35-Jr Mavava-Jathi-Vernanam f {Oct. 



(translation). 



An account of the tribe of Maravas inhabiting the liamnad, and 

 Sivagangai, Districts. 



There are seven subdivisions in the tribe of the Maravas, respective- 

 ly denominated Sembu-nditu, Kondaiyan Kottai, Apanurnattu, Agat- 

 tha, Oru-nattu, Upukatti, and Kurichihattu. Among these subdivi- 

 sions that of the Sembu-nattu- Maravas is the principal one. These 

 four persons, that is to say, Udiyat-dever, of Sivagangai, Kaimuthi- 

 Udiyat-dever, Orur udiyat-dever, Papanam-pantal-udiyat-dever, are rela- 

 tives of the Sethupaihi ; as father-in-law or brother-in-law, and are 

 subordinate to the Sethupathi' s authority. Among these four tribes the 

 following subordinate classes are considered as branches ; that is to say, 

 the Pichakili, Marikakili and the Sittir-makili. In these four tribes it is 

 not permitted to intermarry with the mother's branch or class ; but 

 they intermarry with those that are co-heirs, with themselves, of family 

 property ; that is, with the children of their uncles, or the senior and 

 junior brethren of their respective fathers. Except with these Mara- 

 vas, this custom obtains not ; for other classes (of Hindus) intermarry 

 with the mother's relatives; and are not allowed to marry wilh the 

 immediate descendants of their fathers relatives. Among the Sembu- 

 nattu Maravas it is the custom, of the family of Sethupathi Udiyat- 

 dever, if the husband die, for the wife to enter the fire, or burn herself 

 with the dead body of her husband. If the occasional occurrence of 

 an exception to this practice be found, then the surviving wife is bound 

 to remain all her life a widow and cannot marry again. However, in 

 the case of the daughters only of the Sethupathi, and of Udiyat-dever, 

 there is the peculiar custom, that if the husband die, or if the marriage 

 prove mutually unacceptable (to the living parties) then the relatives 

 and friends of both are assembled, who allow the female, in either case, 

 to choose another husband who is acceptabble to her. Sometimes (in 

 these two families) though rarely, the wife, on losing her first husband, 

 has been known to ascend the funeral pile ; and in some cases a pre- 

 ference has been voluntarily given to remain in a state of widowhood. 



The relatives of Udiyat-dever, the Sivagangai chief, are the follow- 

 ing : Sakanti-muttuku-marii-dever — Padamattur-Oyd-dever — Kattanur- 

 tirukanat-dever--Arulikottai-Nallan-dever—Severkottai-periyudiyat-de~ 



ver Karkudi-kattanat-dever — Sembanur-raja-dever — Olakudi-muttuka- 



rupar-dever — Kovdnur-Buvulagat-dever — these all are of the Sivagan- 

 gai district. These reciprocally give and receive wives to and from 

 each other, including Udiyat-dever of Sivagangai. The whole of 

 them are of the class of Sembu-nattu Maravas ; they are also subordi- 

 nate to the district ruler of Sivagangai. 



These Maravas, and also those first mentioned, are by profession 

 votaries of Siva j notwithstanding they worship Karupan, Bhadra- 



