Part 4

I pass on to a brief consideration of the languages of Southern India. According to Mr. G. A. Grierson [36] "the Dravidian family comprises all the principal languages of Southern India. The name Dravidian is a conventional one. It is derived from the Sanskrit Dravida, a word which is again probably derived from an older Dramila, Damila, and is identical with the name of Tamil. The name Dravidian is, accordingly, identical with Tamulian, which name has formerly been used by European writers as a common designation of the languages in question. The word Dravida forms part of the denomination Andhra-Dravida-bhasha, the language of the Andhras (i.e., Telugu), and Dravidas (i.e., Tamilians), which Kumarila Bhatta (probably 7th Century A.D.) employed to denote the Dravidian family. In India Dravida has been used in more than one sense. Thus the so-called five Dravidas are Telugu, Kanarese, Marathi, Gujarati, and Tamil. In Europe, on the other hand, Dravidian has long been the common denomination of the whole family of languages to which Bishop Caldwell applied it in his Comparative Grammar, and there is no reason for abandoning the name which the founder of Dravidian philology applied to this group of speeches."

The five principal languages are Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Canarese, and Oriya. Of these, Oriya belongs to the eastern group of the Indo-Aryan family, and is spoken in Ganjam, and a portion of the Vizagapatam district. The population speaking each of these languages, as recorded at the census, 1901, was as follows:--

Tamil 15,543,383 Telugu 14,315,304 Malayalam 2,854,145 Oriya 1,809,336 Canarese 1,530,688

In the preparation of the following brief summary of the other vernacular languages and dialects, I have indented mainly on the Linguistic Survey of India, and the Madras Census Report, 1901.

Savara.--The language of the Savaras of Ganjam and Vizagapatam. One of the Munda languages. Concerning the Munda, linguistic family, Mr. Grierson writes as follows. "The denomination Munda (adopted by Max Müller) was not long allowed to stand unchallenged. Sir George Campbell in 1866 proposed to call the family Kolarian. He was of opinion that Kol had an older form Kolar, which he thought to be identical with Kanarese Kallar, thieves. There is absolutely no foundation for this supposition. Moreover, the name Kolarian is objectionable, as seeming to suggest a connexion with Aryan which does not exist. The principal home of the Munda languages at the present day is the Chota Nagpur plateau. The Munda race is much more widely spread than the Munda languages. It has already been remarked that it is identical with the Dravidian race, which forms the bulk of the population of Southern India."

Gadaba.--Spoken by the Gadabas of Vizagapatam and Ganjam. One of the Munda languages.

Kond, Kandhi, or Kui.--The language of the Kondhs of Ganjam and Vizagapatam.

Gondi.--The language of the Gonds, a tribe which belongs to the Central Provinces, but has overflowed into Ganjam and Vizagapatam.

Gattu.--A dialect of Gondi, spoken by some of the Gonds in Vizagapatam.

Koya or Koi.--A dialect of Gondi, spoken by the Koyis in the Vizagapatam and Godavari districts.

Poroja, Parja, or Parji.--A dialect of Gondi.

Tulu.--The language largely spoken in South Canara (the ancient Tuluva). It is described by Bishop Caldwell as one of the most highly developed languages of the Dravidian family.

Koraga.--Spoken by the Koragas of South Canara. It is thought by Mr. H. A. Stuart [37] to be a dialect of Tulu.

Bellera.--Spoken by the Belleras of South Canara, and regarded as a dialect of Canarese or Tulu.

Toda.--The language of the Todas of the Nilgiri hills, concerning which Dr. W. H. R. Rivers writes as follows. [38] "Bernhard Schmid, [39] who wrote in 1837, appears to have known more of the true Toda language than any one who has written since, and he ascribes two-thirds of the Toda vocabulary to Tamil, and was unable to trace the remaining third to any other language. Caldwell [40] believed the language of the Todas to be most closely allied to Tamil. According to Pope, [41] the language was originally old Canarese with the addition of a few Tamil forms, but he has included in his vocabulary words which have probably been borrowed from the Badagas."

Kota.--A mixture of Canarese and Tamil spoken by the Kotas of the Nilgiri hills.

