153 
from 3 to 4 years old in these villages are frequently 
given necklaces made of Strombus rings alternating 
with elongated glass beads. Some other castes in the 
same neighbcurhood, Mokayans and Tiyyans together 
with some Mappillas are said to follow the same custom. 
Usually the rings do not exceed twelve in each necklace. 
Adults do not wear these amulets as is the habit of the 
women of certain sections of the Cheruman caste in 
Malabar (cf. p. 158) and of the Hill Vedans of Travan- 
core. How far these and other facts connote former 
wide or even universal prevalence of this habit among 
the indigenous population of Malabar, is a line of inquiry 
likely to repay careful investigation. 
Finger rings purporting to be made from chank 
shells, but usually cut from a small species of S¢ronzdus 
common on the western coast of the Gulf of Mannar, are 
also used very freely throughout the Tamil country and 
also in Malabar and Cochin, chiefly by non-Brahmans 
among Hindus, as amulets against evil spirits, the evil 
eye and certain sicknesses. In Tinnevelly, Madura and 
Ramnad the custom is very prevalent among both sexes 
of non-Brahmans. Labbai and Marakayar Muhammad- 
ans in whose veins much Hindu blood is present, also 
affect the custom. The Vellalans, although like Brah- 
man adults, they wear, except in one section, neither 
chank-bangles nor rings, often provide their children 
with chank-rings or else with pieces of chank-shell tied 
on the wrist of the right hand by means of black thread, 
as an amulet against the disease called chedz which is, 
I believe, rickets. In some cases the ring or piece of 
chank is placed on the wrist only when the disease has 
laid hold of the child, in others it is tied on when the 
child attains its second month and kept there till it is 
three years old, when it is believed that all danger of 
contracting the disease is passed. Among the castes 
ranking next, —Chettis, Kollans, Thachchans, Thattans, 
Nayudus, Idayans, and Chaluppans, a chank-ring is often 
worn as an amulet against pimples on the face : occa- 
sionally their young children are provided with small and 
roughly ornamented chank-bangles to safeguard them 
against ched?. The low castes or Panchamas such as 
Pallans, Valayans, Paraiyans, etc., are the most regular 
devotees of these amulets, 
