HORNELL THE INDIAN CONCH 57 



people wear chank-bangles ; in Namakkal Taluk only the Paraiyan sept call 

 Sengudimi Paraiyans wear them ; in Udaiyarpalaiyam Taluk the habit is confined 

 to Koravans and Lambadis ; in Trichinopoly and Perambalur Taluks to Chukkiliyans 

 and Paraiyans, while in Kulittalai Taluk besides the two castes just named, the Oddans, 

 Koravans and Thottia Naickers are given as castes following the custom it is to be noted 

 that all are amongst the lowest of castes, constituting what may be termed the inferior 

 labouring population. The bangles employed are manufactured in Kilakarai and pass 

 to Trichinopoly by the intermediary of traders in Madura. The price in Trichinopoly 

 town is from Rs. 3 to 4 per 100 bangles, all very roughly made, with little or no 

 ornamentation. 



In Tanjore and Salem the Paraiyans and Chukkiliyans use chank-bangles in certain 

 villages and these Salem Pariayans are said to belong to the Konga division as in 

 Coimbatore. In both districts the Lambadis and Koravas have the same custom, 

 and the Collector of Tanjore adds that the women of the Uppu Koravar, Panni Koravar, 

 and Vari Koravar sub-divisions, together with the Oddar and Domba castes, all agree 

 in following the habit. He states that the Koravas put on the bangles during the 

 marriage ceremonies. 



In Salem the Malayali women of the Chitteri Hills, Uttangarai Taluk, also use 

 chank-bangles . 



Hawkers called Dasam Chettis, who bring their wares from Rameswaram and 

 Kilakarai, attend village fairs and temple festivals with these bangles in Salem and 

 Coimbatore, charging from 4 to 12 annas a pair. In Coimbatore well-to-do Puluva 

 Vellalans not infrequently wear bangles of superior quality costing even Rs. 3 to 5 

 per pair ; these probably are brought from Calcutta, as no expensive patterns are made 

 at Kilakarai. In Tanjore about the same prices prevail, but here the most expensive, 

 said to come from Calcutta, are said to cost one rupee per pair ; common qualities as 

 usual come from the Ramnad coast. 



In the Nilgiri hills, especially in Ootacamund, Konga Paraiyan women who have 

 come from Coimbatore are often to be met with wearing chank-bangles. Their sub- 

 division is considered one of superior standing and the people belonging to it will not 

 act as sweepers. The bangle is always worn on the left wrist ; frequently two are 

 worn, always plain and massive, and about f inch in width, exactly similar indeed to 

 those worn by Chanku (Puluva ?) Vellalas. 



The women of the Kota hill-tribe in the Nilgiri hills have an allied custom, but 

 instead of a massive bangle cut from the entire shell, they wear around the left wrist a 

 bracelet of roughly-made chank beads strung on a thread. When chank beads are 

 not obtainable they wear a string of white glass beads as near the colour and shape of 

 the usual chank beads as they can obtain. In answer to my questions, the elders of a 

 Kota village situated close to Kotagiri informed me that all married women must possess 

 and wear one of these bracelets on the left wrist together with two massive copper 



