South Indian castes/ tribes (numerically small): B
This article is an excerpt from Government Press, Madras |
Bahusāgara
(many seas).—Recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as a synonym of Rangāri. The Rangāris are tailors and dyers, and the signification of the name is not clear.
Baidya —See Vaidyan.
Bainēdu — The Bainēdu, or Bainēdi, as they are called in the Census Report, 1901, are the musicians and barbers of the Mālas and Mādigas. At the peddadinamu death ceremony of the Gamallas, a Māla Bainēdu takes part in the recitation of the story of Ankamma, and in making the designs (muggu) on the ground.
Baisya —A sub-division of Koronos of Ganjam. Baita Kammara —The name, meaning outside blacksmiths, applied to Kamsala blacksmiths, who occupy a lowly position, and work in the open air or outside a village.22
Bājantri —A synonym of Mangala, indicating their occupation as professional musicians.
Bakta —See Bagata.
Bākuda —A sub-division of Holeya.
Balanollu —Balanollu and Badranollu are names of gōtras of Gānigas, the members of which may not cut Erythroxylon monogynum.
Bālasantōsha —The Bālasantōsha or Bālasanta vāndlu (those who please children) are described in the Kurnool Manual as “ballad reciters, whose chief stories are the Bobbili katha, or the story of the siege of the fort of Bobbili in Vizagapatam by Bussy; the Kurnool [134]Nabob’s katha or the story of the resumption of Kurnool by the English; and the tale of the quarrels between Ganga and Parvati, the two wives of Siva.”
Balēgara (bangle man).—An occupational sub-division of Banajiga.
Ballāla —Ballāla, or Bellāla, was returned, at the census, 1901, as the caste name of a number of individuals, indicating their claim to descent from the Hoysal Ballāl kings of Mysore. Ballāl is a title assumed by Bant families of position. There is a proverb that, when a Bant becomes powerful, he becomes a Ballāl.
Ballem (spear).—An exogamous sept of Māla.
Balli (lizard).—An exogamous sept of Balija.
Bālolika —A synonym of Rājāpuri.
Bālu (bear).—A sept of Dōmb.
Bāna (big pot).—An exogamous sept of Togatas, and a name for Telugu washermen, who are sometimes called Bāna Tsākala. Bāna is the Telugu name for the pot which they use for boiling the clothes in.
Banajiga (vanik, tradesman).—Canarese traders, many of whom are Lingāyats. See Linga Balija.
Banda —Banda, as applied to the Mondi mendicant class, seems to be used in the sense of an obstinate fellow. Some, however, maintain that it refers to a beggar who carries about a stone, and threatens to beat his brains out, if alms are not forthcoming. Banda, meaning a rock, also occurs as an exogamous sept of Oddē.
Bandāri —Bandāri, denoting apparently the shrub Dodondæa viscosa, is an exogamous sept of Oddē. It further occurs, in the sense of a temple treasurer, as an exogamous sept of Dēvāngas and Padma Sālēs, for whom the Bandāri acts as caste messenger. It is also the name of the assistant to the headman, or Pattakar, of the Okkiliyans, a title of Konkani Brāhmans, and a synonym of Kelasis.
Bāndēkāra —A synonym for Konkani Vānis (traders), who are said, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, to ape the Brāhmanical customs, and call themselves by the curious hybrid name of Vasiya (or Vaisya) Brāhman.
Bandi (cart).—An exogamous sept of Kāpu, Kavarai, Korava, Kumbāra, Kurni, Kuruba, Māla, Oddē, Stānika, and Yānādi. It further occurs as a name for Koravas, who drag the temple car at times of religious festival. Vandikkāran (cartmen) is an occupational name for Nāyars, who work as cartmen for carrying fuel.
Bangāru Mukkara bb (gold nose ornament).—A sub-division of Kamma.
Baniya —The Baniyas or Bunyas are immigrant traders and money-lenders (sowcars) from Northern India, who have settled down in the southern bazars, where they carry on a lucrative business, and wax sleek and wealthy. Bania also occurs as a synonym for the South Indian trading caste, the Kōmatis.
