THE INDIAN CONCH 



(TURBINELLA PYRUM, LINN.) 



AND ITS RELATION TO HINDU LIFE 



AND RELIGION 



JAMES HORNELL, F.L S., 



Marine Assistant, Department of Fisheries, Madras, and formerly Marine 

 Biologist to the Government of Ceylon 



[WITH SEVEN PLATKS AND Two TEXT-FIGURES] 



PARE 



INTRODUCTORY 2 



I. LIFE-HISTORY AND LOCAL RACES OF THE CHANK . . . . ' . . 3 



II. THE SOURCES OF INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY 8 



III. THE ROLE PLAYED BY THE CHANK IN INDIAN RELIGION AND LIFE 11 



(1) LEGENDARY AND HISTORICAL . . . . . . . . . 11 



(2) PRESENT DAY USES : 



PAOK 



(a) IN RELIGIOUS CEREMONIAL AND (g) TOTEMS 33 



VULGAR SUPERSTITION (IN- (A) EVIL-EYE SUPERSTITIONS .... 34 



CLUDING MARRIAGE AND ((') PERSONAL ADORNMENT 33 



DEATH RITES) ... 18 (j) FEEDING SPOUTS . . . . . . 43 



(6) BRANDING AND TATTOOING . 25 (k) As CURRENCY AND IN ARMORIAL BEARINGS 43 



(c) THE MENDICANT'S CONCH . 28 (/) LIME-MAKING 45 



(d) DEDICATION OF TEMPLES AND (m) MEDICINE 45 



HOUSES 29 (n) FOOD 47 



(e) MARRIAGE CEREMONIES 30 (o) INCENSE STICKS 47 



(/) DEATH CEREMONIES ... 32 (p) ASSEMBLY CALLS, ETC 43 



IV. THE USE OF CHANK BANGLES - 



(1) IN NORTHERN INDIA 49 



(2) IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY 55 



(3) THE ANTIQUITY OF THE CHANK-BANGLE INDUSTRY : 



(a) IN THE TlNNEVELLY DISTRICT IN THE BEGINNING OF THE CHRISTIAN ERA . . .68 



(li) ITS FORMER EXISTENCE IN THE DECCAN, GUJARAT AND KATHIAWAR . . . . . 64 



V. THE SCOPE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SHELL-BANGLE INDUSTRY IN OKHAMANDAL 74 