Badaga.--The language of the Badagas of the Nilgiri hills. Said to be an ancient form of Canarese.

Irula.--Spoken by the Irulas of the Nilgiris, and said to be a dialect of Tamil. According to Mr. Stuart, Kasuba or Kasuva is another dialect of Tamil spoken by the sub-division of the Irulas which bears the same name.

Kurumba.--Spoken by the Kurumbas of the Nilgiri hills, Malabar, and Mysore, and regarded as a dialect of Canarese.

Konkani.--A dialect of Marathi, spoken almost entirely in the South Canara district by Sarasvat and Konkani Brahmans and Roman Catholic Christians.

Marathi.--In the Tanjore district, the descendants of the former Maratha Rajas of Tanjore speak this language. It is also spoken in the Bellary district, which was formerly under Maratha dominion, by various Maratha castes, and in the feudatory State of Sandur.

Patnuli or Khatri.--A dialect of Gujarati, spoken by the Patnulkarans who have settled for the most part in the town of Madura. They are immigrants from Saurashtra in Gujarat, who are said to have come south at the invitation of the Nayak kings of Madura.

Lambadi.--The language of the nomad Lambadis, Brinjaris, or Sugalis. It is described by Mr. W. Francis [42] as a patois "usually based on one of the local vernaculars, and embroidered and diversified with thieves' slang and expressions borrowed from the various localities in which the tribe has sojourned. Cust thought that Lambadi was Semi-Dravidian, but the point is not clear, and it has been classed as Indo-Aryan."

Korava or Yerukala.--A dialect of Tamil spoken by the nomad caste bearing these names. Like the Lambadis, they have a thieves' slang.

Vadari.--Recorded as a vulgar Telugu dialect spoken by a wandering tribe of quarrymen in the Bombay Presidency, the Berars, and elsewhere. They are doubtless Oddes or Wudder navvies, who have migrated from their home in the Telugu country.

TABLE A.

