18 INDIAN FISH AND FISHING. 



on no other supposition can the existence of individuals 

 holding such extensive sway be accounted for. The village 

 or patriarchal system of an elective headman to such of 

 his caste as inhabit each street and hamlet, is what is seen 

 elsewhere among other classes ; so likewise is the hereditary 

 headman over several villages. But among the fishermen 

 there exist priestly chiefs, two t)f whom in the Madras 

 Presidency are to be found on the Eastern coast, one being 

 at Madras and the other at Cuddalore, the territory of the 

 former stretching up the Coromandel coast, while that of 

 the latter reaches towards Cape Comorin. A third is 

 found in South Canara, where he exercises spiritual control 

 over a large district, and it is by no means improbable that 

 others may exist. These chiefs, whose offices are hereditary, 

 claim or receive fees and fines from those of their caste 

 living within their jurisdiction, and they are the final 

 referees in all cases of caste or family disputes. 



The next grade is also hereditary. These mere petty 

 chiefs or headmen only hold sway each over a few villages ; 

 their duties are the same, and some of their fees seem to 

 have to be transmitted to their superior. On one of these 

 headmen dying without heirs, a new one is elected by the 

 people of the caste. Lastly, the fishermen have the elective 

 headman, who is chosen by the residents of a single hamlet ; 

 his duties are to decide disputes, to be present at marriages 

 and religious ceremonies, often to fix the work, and assist 

 in certain Government duties ; his emoluments appear to 

 be very trifling. 



Passing on to the condition of the fishermen (as it was a 

 few years since) in Sind, they have to pay a tax of icw. a 

 ton yearly on their fishing boats, while the rate at which 

 they borrow money for the purpose of procuring boats and 

 nets I have already alluded to. Here these people are 



