcharths were also resorted to. The total number of melcharths executed between 1916 and 1926 exceeded 40,000 and the evil was mitigated only after the Malabar Tenancy Act of 1929 was passed.39 Eviction suits were often used as a threat to raise rents, as evidenced by the large number of suits compromised out of the courts*