It may be noted, as a little matter of history, that, in 1677, the Court of Directors, in a letter to Fort St. George, offered “twenty pounds reward to any of our servants or soldiers as shall be able to speak, write, and translate the Banian language, and to learn their arithmetic.”28
Bānjāri —A synonym of Lambādi.
Banka (gum).—An exogamous sept of Motāti Kāpu.
Bannagara (a painter).—A synonym of Chitrakāra.
Bannān —A synonym of Vannān or Mannān, recorded at times of census. In like manner Bannata occurs as a Canarese form of the Malayālam Veluttēdan or Vannattān.
Banni or Vanni (Prosopis spicigera).—An exogamous sept of Kuruba and Kurni. The tree is worshipped because on it “the five Pāndava princes hung up their arms when they entered Virāt Nagra in disguise. On the tree the arms turned to snakes, and remained untouched till the owners returned.” (Lisboa.)
Bārang Jhodia.—A sub-division of Poroja.
Bardēshkar (people of twelve countries).—Some families among Konkani Brāhmans go by this name.
Barrellu (buffaloes).—An exogamous sept of Kāpu.
Bāsala.—Recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as Telugu beggars and soothsayers in Vizagapatam. The word is apparently a corruption of Bāsa-vālu, a sage. The Bāsa-vālu pretend to be messengers of Indra, the chief of the Dēvatas, and prognosticate coming events.
Basari (fig tree).—A gōtra of Kurni.
Bāsava Golla.—A name for certain Koyis of the Godāvari district, whose grandfathers had a quarrel with some of their neighbours, and separated from them. The name Bāsava is said to be derived from bhāsha, a language, as these Koyis speak a different language from the true GollasIn like manner, Bāsa Kondhs are those who speak their proper language, in contradistinction to those who speak Oriya, or Oriya mixed with Kui.
Basavi.—See Dēva-dāsi.
Basiya Korono.—A sub-division of Korono.
Basruvōgaru (basru, belly).—An exogamous sept of Gauda.
Baththāla (rice).—An exogamous sept of Kamma.
Batlu (cup).—An exogamous sept of Kuruba.
Bauri.—There are found in the Madras Presidency nomad gangs of Bauris or Bāwariyas, who are described as “one of the worst criminal tribes of India. The sphere of their operations extends throughout the length and breadth of the country. They not only commit robberies, burglaries and thefts, but also practice the art of manufacturing and passing counterfeit coin. They keep with them a small quantity of wheat and sandal seeds in a small tin or brass case, which they call Dēvakadana or God’s grain, and a tuft of peacock’s feathers, all in a bundle. They are very superstitious, and do not embark on any enterprise without first ascertaining by omens whether it will be attended with success or not. This they do by taking at random a small quantity of grains out of their Dēvakadana and counting the number of grains, the omen being considered good or bad according as the number of seeds is odd or even. For a detailed record of the history of this criminal class, and the methods employed in the performance of criminal acts, I would refer the reader to the accounts given by Mr. Paupa Rao40 and Mr. W. Crooke.
Bāvāji.—The Bāvājis are Bairāgi or Gosāyi beggars, who travel about the country. They are known by various names, e.g., Bairāgi, Sādu, etc.
Bēdar.—See Vēdan.
Bēgara.—Bēgara or Byāgara is said to be a synonym applied by Canarese Lingāyats to Holeyas.
Bēhara.—Recorded, at times of census, as a title of various Oriya castes, e.g., Alia, Aruva, Dhōbi, Gaudo, Jaggali, Kevuto, Kurumo, Ronguni, and Sondi. In some cases, e.g., among the Rongunis, the title is practically an exogamous sept. The headman of many Oriya castes is called Bēhara.
Bejjo.—A sub-division of Bhondāri, and title of Kevuto.
Bēlata (Feronia elephantum: wood-apple).—An exogamous sept of Kuruba.
Bellapu (jaggery: palm-sugar).—An exogamous sept of Boya.