========================================================================== | | | Length cm. | Breadth cm. | Index. |Index |No.| Caste or |==============+==============+==============|80 and | | Tribe. | Av.|Max.|Min.| Av.|Max.|Min.| Av.|Max.|Min.|over. ====+===+=============+====+====+====+====+====+====+====+====+====+====== | 40|Badaga, | | | | | | | | | | | | Nilgiris |18.9|20.2|18. |13.6|14.5|12.8|71.7|77.5|66.1| 0 M. | 18|Kanikar |18.8|19.5|18.2|13.6|14.2|13. |72.5|76.1|68.1| 0 M. | 40|Mappilla, | | | | | | | | | | | | Muhammadan |18.9|20. |18. |13.7|14.6|13. |72.8|78.5|68. | 0 J. | 23|Kadir |18.4|19.4|17.2|13.4|13.8|12.5|72.9|80. |69. | 1 M. | 40|Tiyan |18.9|20.3|17.8|13.7|14.9|12.6|73. |80.3|68.5| 1 Tam.|40 |Palli |18.6|19.6|17.4|13.6|14.6|12.1|73. |80. |64.4| 1 Tam.|40 |Irula |18.5|19.6|17. |13.5|14.4|12.8|73.1|78.6|68.4| 0 |82 |Toda, | | | | | | | | | | | | Nilgiris |19.4|20.4|18.2|14.2|15.2|13.3|73.3|81.3|68.7| 1 J. |20 |Kaanikar |18.5|19.4|17.8|13.6|14.2|13. |73.4|78.9|69.1| 0 Tam.|29 |Ambattan |18.6|19.2|18. |13.7|14.6|12.5|73.4|76.9|67.2| 0 J. |25 |Mala Vedan |18.5|19.6|17.4|13.6|14.6|13. |73.4|80.9|68.8| 1 Tam.|40 |Paraiyan |18.6|19.7|17. |13.7|14.5|13. |73.6|78.3|64.8| 0 M. |25 |Cheruman |18.3|19.3|17.1|13.5|14.2|12.3|73.9|80.1|67.7| 1 M. |25 |Paniyan |18.4|19.3|17.5|13.6|14.9|13. |74. |81.1|69.4| 1 Tam.|40 |Agamudaiyan |18.8|20. |17.8|13.9|14.6|12.8|74. |80.9|66.7| 1 |25 |Kota, | | | | | | | | | | | | Nilgiris |19.2|20.2|18.3|14.2|15.1|13.4|74.1|79.1|69.9| 0 Tam.|40 |Vellala |18.6|19.6|17.7|13.8|14.6|13.1|74.1|81.1|67.9| 2 Tam.|20 |Smarta | | | | | | | | | | | | Brahman |18. |19.2|17.8|14. |14.8|13. |74.2|80.4|67.8| 1 Tam.|50 |Malaiyali |18.3|19.3|17. |13.6|14.4|12.8|74.3|82.8|61. | 2 J. |40 |Chenchu |18.2|19.6|17.2|13.5|14.4|12.4|74.3|80.5|64.3| 1 M. |40 |Nayar |18.7|19.8|17.4|13.9|15. |13.2|74.4|81.9|70.4| 1 Tam.|25 |Pattar | | | | | | | | | | | | Brahman |18.8|20.3|17.2|14. |15.1|13.1|74.5|81.4|69.1| 2 Tam.|23 |Malasar |18.2|19.2|17.3|13.5|14.4|12.4|74.5|80. |70. | 1 J. |57 |Urali |18.2|19.3|17.2|13.5|14.4|12.8|74.6|81.9|69.8| 1 Tam.|50 |Chakkiliyan |18.6|19.8|17.6|13.9|15.2|13. |74.9|80.9|70.4| 1 J. |20 |Sholaga |18.2|19.4|17.2|13.6|14.6|12.2|74.9|79.3|67.8| 0 Tel.