114 



districts where it lingers, and the comparatively small 

 numbers who adhere to it. As a typical instance of the 

 irregular distribution of the custom, the report of the 

 Collector of Trichinopoly states that in the Musiri and 

 Karur Taluks, no people wear chank-bangles ; in 

 Namakkal Taluk only the Paraiyan sept called Sengudimi 

 Paraiyans wearthem ; in Udaiyarpalaiyam Taluk the habit 

 is confined to Koravans and Lambadis ; in Trichi- 

 nopoly and Perambalur Taluks to Chukkiliyans and 

 Paraiyans, while in Kulittalai Taluk besides the two 

 castes just named, the Oddans, Koravans and Thottia 

 Naicker? 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, 1 he bangles employed are manufactured ir 

 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-banoles in certain villaoes and these Salem 

 Pariavans are said to belono- to the Kono^a 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 r3omba 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 Chettics, 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 equalities as usuallcnme from 

 the Ramnad coast. 