Bellara.—“The Bellaras, or Belleras,” Mr. H. A. Stuart writes, “are a somewhat higher caste of basket and mat-makers than the Parava umbrella-makers and devil-dancers. They speak a dialect of Canarese (see South Canara Manual, Vol. II). They follow the aliya santāna law (inheritance in the female line), but divorce is not so easy as amongst most adherents of that rule of inheritance, and divorced women, it is said, may not marry again. Widows, however, may remarry. The dead are either burned or buried, and a feast called Yede [210]Besala is given annually in the name of deceased ancestors. The use of alcohol and flesh, except beef, is permitted. They make both grass and bamboo mats.”
Bellathannaya (jaggery: crude sugar).—An exogamous sept of Bant.
Bellē (white).—An exogamous sept of Kuruba. The equivalent bilē occurs as a gōtra of Kurni.
Belli.—Belli or Velli, meaning silver, has been recorded as an exogamous sept of Badaga, Korava, Kuruba, Mādiga, Okkiliyan, Toreya, and Vakkaliga. The Belli Toreyas may not wear silver toe-rings.
Vellikkai, or silver-handed, has been returned as a sub-division of the Konga Vellalas.
Bēlu (Feronia elephantum).—An exogamous sept of Kuruba.
Benayito.—A sub-division of Odiya.
Bendē (Hibiscus esculentus).—An exogamous sept of Kuruba. The mucilaginous fruit (bendēkai or bandicoy) of this plant is a favourite vegetable of both Natives and Europeans. The nickname Bendēkai is sometimes given, in reference to the sticky nature of the fruit, to those who try to smooth matters over between contending parties.
Bengri (frog).—A sept of Dōmb.
Benia.—A small caste of Oriya cultivators and palanquin-bearers in Ganjam. It is on record53 that in Ganjam honey and wax are collected by the Konds and Benias, who are expert climbers of precipitous rocks and lofty trees. The name is said to be derived from bena, grass, as the occupation of the caste was formerly to remove grass, and clear land for cultivation.
Benise (flint stone).—An exogamous sept of Kuruba.
Benne (butter).—A gōtra of Kurni.
Beralakoduva (finger-giving).—A section of the Vakkaligas, among whom the custom of sacrificing some of the fingers used to prevail. (See Morasu.)
Berike.—The children of a Bōya widow by a man of her own caste, with whom she lives, are said to drift into a distinct section called Berike.
Bēsyā (a prostitute).—Recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as a sub-caste of Oriya Gūnis. It is a form of the word Vēsya.
Betta (hill).—A sub-division of Kurumba.
Bēvina.—Bēvina or Bēvā (nīm or margosa: Melia Azadirachta) has been recorded as an exogamous sept of Kuruba, and a sub-division of Kādu Kurumba. The nīm tree is held sacred by Hindus, and takes an important part in many of the ceremonials connected with the small-pox goddess and other village deities.
Bhāg (tiger).—A sept of numerous classes in Vizagapatam, e.g., Bhumia, Bottada, Domb, Gadaba, Mattiya, Omanaito, Pentiya, and Rōna. The equivalent Bhāgo occurs among some classes in Ganjam.
Bhāgavatulu.—Recorded as play-actors in the Telugu country. Their name is derived from the fact that they perform stories and episodes from the Bhāgavatam, one of the Purānas.
Bhakta—See Bagata.
Bhandāri—See Kelasi.
Bhānde —Recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as “a class of potters in the Ganjam Māliahs, a sub-division of Kumbhāro. The name is derived from the Sanskrit bhānda, a pot.”
Bharadwāja.—A Brāhmanical gōtra of Bhatrāzus. Bharadwāja was a rishi, the son of Brihaspati, and preceptor of the Pāndavas.
Bhātia.—Nearly four hundred members of this caste were returned at the Madras Census, 1901. It is recorded in the Bombay Gazetteer, that “the Bhātias claim to be Bhāti Rājputs of the Yādav stock. As a class they are keen, vigorous, enterprising, thrifty, subtle and unscrupulous. Some of the richest men in Bombay started life without a penny. A large number of Bhātias are merchant traders and brokers, and within the last fifty years they have become a very wealthy and important class.” Like the Nāttukōttai Chettis of Southern India, the Bhātias undertake sea voyages to distant countries, and they are to be found eastward as far as China.