|30 |Madiga, | | | | | | | | | | | | Adoni |18.6|20.2|17. |13.9|14.6|13. |75. |82.2|71.3| 2 Tam.|40 |Kammalan |18.4|19.7|17.3|13.7|14.7|13.1|75. |81.5|68.4| 5 M. |40 |Mukkuvan |19. |20.4|17.6|14.2|15.2|13.4|75.1|83.5|68.6| 2 Tam.|40 |Sheik | | | | | | | | | | | | Muhammadan |18.3|20. |16.7|13.8|14.5|12.8|75.6|81.6|71.5| 2 C. |50 |Dayare | | | | | | | | | | | | Muhammadan |18.5|19.7|17. |14. |15. |13. |75.6|83.3|68.5| 8 Tam.|40 |Saiyad | | | | | | | | | | | | Muhammadan |18.5|19.6|17.2|14. |15. |13.1|75.6|84.9|68.2| 2 J. |26 |Paliyan |17.8|18.6|17.1|13.5|14. |13. |75.7|79.1|72.8| 0 J. |25 |Irula |18. |19.1|17. |13.7|14.3|13.1|75.8|80.9|70.8| 1 Tam.|50 |Pallan |18.3|19.6|17.2|13.9|14.9|12.6|75.9|87. |70.1| 6 Tam.|42 |Idaiyan |18.3|19. |16.8|14. |14.6|13.2|76. |81.9|71.3| 5 Tam.|40 |Pathan | | | | | | | | | | | | Muhammadan |18.5|19.6|17.2|14.2|15.2|13.3|76.2|83.1|71.1| 2 M. |24 |Pulayan |18.3|19.3|17. |13.9|15. |13. |76.3|83. |72.3| 5 J. |22 |Kurumba |17.9|18.7|16.9|13.7|14.5|13. |76.4|83.3|71.8| 2 Tel.|40 |Madiga, | | | | | | | | | | | | Hospet |18.3|20. |17.2|14. |15.4|13. |76.5|83.3|68. | 8 C. |50 |Sedan |18.4|19.4|17. |14.1|14.8|13.2|76.6|82.6|72.6| 7 C. |40 |Toreya |18.3|19.2|17.2|14.1|15.2|13. |76.6|86.4|70.2| 5 Mar.|24 |Desastha | | | | | | | | | | | | Brahman |18.7|20.2|18. |14.4|15.2|13.2|77. |83.4|71. | 4 Tel.|30 |Mala |18.4|19.8|16.8|14.2|14.8|13.4|77.1|85.9|70.3| 6 Tel.|60 |Bestha |18.4|19.4|16.6|14.2|15.6|13.2|77.1|85.1|70.5| 11 C. |50 |Kuruba, | | | | | | | | | | | | Mysore |18.1|19.4|17.2|14. |15. |12.8|77.3|83.9|70.3| 9 Tel.|40 |Odde |18.2|20.4|17.2|14.1|15.2|13.4|77.3|83.1|70.1| 10 Tel.|60 |Golla |18.2|19.6|16.4|14.1|15.1|13.2|77.5|89.3|70.1| 12 C. |40 |Dasa | | | | | | | | | | | | Banajiga |18.6|19.8|17.3|14.4|15.6|13.4|77.8|85.5|72. | 11 Tel.|25 |Komati, | | | | | | | | | | | | Adoni |18.2|19.4|17. |14.3|15.2|13.3|77.9|88.2|72.2| 8 C. |40 |Okkiliyan, | | | | | | | | | | | | Coimbatore |18.2|19.4|17. |14.2|15.2|13.2|77.9|88.2|71.7| 9 C. |50 |Boya |18. |19.2|16.8|14. |15.2|13. |77.9|89.2|70.5| 14 Tu. |40 |Bant |18.5|20. |17. |14.4|16.6|13.1|78. |91.2|70.8| 12 Tel.|49 |Kapu |18.2|19.8|16.8|14.2|15.6|13.2|78. |87.6|71.6| 16 Tel.|39 |Tota | | | | | | | | | | Tel.