This article examines the development of colonial law in Malabar between 1792 and 1810. Within the historical context of emerging colonialism as a pivotal factor, it shows that there was no simple unilinear process in the making of colonial law in this region of India, but rather a series of continuities and discontinuities of practices. A clear shift in the logic of governance is identified, however, as new technologies of power, particularly writing and documentation, resulted in several formalities of practices in the making of the colonial state and legal system in India.