CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



Introductory 1 



I.— The Chank Fisheries of India and Ceylon— 



(1) TiNNEVELLY 3 



(2) Ramnad 29 



(3) The Carnatic Coast 34 



(a) Tanjore District 34 



(b) South Arcot ... •• 35 



(4) Travancore ... 36 



(5) Kathiawar 37 



(6) Ceylon 38 



II.— The Chank Bangle Industry- 

 Introduction •+! 



(1) Its antiquity — 



(rt) In the TiNNEVELLY District 42 



(6) In the Deccan, Gujarat and Kathiawar ... 47 



(2) Its Present Condition and Methods — 



(a) Preliminary 68 



(b) Present Centres of Trade 69 



(c) Volume and Importance of the Trade ... 77 

 {d) The Trade Varieties of the Shells employed. 86 



(c) Details of Bangle Manufacture 91 



(0 The Economic Position of the Trade 99 



(g) The Castes and Tribes who use Chank 



Bangles — 



(1) In Northern India 101 



(2) In the Madras Presidency 110 



III. — The Role played by the Chank in Indian Religion and 

 Life— 



(1) Legendary and Historical 117 



(2) Present Day Uses — 



(«) In Religious Ceremonial 130 



(6) Branding and Tatooing 137 



(c) The Mendicant's Conch 142 



{d) Dedication of Temples .\nd Houses 142 



(e) Harvest Rites 144 



(0 Marriage Ceremonies 144 



(g) Death Ceremonies 148 



(h) Totems 149 



(i) Evil-eye Superstitions 150 



(;') Proverps 155 



(fe) Personal Adornment 157 



(I) Feeding Spouts 165 



(m) As Currency and in Armorial Bearings ... 165 