|39 | Balija |18.1|19. |17. |14.1|15. |13. |78. |86. |73.3| 10 C. |60 |Madhva | | | | | | | | | | | | Brahman |18.4|19.8|16.6|14.3|15.2|13.2|78. |88.5|68. | 18 C. |40 |Bedar, | | | | | | | | | | | | Hospet |18.4|20. |16.8|14.3|15.2|13.2|78.1|85.3|70.8| 13 Tel.|38 |Uppara |18. |19. |16.2|14. |15.2|13.2|78.1|87.8|71.7| 9 C. |25 |Linga | | | | | | | | | | | | Banajiga, | | | | | | | | | | | | Sandur |18.2|19.4|16.6|14.2|15. |13.4|78.3|87.9|73.7| 7 C. |60 |Karnataka | | | | | | | | | | | | Smarta | | | | | | | | | | | | Brahman |18.5|20.7|17. |14.4|15.8|13.4|78.4|89.5|69.8| 19 Tel.|30 |Padma | | | | | | | | | | | | Sale |17.8|19.|16.5|14.1|15.1|13.2|78.7 |86.2|72.8| 10 C. |50 |Kuruba, | | | | | | | | | | | | Hospet |18.1|19.6|17. |14.2|15.4|13.4|78.9|88.4|72.9| 19 Tel.|50 |Telugu | | | | | | | | | | | | Banajiga |18.4|19.2|16.6|14.5|15.4|13.2|79. |89.5|71.9| 18 C. |50 |Panchala |18.3|19.4|17.2|14.4|15.6|13. |79. |89.5|71.3| 23 C. |50 |Holeya |17.9|19.6|16.6|14.1|15.2|13.2|79.1|87.4|70. | 20 C. |25 |Bedar, | | | | | | | | | | | | Adoni |18.1|19.2|17. |14.4|15. |13.6|79.4|85.9|74.1| 12 Mar.|30 |Rangari |18.1|19.8|16.8|14.5|15.4|13.8|79.8|92.2|70.7| 14 Tel.|25 |Togata |17.7|19. |16.2|14.2|14.8|13.6|80. |88.1|73.7| 13 Tu. |50 |Billava |18.2|20.6|16.4|14.6|15.6|13.2|80.1|91.5|71. | 28 C. |30 |Linga | | | | | | | | | | | | Banajiga, | | | | | | | | | | | | Adoni |18.1|19.4|16.7|14.4|15.2|13.6|80.1|87.4|74.1| 14 C. |50 |Hebbar | | | | | | | | | | | | Brahman |18.4|19.6|17.2|14.7|16.4|13.4|80.1|92.1|72.8| 21 C. |50 |Mandya | | | | | | | | | | | | Brahman |18.5|20.2|16.6|14.8|15.8|13.4|80.2|88.2|69.8| 31 Tu. |30 |Shivalli | | | | | | | | | | | | Brahman |18.5|19.6|16.8|14.9|16.2|13.6|80.4|96.4|72.3| 17 C. |20 |Ganiga |18. |19.1|16.6|14.4|15.2|14. |80.5|86.7|74.5| 11 C. |20 |Devanga |18. |19.6|17. |14.5|15.5|13.6|80.8|87.1|74.7| 10 Tel.|25 |Komati |17.6|18.8|16.4|14.3|14.8|13.4|81. |87.1|74.5| 16 C. |50 |Vakkaliga, | | | | | | | | | | | | Mysore |17.7|19.5|15.8|14.5|15.7|13.2|81.7|93.8|72.5| 27 Mar.|30 |Suka | | | | | | | | | | | | Sale |17.7|18.8|16.6|14.5|15. |13.4|81.8|88.2|76.1| 22 Mar.|30 |Sukun | | | | | | | | | | | | Sale |17.6|19. |16. |14.4|15.4|13.6|82.2|90. |73.9| 21 ==========================================================================