Bhatta—A sub-division of Gaudo.
Bhatkali—A class of Muhammadans on the west coast, who are said to have originally settled at Bhatkal in North Canara.
Bhāyipuo—Bhāyipuo is returned, in the Census Report, 1901, as an Oriya caste, the members of which claim to be Kshatriyas. The word means brother’s son, in which sense it is applied to the issue of the brothers of Rājahs by concubines. The illegitimate children of Rājahs are also classed as Bhāyipuo.
Bhima—A section of Savaras, named after Bhima, one of the Pāndava brothers.
Bholia (wild dog).—An exogamous sept of Kondra.
Bhonjo—The title of the Rāja of Gumsūr in Ganjam.
Bhūmanchi (good earth).—A sub-division of Kāpu.
Bhū (earth) Rāzu.—A name for Rāzus who live in the plains, in contradistinction to the Konda Rāzus who live in the hills.
Bhū Vaisya (earth Vaisya).—A name returned by some Nāttukōttai Chettis and Vellālas.
Bhūmi Dhompth—The name, meaning earth marriage offering, of a sub-division of Mādigas, at whose marriages the offering of food is placed on the ground.
Bhūmi Rāzulu (kings of the earth).—A name assumed by some Koyis.
Bhūmia.—The Bhūmias are an Oriya caste of hill cultivators, found in the Jeypore Zamindāri. According to a tradition, they were the first to cultivate the land on the hills. In the Central Provinces they are said to be known as Baigas, concerning whom Captain Ward writes that “the decision of the Baiga in a boundary dispute is almost always accepted as final, and, from this right as children of the soil and arbiters of the land belonging to each village, they are said to have derived their title of Bhūmia, the Sanskrit bhūmi meaning the earth.”
For the following note I am indebted to Mr. C. Hayavadana Rao. The Bhūmias have septs, e.g., bhāg (tiger) and nāga (cobra). A man can claim his paternal aunt’s daughter in marriage. The marriage ceremonial is much the same as among the Bottadas. The jholla tonk (presents) consist of liquor, rice, a sheep or fowl, and cloths for the parents of the bride. A pandal (booth), made of poles of the sorghi tree, is erected in front of the bridegroom’s house, and a Dēsāri officiates. The remarriage of widows is permitted and a younger brother usually marries his elder brother’s widow. If a man divorces his wife, it is customary for him to give her a rupee and a new cloth in compensation. The dead are burned, and pollution lasts for nine days. On the tenth ]day a ceremonial bath is taken, and a feast, with copious supplies of liquor, is held. In parts of the Central Provinces the dead are buried, and two or three flat stones are set up over the grave.
Bhuri—A sub-division of Gond.
Bījam (seed).—An exogamous sept of Bōya.
Bilpathri (bael: Ægle Marmelos).—An exogamous sept of Bōya.
Bindhani (workman).—A title of Oriya Badhōyis, and sometimes used as the name of the caste.
Bingi—The Bingivāndlu are described, in the Kurnool Manual, as a class of mendicants, who play dramas. Some of them have shrotiyam villages, as Lingineni Doddi in Pattikonda. “Shrotiyam” has been defined as “lands, or a village, held at a favourable rate, properly an assignment of land or revenue to a Brāhman learned in the Vēdas, but latterly applied generally to similar assignments to native servants of the government, civil or military, and both Hindus and Muhammadans, as a reward for past services.”
Bhūtiannaya (ashes).—An exogamous sept of Bant.
Bidāru (wanderers).—A sub-division of Odde.
Billai-kavu (cat-eaters).—Said to be Māla Paidis, who eat cats.
Bilva (jackal).—An exogamous sept of Kondra.
Bindhollu (brass water-pot).—An exogamous sept of Jōgi.
Binu (roll of woollen thread).—An exogamous sept of Kuruba.
Biswālo—A title of various Oriya castes.
