T14 
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 wear them ; in Udaiyarpalaiyam Taluk the habit 
is confined to Koravans and Lambadis; in Trichi- 
nopoly and Perambalur Taluks to Chukkiliyans and 
Paratyans, 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 ir: 
Kilakarai and pass to Trichinopoly by the intermediary 
of tradersin 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 Chetties, who bring their 
wares from Raméswaram and Nilakarai, attend village 
fairs and temple festivals with these bangles in Salem 
and Coimbatore, charging from 4 to r2annas apair. In 
Coimbatore well-to-do Puluva Yellalans 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. 