TABLE B.

====+===+============================+=================+================= | | | Stature cm. | Nasal Index. == |No.| Caste or Tribe. +=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+===== | | | Av. | Max.|Min. | Av. | Max.|Min. ====+===+============================+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+===== M. |40 |Nayar |165.2|179. |152.2| 71.1| 78.7|54.4 C. |50 |Hebbar Brahman |163.2|174.4|150.8| 71.2| 87.2|55.4 C. |60 |Karnataka Smarta Brahman |164.2|176. |150.6| 71.5| 91.5|61.1 C. |50 |Dayare Muhammadan |166.4|181.8|150. | 71.5| 82.6|59.3 Mar.|60 |Madhva Brahman |163.3|176.2|151.8| 72. | 93.2|58.8 Tu. |40 |Bant |165.7|179.2|155.8| 72.2| 86.1|61.6 Tam.|40 |Sheik Muhammadan |164.6|174.8|153.8| 72.4| 87. |60. Tam.|29 |Ambattan |165.7|173.2|153.2| 72.4| 84.3|57.9 Tu. |50 |Billava |163.2|175.8|149.4| 72.6| 92.8|60. C. |50 |Sedan |163.3|177.2|153.2| 72.7| 92.9|59.3 C. |40 |Dasa Banajiga |165.3|177.8|152. | 72.8| 82.6|59.3 Tel.|49 |Kapu |164.5|177.6|152.6| 72.8| 90.5|62.7 C. |50 |Mandya Brahman |165.7|177.8|150.6| 73. | 97.8|58.4 C. |50 |Vakkaliga, Mysore |167.2|181. |155.2| 73. | 85. |62.3 Tam.|40 |Vellala |162.4|172.8|153.2| 73.1| 91.5|60.8 Tel.|30 |Padma Sale |159.9|171.4|153.8| 73.2| 83.7|61.5 C. |40 |Okkiliyan |166. |179.6|154.6| 73.5| 90.7|63.5 C. |50 |Kuruba, Mysore |163.6|174.2|152. | 73.5| 88.4|64. Mar.|30 |Rangari |161.3|168.4|154.4| 73.6| 84.1|63.5 Tam.|42 |Idaiyan |164.3|178. |154.6| 73.6| 91. |62.7 Tel.|25 |K mati, Sandur |162.5|169.2|153.4| 74.1| 88.9|62.5 C. |30 |Linga Banajiga |163.4|171.2|154. | 74.1| 85.7|60.4 Tel.|60 |Golla |163.8|173.8|151. | 74.1| 83. |61.5 M. |40 |Tiyan |164.2|171.6|155.2| 74.2| 85.7|61.5 Tam.|40 |Agamudaiyan |165.8|175.6|153.6| 74.2| 88.9|73.8 Tel.|39 |Tota Balija |163.9|176.8|149.6| 74.4| 83. |65.4 C. |25 |Linga Banajiga, Sandur |165.6|173. |157.8| 74.6| 86.4|61.5 Mar.|30 |Sukun Sale |160.3|167.6|152.5| 74.8| 84.4|61.5 Mar.|30 |Suka Sale |161.1|170. |147.8| 74.8| 86.1|62.3 C. |50 |Panchala |162.3|177.2|151.6| 74.8| 88.9|62. C. |50 |Kuruba, Hospet |162.7|175.4|162.2| 74.9| 92.2|75.8 .. |82 |Toda, Nilgiris |169.8|186.8|157.6| 74.9| 89.1|61.2 C. |50 |Boya |160.8|171.6|151.9| 75. | 86. |66. Tel.|50 |Telugu Banajiga |164.6|176.2|151.6| 75. | 97.7|66. M. |40 |Mappilla, Muhammadan |164.8|174.4|145. | 75.1| 88.1|64. C. |50 |Holeya |162.8|175.2|151.5| 75.1| 88.9|64.6 ... |40 |Badaga, Nilgiris |164.1|180.2|154. | 75.6| 88.4|62.7 Mar.|24 |Desastha Brahman |163.4|175. |151.4| 75.8| 87.2|66.7 Tel.|60 |Bestha |165.7|181. |155. | 75.9| 100.|63.3 C. |30 |Toreya |164.2|180.6|156.4| 76.1| 87.2|62.7 Tel.|30 |Mala |163.9|175. |153.8| 76.2| 93.2|67.3 Tam.|40 |Pathan Muhammadan |164.4|177.6|155.6| 76.2| 83.1|71.1 Tam.|25 |Pattar Brahman |164.3|175. |153.4| 76.5| 95.3|64.7 ...|25 |Kota, Nilgiris |162.9|174.2|155. | 77.2| 92.9|64. Tam.|40 |Palli |162.5|171.6|149.8| 77.3| 90.5|68.3 Tam.|40 |Kammalan |159.7|171.8|146.4| 77.3| 90.9|63.3 Tel.|40 |Odde |164.4|172.4|155. | 77.3| 93. |65.4 C. |40 |Bedar, Hospet |165.4|176.6|156. | 77.5| 93. |78.1 Tel.|40 |Madiga, Hospet |162.9|173.4|152.2| 77.5|90.1 |66.7 Tel.|30 |Togata |160.5|168.9|151.4| 77.5|93.9 |68.8 Tam.|50 |Malaiyali |163.9|173.2|153.2| 77.8|100. |63.8 Tel.|25 |Komati, Adoni |161. |168.3|153.2| 77.8|100. |65.3 Tam.|40 |Palli |162.5|169.4|151. | 77.9|95.1 |60.8 M. |25 |Cheruman |157.5|166.4|145.8| 78.1|88.9 |69.6 Tam.|50 |Chakkiliyan |162.2|174.5|150.3| 78.9|97.6 |64. M. |24 |Pulayan |153. |162.6|143.4| 79.3|92.7 |68. C. |25 |Bedar, Adoni |165.4|176.2|156.6| 79.4|91. |65.2 Tam.|40 |Paraiyan |162.1|171.4|149.4| 80. |91.8 |66. J. |57 |Urali |159.5|171.6|147.8| 80.1|97.7 |66.7 Tam.|40 |Irula |159.9|166.8|150.2| 80.4|90.5 |79. Tel.|30 |Madiga, Adoni |163.1|173.2|154.2| 80.8|102.6|69.4 M. |40 |Mukkuvan |163.1|177.8|150.8| 81. |104.8|62.5 M. |18 |Kanikar |158.7|170.4|148. | 81.2|90.5 |70.8 Tam.|50 |Pallan |164.3|177.6|151.5| 81.5|100. |68.8 J. |40 |Chenchu |162.5|175. |148. | 81.9|95.7 |68.1 J. |26 |Pulayan |150.5|158.4|143.1| 82.9|100.2|70.8 J. |20 |Kanikar |155.2|170.3|150.2| 84.6|105. |72.3 J. |25 |Mala Vedan |154.2|163.8|140.8| 84.9|102.6|71.1 J. |25 |Irula |159.8|168. |152. | 84.9|100. |72.3 J. |20 |Sholaga |159.3|170.4|151.2| 85.1|107.7|72.8 J. |22 |Kurumba |158. |167. |149.6| 86.1|111.1|70.8 J. |23 |Malasar |161.2|170.5|152.8| 87.2|102.4|75.4 J. |23 |Kadir |157.7|169.4|148.6| 89.8|115.4|72.9 J. |25 |Paniyan |157.4|171.6|152. | 95.1|108.6|72.9 ============================================================================