Bochchu (hairs).—An exogamous sept of Odde.
Bōda.—Recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as a small cultivating class in Ganjam. Bōda is the name of a sub-division of the Gadabas, who use the fibre of boda luvāda (Ficus glomerata) in the manufacture of their female garments. [254]
Bōda Dāsari (bald-headed mendicant).—An exogamous sept of Jōgi.
Boddu (navel).—An exogamous sept, or sub-division of Idigas and Asilis. It is recorded in the Gazetteer of the Bellary district, that “in the middle of the threshold of nearly all the gateways of the ruined fortifications round the Bellary villages will be noticed a roughly cylindrical or conical stone, something like a lingam. This is the Boddu-rāyi, literally the navel stone, and so the middle stone. Once a year, in May, just before the sowing season begins, a ceremony takes place in connection with it.” (See Bāriki.)
Bodo (big).—A sub-division of Bottada, Māli, Omanaito, Pentia, and other castes. Bodo Nāyak is a title among the Gadabas, and Bodo Odiya occurs as a sub-division of Sondi.
Bōgam.—See Dēva-dasi and Sāni.
Bōgāra.—Recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as “Canarese brass and copper-smiths: a sub-division of Pānchāla.” From a note on the Jains of the Bellary district79 I gather that “there is a class of people called Bōgāras in the Harpanahalli tāluk, and in the town of Harpanahalli itself, side by side with the Jains. They are a thriving class, and trade in brass and copper wares. The Bōgāras practice the Jaina religion, have the same gōtras, freely worship in Jain temples, and are accepted into Jaina society. Evidently they are a sub-division of the Jains, though now excluded from inter-marriage.” It is said that “arrangements are now being made (through the Jaina Bhattachārya at Kolhapūr) to enable Bōgāras to intermarry with the Jains.”
Bōgarlu.—Occurs as the name of a class of agricultural labourers in the Vizagapatam Agency, who are probably workers in metal who have taken to agriculture.
Boggula (charcoal).—An exogamous sept of Bōya and Dēvānga.
Bohora. —The Bohoras or Boras are “Musalman converts from the Bombay side. They are traders. In Madras they have their own high priest and their own mosque (in Georgetown). It is said that, when one of them dies, the high priest writes a note to the archangels Michael, Israel and Gabriel, asking them to take care of him in Paradise, and that the note is placed in the coffin.” They consider themselves as a superior class, and, if a member of another section enters their mosque, they clean the spot occupied by him during his prayers. They take part in certain Hindu festivals, e.g., Dīpāvali, or feast of lights, at which crackers are let off.
Boidyo—Recorded under the name Boyidyo, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as “literally a physician: a sub-caste of Pandito.” There is said to be no difference between Panditos and Boidyos. In Ganjam they are known by the former, elsewhere by the latter name.
Boipāri. —A synonym of Lambādi. (See Bēpāri.)
Boishnobo.—The Boishnobos have been defined as a class of Oriya religious mendicants and priests to Sūdras. The name means worshippers of Bishnu or Vishnu. Most of them are followers of Chaitanya, the great Bengāli reformer.
Boksha—Boksha or Boksham (treasury) is the name of a sub-division of Gollas, indicating their employment as treasury servants in guarding and carrying treasure. In some places, those who are employed in packing and lifting bags of money in district treasuries are still called Gollas, though they may belong to some other caste. In the Census Report, 1901, Bokkisha Vadugar (treasury northerner) was returned as a Tamil synonym for Golla.
Bolāsi—The Bolāsis are a caste of Oriya cultivators, who are largely found in the Gumsūr tāluk of Ganjam. Many of them serve as paiks or peons. The original name of the caste is said to have been Thadia, which has been changed in favour of Bolāsi (Bayalisi, forty-two) in reference to the caste being one of the recognized forty-two Oriya Sūdra castes. It is also suggested that the name is derived from bola (anklets), as the women wear heavy brass anklets.
