ele? 
bangle. The wearing of this ornament appears to be 
followed in Coimbatore largely because it is an ancient 
custom, with no further significance beyond what is 
implied above. It is not now connected with belief in 
the evil-eye though it is said to have had this significance 
in former times. The general belief in the efficacy of 
the chank asa specific against skin diseases may how- 
ever be counted as one of the obscure reasons for its 
continued usage. 
According to information received from Mr. V. 
Govindan, in the case’ of the sub-divisions of the Vella- 
lans and Idaiyans of Coimbatore where caste custom 
rigidly enforces the wearing by their women of a chank 
bangle, no married woman or girl of marriageable age 
is permitted to appear in public without her chank 
bangle, and Mr. Govindan states that in the case of 
Chanku Vellalas if any woman does so appear she is out- 
casted and not readmitted until she has paid a fine 
which may amount to asmuch as Rs. 10. The proceeds 
of the fine are utilized to pay the expenses of giving a 
ceremonial dinner to the caste Panchayatdars or village 
elders. Widows, as usual elsewhere, have to discard 
these bangles along with their other ornaments on the 
death of their husband. 
A single bangle only is used, worn on the left wrist. 
Should the owner break the bangle by accident, she re- 
places it at the earliest opportunity and till she so does, 
must remain indoors and not be seen by caste people. 
The caste rules attach as much importance to this 
bangle as to the tali or marriage badge tied around the 
neck of married women. The Vellalan and Je ea 
chank bangle is stout and thick, measuring from } to 
tinch in width. According to this informant it is ‘left 
quite plain, without incised ornament, in order the better 
to resist rough usage. The inner surface is roughly 
filed and smoothed, the outer is left unworked. From 
the statement of the Collector of Coimbatore it would 
however appear that this is not the universal custom as 
he mentions instances of well-to-do Puluva Vellalans 
wearing ornamental bangles costing from Rs. 3 to 5 
per pair. 
These bangles, the plain ones made at Kilakarai on 
the Ramnad coast, are not usually to be bought in the 
inland bazaars. Bangle peddlers who pass from village 