CASTES AND TRIBES OF SOUTHERN INDIA.

Abhisheka.--Abhisheka Pandarams are those who are made to pass through some ceremonies in connection with Saiva Agama.

Acchu Tali.--A sub-division of Vaniyan. The name refers to the peculiar tali (marriage badge) worn by married women.

Acchuvaru.--Recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as "Oriya-speaking carriers of grain, etc., on pack bullocks. Treated as a sub-division of Gaudo." The Acchuvarus are not Oriya people, but are attached to the Devanga weavers, and receive their name from the fact that they do acchupani, i.e., thread the long comb-like structures of the hand-loom. They correspond to the Jatipillais of the Kaikolan weavers, who do acchuvelai.

Acchu Vellala.--A name assumed by some Pattanavans.

Achan.--Achan, meaning father or lord, was returned, at the Cochin census, 1901, as a title of Nayars. According to Mr. Wigram [43] it is used as a title of the following:--

1. Males in the Royal Family of Palghat.

2. The minister of the Calicut Raja, known as Mangat Achan.

3. The minister of the Cochin Raja, known as Paliyat Achan.

4. The minister of the second Raja of Calicut, known as Chenli Achan.

Acharapakam Chetti.--One of the sub-divisions of the Chettis, generally grouped among the Beri Chettis (q.v.).

Achari.--See Asari.

Adapadava (man of the wallet).--A name, referring to the dressing-bag which barbers carry, applied to Lingayat barbers in South Canara.

Adapapa.--Returned in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as a sub-caste of Balija. The name is applied to female attendants on the ladies of the families of Zamindars, who, as they are not allowed to marry, lead a life of prostitution. Their sons call themselves Balijas (see Khasa).

Adavi (forest or jungle).--The name of a sub-division of Yanadis, and also of a section of Gollas in Mysore. [44]

Adaviyar.--Adaviyar or Ataviyar is the name of a class of Tamil-speaking weavers found in the Tanjore and Tinnevelly districts.

Addaku (Bauhinia racemosa).--A sept of Jatapu. The leaves of this tree are largely used as food platters, in Madras, and generally on the east coast.

Addapu Singa.--Mendicants who beg only from Mangalas in the Telugu country.

Adhigari.--Defined by Mr. Wigram [45] as the head of the amsam or parish in Malabar, corresponding to the Manigar (village munsiff) in east coast districts and Patel in South Canara. The title Adhigari (one in power) is assumed by some Agamudaiyans, and Adhikari occurs as an exogamous sept of the Badagas, and the title of village headman among some Oriya castes. In South Canara, it is a sept of Stanika.

Adi (primitive or original).--The name of a division of Linga Balijas, and of Velamas who have abandoned the practice of keeping their females gosha (in seclusion). It is also applied by the Chenchus to the original members of their tribe, from whom the man-lion Narasimha obtained his bride Chenchita.

Adichchan.--A sub-division of Nayar.