Their ceremonial rites connected with marriage, death, etc., are similar to those of the Doluvas, Gaudos, Badhōyis, and other castes. Marriage is infant, and, if a girl does not secure a husband before she reaches maturity, she goes through a form of marriage with an arrow or a grinding stone. The Bolāsis are Vaishnavites, and observe the Paramartho or Chaitanya form thereof. The caste titles are Podhāno, Nāyako, Daso, Mahanti, Pātro, Sāhu, Jenna, and Konhoro.
Gudiyas who are engaged in agriculture are sometimes known as Bolāsi Gudiyas.
Bolodia.—The name of a section of Tellis, who use pack-bullocks (bolodo, an ox) for carrying grain about the country. Some Gaudos, at times of census, have also returned Bolodia as their sub-division.
Bombadai (a fish).—A gōtra of Mēdara. The equivalent Bomidi occurs as an exogamous sept of Māla. Members of the Vamma gōtra of the Janappans abstain from eating this fish, because, when some of their ancestors went to fetch water in a marriage pot, they found a number of this fish in the water collected in the pot.
Bomma (a doll).—An exogamous sept of Padma Sālē. The equivalent Bommala occurs as an exogamous sept of Māla. The Bommalātavāllu are said to exhibit shows in the Vizagapatam district.
Bommali.—A sub-division of the Koronos of Ganjam.
Bonda.—A sub-division of Poroja.
Bondia.—A small class, inhabiting Ganjam. The name is said to be derived from bondono, meaning praise, as the Bondias are those who praise and flatter Rājas.
Bondili—In the Madras Census Report, 1891, the Bondilis are “said to derive their name from Bundelkund. They claim to be Rājputs, but appear to have degenerated. The Sivaites of this sect are said to bury their dead, while the Vishnavaites burn. In the Kadri tāluk of Cuddapah all are said to bury. The custom in this respect appears to differ in different localities. Besides Siva and Vishnu worship, three of the eight authorities who give particulars of this section agree that they worship village deities as well. All state that remarriage of widows is not permitted. They are generally cultivators, peons, or the body-guards of Zemindars.” The Bondilis of the North Arcot district are described by Mr. H. A. Stuart as being “foreigners from Bundelkund, from which fact their name originates, and of various Vaisya and Sūdra castes; the former having the termination Lāla to their names, and the latter that of Rām. Many of the Sūdra Bondilis, however, improperly take the title Singh, and say they are Kshatriyas, that is, Rājputs. The Vaisya Bondilis are few in number, and only found in Vellore, Chittoor and Arni, where they are usually money-lenders. The Sūdras are mostly sepoys, constables, or revenue peons. Some say that they are not even Sūdras, but the descendants of Rājputs by women of the country, and probably many of them are such. All are very particular with respect to eating with an other professed Bondili, and refuse to do so unless they are quite certain that he is of their class. In their marriage customs they resemble the Rājputs.”
I am informed that one section of the Bondilis is named Tōli, in reference to their being workers in leather. There is, at Venkatagiri, a street called Tōli mitta, or Tōli quarters, and, in former days, the inhabitants thereof were not allowed to enter the temples.
In the Census Report, 1901, Guvālo, or traders from Sambalpūr, is returned as a sub-caste of Bondili.
Boniya.—The Oriya name for Baniya (trader). Boniya Korono appears83 as the name for traders and shopkeepers in Ganjam.
Bonka—Recorded, in the Vizagapatam Manual, as cultivators in the Jeypore hills, and, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as a small Oriya caste of hill cultivators, which has three sub-divisions, Bonka, Pata Bonka, and Goru Bonka.
Boori (cake).—An exogamous sept of Māla.
Bottu Kattōru (those who tie the bottu).—A sub-division of Kāppiliyans, who are Canarese cultivators settled in the Tamil district of Madura. The bottu (marriage badge) is the equivalent of the Tamil tāli.
Bōvi.—The name of the palanquin-bearing section of the Mogērs of South Canara. Some Besthas from Mysore, who have settled in this district, are also called Bōvi, which is a form of Bōyi (bearer).
Bōya (see Bēdar).—Bōya has also been recorded as a sub-division of Māla, a name for Ēkari.
