1834.] Memoir of the Survey of Travancore. 66 



their minute peculiarities, their general character and customs so much 

 resemble those of the Nairs. As with tbem the manner in which 

 the race is continued gives a wide scope to the wandering sensibili- 

 ties of both sexes. The choice of the female is confined to the 

 Nomboorie tribe, but restricted in quality not quantity, a fickleness 

 that readily changes its object finds abundant room for selection. 

 The offspring of this connection belong to the Kshetrie cast, the 

 males are debarred forming any union with the women of their own 

 tribe, but such being considered a high distinction amongst those of 

 the first rank, of Nairs, bewildered amidst profusion, the Kshetrie 

 only experience the embarrassment attended on so wide a choice. 

 The progeny springing from such an union, ranks with the Saumun- 

 dervcast. The Kshetrie abstain from animal food, aspire to consi- 

 deration from the number and variety of their ablutions, and emulate 

 the bramins in their theoretical piety, probably practical vice ; which 

 however is partly redeemed by the presence of some virtues ; most of 

 the petty chiefs are of this tribe, but with few exceptions none belong- 

 ing to it possesses either authority or w^lth. 



Umblawassies — The Umblawassies hold a rank immediately below 

 the bramins, to which tribe it is said they once belonged, they still 

 continue with the exception of the Varriar, and Mauroyen to wear 

 the sacerdotal insignia. The Umblawassies, though numbers of them 

 are engaged in agricultural pursuits, are generally dedicated to the 

 service of the temples, (in fact they are the Deeadassee of the other 

 coast, but much more numerous than the correspondent class) they 

 differ in nothing from the Nairs except that the cast is kept up, as 

 with the Kshetries through the intervention of bramin's assistance. 

 The women of it being solely devoted to that race, while the off- 

 spring of an Umblawassie by a Nair woman becomes a Shooder„ 

 They are of various denominations, the Shakkaiur performs as dan- 

 cer in the Koothu Umbalums of the Pagoda ; the employment of 

 Pooshagum consists in collecting flowers to decorate the Idol, the 

 deities of the Poosharodu are of an inferior nature. The Varriar, 

 Nangiaar, and Mauroyen, compose the chief musicians belonging to 

 the Pagodas ; sound the chank in announcing the approach of Nom- 

 boorie Saniassee ; profess the science of astrology &c. The last men- 

 tioned holds the lowest rank, to his other vocations adding the per- 

 formance of some menial offices about the dead. 



Nairs — The Nairs may be considered as constituting the soul of 

 the population, they are all of the Shooder tribe, but split into vari- 

 ous classes. The Velioymah hold the first rank^ they are only seen 