Adikal (slaves or servants).--Included among the Ambalavasis. It is recorded, in the Travancore Census Report, 1901, that "tradition states that Sankaracharya, to test the fidelity of certain Brahmins to the established ordinances of caste, went to a liquor-shop, and drank some stimulants. Not recognising that the obligations, from which adepts like Sankara were free, were none the less binding on the proletariat, the Brahmins that accompanied the sage made this an excuse for their drinking too. Sankara is said to have then entered a foundry, and swallowed a cup of molten metal, and handed another to the Brahmins, who had apparently made up their minds to do all that may be done by the Acharya. But they begged to differ, apologised to him as Atiyals or humble servants, and accepted social degradation in expiation of their sinful presumption. They are now the priests in temples dedicated to Bhadrakali, and other goddesses who receive offerings of liquor. They practise sorcery, and aid in the exorcising of spirits. They have the upanayana-samskara, and wear the sacred thread. The simantam ceremony is not performed. They are to repeat the Gayatri (hymn) ten times, and observe eleven days' death pollution. Their own caste-men act as priests. The Atiyammamar wear the same jewellery as the Nambutiri women, but they do not screen themselves by a cadjan (palm leaf) umbrella when they go out in public, nor are they accompanied by a Nayar maid."

Adimittam.--An occupational sub-division of Marans, who clean the court-yards of temples in Travancore.

Adisaivar.--Recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as "a sub-caste of Vellala. They are singers of Devara hymns in Saiva temples." The name indicates those who have been Saivites from the beginning, as opposed to recent Saivites. Adisaivas are Saivites, who have survived the absorbing influence of the Lingayat sect. Saivites who profess the Lingayat doctrines are known as Virasaivas. Some Pandarams, who belong to the Sozhia sub-division of the Vellalas, regularly recite Tamil verses from Thevaram and Tiruvachagam in Saivite temples. This being their profession, they are also called Oduvar (readers or reciters).

Aditya Varada.--Kurubas, who worship their God on Sunday.

Adiyan.--Adiyan (adi, foot) has been defined [46] as meaning literally "a slave, but usually applied to the vassals of Tamburans and other powerful patrons. Each Adiyan had to acknowledge his vassalage by paying annually a nuzur (gift of money) to his patron, and was supposed also to be ready to render service whenever needed. This yearly nuzur, which did not generally exceed one or two fanams, was called adima-panam" (slave money), adima meaning feudal dependency on a patron.

Adiyodi.--Adiyodi or Atiyoti, meaning slave or vassal, has been returned at times of census as a sub-division of Samantan. It is, Mr. H. A. Stuart writes, [47] "the caste of the Kadattanad Rajah in North Malabar. The tradition is that, when he was driven out of his territories in and around Calicut by the Zamorin, he took shelter under the Rajah of Chirakkal, who gave him the Kadattanad country to hold as his vassal. Some Atiyotis advance no pretension to be above Nayars in rank."

Adutton (a bystander).--A synonym for Kavutiyan, a caste of Malayalam barbers. In like manner, the name Ambattan for Tamil barbers is said to be derived from the Sanskrit amba (near), s'tha (to stand), indicating that they stand near to shave their clients or treat their patients.

Agamudaiyan.--The Agamudaiyans, Mr. W. Francis writes, [48] are "a cultivating caste found in all the Tamil districts. In Chingleput, North Arcot, Salem, Coimbatore and Trichinopoly, they are much less numerous than they were thirty years ago. The reason probably is that they have risen in the social scale, and have returned themselves as Vellalas. Within the same period, their strength has nearly doubled in Tanjore, perhaps owing to the assumption of the name by other castes like the Maravans and Kallans. In their manners and customs they closely follow the Vellalas. Many of these in the Madura district are the domestic servants of the Marava Zamindars." The Agamudaiyans who have settled in the North Arcot district are described [49] by Mr. H. A. Stuart as "a class of cultivators differing widely from the Agamudaiyans of the Madura district. The former are closely allied to the Vellalas, while the latter are usually regarded as a more civilised section of the southern Maravans. It may be possible that the Agamudaiyans of North Arcot are the descendants of the first immigrants from the Madura district, who, after long settlement in the north, severed all connexions with their southern brethren." In some districts, Agamudaiyan occurs as a synonym of Vellalas, Pallis and Melakkarans, who consider that Agamudaiyan is a better caste name than their own.

The Agamudaiyans proper are found in the Tanjore, Madura, and Tinnevelly districts.