Bōyan.—A title of Oddē.
Bōyi (see Bestha).—It is also the title of one of the chief men among the Savaras.
Brihaspati Vārada.—The name, indicating those who worship their god on Thursday, of a sub-division of Kurubas.
Brinjāri—A synonym of Lambādi.
Bujjinigiyōru (jewel-box).—A sub-division of Gangadikāra Vakkaliga.
Bukka—Described, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as a “sub-caste of Balija. They are sellers of saffron (turmeric), red powder, combs, etc., and are supposed to have been originally Kōmatis.” They are described by the Rev. J. Cain as travelling about selling turmeric, opium, and other goods. According to the legend, when Kanyakamma threw herself into the fire-pit (see Komāti), they, instead of following her example, presented to her bukka powder, turmeric, and kunkuma. She directed that they should live apart from the faithful Kōmatis, and live by the sale of the articles which they offered to her.
Būragām—A sub-division of Kālingi.
Burgher—A name commonly applied to the Badagas of the Nīlgiri hills. In Ceylon, Burgher is used in the same sense as Eurasian in India.
Burmese—A few Burmese are trained as medical students at Madras for subsequent employment in the Burmese Medical service. At the Mysore census, 1901, a single Burman was recorded as being engaged at the Kolar gold fields. Since Burma became part of the British dominions in 1886, there has been emigration to that developing country from the Madras Presidency on a large scale. The following figures show the numbers [397]of passengers conveyed thence to Burma during the five years, 1901–05:—
1901 84,329
1902 80,916
1903 100,645
1904 127,622
1905 124,365
Busam (grain).—An exogamous sept of Dēvanga.
Busi (dirt).—An exogamous sept of Mutrācha.
Byagara—Byagara and Bēgara are synonyms of Holeya.
References
1 Folk-songs of Southern India.
2 Manual of the Nilagiri district.
3 The Todas, 1906.
4 Account of the Primitive Tribes and Monuments of the Nilagiris, 1873.
5 Gazetteer of the Nilgiris.
6 Madras Christian College Magazine, 1892.
7 Gazetteer of the Nilgiris.
8 Manual of Coorg.
9 Pioneer, 4th October 1907.
10 Description of a singular Aboriginal Race inhabiting the summit of the Neilgherry Hills.
11 The Todas, 1906.
12 Op. cit.
13 Op. cit.
14 Madras Mail, 1907.
15 The bridge spanning the river of death, which the blessed cross in safety.
16 Report, Government Botanic Gardens, Nilgiris, 1903.
17 E. Schmidt. Reise nach Sudindien, 1894.
18 The World’s Peoples, 1908.
19 H. H. Wilson, Essays and Lectures, chiefly on the Religion of the Hindus, 1862.
20 Hindu Castes and Sects.
21 The Mystics, Ascetics, and Saints of India, 1903.
22 Madras Census Report, 1901.
23 Madras Census Report, 1901.
24 Madras Census Report, 1891.
25 A Native: Pen and Ink Sketches of South India.
26 Madras Census Report, 1891.
27 Manual of the S. Canara district.
28 Yule and Burnell. Hobson-Jobson.
29 Calcutta Review.
30 Indian Review, VII, 1906.
31 See G. Krishna Rao. Treatise on Aliya Santāna Law and Usage, Mangalore, 1898.
32 Calcutta Review.
33 Malabar Law and Custom, 3rd ed., 1905.
34 The Law of Partition and Succession, from the text of Varadaraja’s Vyavaharaniranya by A. C. Burnell (1872).
35 Calcutta Review.
36 Report of the Malabar Marriage Commission, 1891.
37 Mysore and Coorg Gazetteer.
38 Rev. J. Cain, Ind. Ant., V, 1876.
39 M. Paupa Rao Naidu. The Criminal Tribes of India. No. III, Madras, 1907.
40 Op. cit.
41 Tribes and Castes of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, Bāwariya, 1906.
42 Tribes and Castes of Bengal, 1891.
43 Journey through Mysore, Canara and Malabar, 1807.
44 Gentu or Gentoo is “a corruption of the Portuguese Gentio, gentile or heathen, which they applied to the Hindus in contradistinction to the Moros or Moors, i.e., Mahommedans. It is applied to the Telugu-speaking Hindus specially, and to their language.” Yule and Burnell, Hobson-Jobson.
