Alfred Henry Lionel Leach, C.J.

1. The question in this appeal is whether the Subordinate Judge rightly held a certain document to be inadmissible in evidence. If this document is excluded, it is conceded that there is no substantial basis for challenging the decree under appeal.

2. On the 12th March, 1881, the Zamindar of Sivaganga granted to one Ulagappa Chettiar a permanent cowle of 100 kurukkams of forest land. We are told that 100 kurukkams is roughly the equivalent of 57 acres. The plaintiffs case is that the cowle was granted to Ulagappa Ghettiar acting on behalf of the members of two Nattukottai Chettiar families, the P.M.A. family of which the plaintiffs are members and the O.A. family of which the members are defendants 39 to 52. The plaintiffs alleged that the share of their family was three-eighths and the share of the O.A. family five-eighths. The members of the O.A. family denied that the P.M.A. family had any interest in the cowle. The first defendant purchased the cowle from the O.A. family and subsequently sold most of the lands to defendants 2 to 38. The learned Subordinate Judge held that the P.M.A. family had no interest in the cowle. It had been granted t