45 Historical Sketches of the South of India: Mysore, 1810–17.
46 By law, to constitute dacoity, there must be five or more in the gang committing the crime. Yule and Burnell, op. cit.
47 Circumcision is practised by some Kallans of the Tamil country.
48 Madras Mail, 1902.
49 Mysore Census Report, 1901.
50 Madras Mail, 1905.
51 Op. cit.
52 Manual of the South Canara district.
53 Agricultural Ledger Series, Calcutta, No. 7, 1904.
54 Jeypore. Breklum, 1901.
55 Manual of the North Arcot district.
56 Madras Census Report, 1891.
57 Op. cit.
58 Taylor. Catalogue Raisonné of Oriental Manuscripts.
59 Madras Census Report, 1901.
60 Journey from Madras through Mysore, Canara and Malabar.
61 Ind. Ant. XVIII, 1889.
62 Hobson-Jobson.
63 Decadas de Asia.
64 J. S. F. Mackenzie, Ind. Ant. IV, 1875.
65 Madras Census Report, 1901.
66 Sanskrit hymn repeated a number of times during daily ablutions.
67 Manual of the North Arcot district.
68 J. S. F. Mackenzie, Ind. Ant. IV, 1875.
69 See F. S. Mullaly. Notes on Criminal Classes of the Madras Presidency.
70 History of Railway Thieves, Madras, 1904.
71 Manual of the North Arcot district.
72 Occasional Essays on Native South Indian Life.
73 Gazetteer of the Central Provinces, 1870.
74 Report of the Ethnological Committee of the Central Provinces.
75 Wilson. Glossary of Judicial and Revenue Terms.
76 Manual of Malabar.
77 Devil worship of the Tuluvas, Ind. Ant. XXIII, XXIV, and XXV, 1894–96.
78 Occasional Essays on Native South Indian Life.
79 Madras Mail, 1905.
80 Madras Census Report, 1901.
81 Manual of the Vizagapatam district.
82 Manual of the North Arcot district.
83 Manual of the Ganjam district.
84 Madras Census Report, 1891.
85 Manual of the North Arcot district.
86 Religious Thought and Life in India.
87 Christianity and Caste, 1893.
88 In the Vēdic verse the word used for my brothers literally means your husbands.
89 A hōtri is one who presides at the time of sacrifices.
90 Madras Christian College Magazine, March, 1903.
91 Religious Thought and Life in India.
92 See Thurston, Ethnographic Notes in Southern India, 1906, pp. 229–37.
93 Op. cit.
94 Watt, Dict. Economic Products of India.
95 Viaggio all’ Indie orientali, 1672.
96 See Note on the Tulsi Plant. Journ. Anthrop. Soc., Bombay, VIII, I, 1907.
97 Madras Mail, 1906.
98 Hobson-Jobson.
99 Music and Musical Instruments of Southern India and the Deccan, 1891.
100 Oriental Commerce.
101 Gazetteer of the South Arcot district.
102 Collection of the Decisions of High Courts and the Privy Council on the Hindu Law of Marriage and the Effect of Apostacy after marriage. Madras, 1891.
103 Madras Mail, 1904.
104 Ind. Ant. III, 1874.
105 Ind. Ant. III, 1874.
106 Mysore and Coorg Gazetteer, 1877.
107 Said to be derived from ma, a negation, and arka, sun, in allusion to their not performing the adoration of that luminary which is customary among Brāhmans.
108 Brahmanism and Hinduism.
109 Manual of the South Canara district.
110 Fraser’s Magazine, May 1875.
111 Loc. cit.
112 Indian Review, VII, 1906.
113 Madras Mail, 1907.
114 J. S. F. Mackenzie, Ind. Ant., IV, 1875.
115 Madras Census Report, 1901.
