1836.] 



Translated from the Mackenzie Manuscripts, 



357 



the Agambadiyar tribe. The female children of such marriages can 

 intermarry with the Mar anas, but not among the Agambadiyar tribe. 

 On the other hand, the male offspring of such marriages, is considered 

 to' be of the mother's tribe, and can intermarry with the Agambadiyas, 

 but not in the tribe of the Maravas. Among the whole of the Maravas 

 the usual titular sirname is Dever (god). Among the Agambadiyas, 

 the ordinary sirname is Servikaren. The titular sirname of all the 

 Kallars is Ambalakaren. The tribes that pay outward respect to the 

 authority of the Sethupathi, are the eighteen chiefs of the Tanjore 

 country ; Udiyat-dever the chief of Sivagangai ; the Tondaman of 

 Puthu-Koiai (or new fort) : these testify towards him great venera- 

 tion. The reason is because Tirumala-naicker, the sovereign of the 

 Madura and Trichinopoly country, gave to the Sethupathi, the title of 

 Tirumala- Sethupathi ; bestowed on him the appropriate insignia of 

 royal power ; presented to him the lion-headed palanquin, in which he 

 himself had been accustomed to be carried ; called him his adopted 

 son; invited him to eat of the cold rice of which he (the king) had 

 before partaken ; and conferred on him the title of Sethupathi. In 

 consequence the aforesaid persons, from that time forwards, rendered 

 to the Sethupathi, the respectful recognition due to a superior ; (that 

 is, standing before him, with the two palms of the hands joined together, 

 and held in front of the breast). The following chiefs among the seven- 

 ty-two Poli gars of Madura, that is to say, the chiefs of Tinnevelly, 

 Cata-boma nayak of Panjalam-curuchi, Serumali-nayak of Cadal-cudai, 

 the Tokal-var Dottiyas, being all of inferior caste, fall prostrate before 

 the Sethupathi ; and afterwards are not allowed to be seated in his 

 presence, but stand with their arms (respectfully) folded. The follow- 

 ing chiefs pay the Sethupathi no exterior sign of respect or homage 

 whatsoever ; that is to say, the Siilavas and others of Yettiydburam, 

 the Vadai-carei, Sokam-pattai, Uttu malai, Setturu, Sarandai, and other 

 Marava chiefs ; with the Vanaiya chiefs of Siva-giri of seven thousand 

 fields, the Talivan-Kotai, and other Vanaiya chiefs. If they come 

 before the Sethupathi, he rises in token of courtesy. When the 

 Sethupathi goes out publicly, the criers (or heralds) proclaim him 

 to be servant of the house of Tirumala-naicker, and invincible by the 

 seventy-two chiefs (poligars) of Madura. Thus much is the narrative 

 of the SethupatJiis, and other Maravas of the Sembu-nattu. 



The following is a circumstantial account of the Maravas of Kondian- 

 Kottai, and of the Upu-Kottai Maravas, who are heads of districts in 

 the province of Tinnevelly. Among the Upu-kottai Maravas is Vada- 

 garai Senna-nancha deven ; among the Kondian-Kottai Maravas are 

 P eriya-sami-deven of Sakampati ; Maruthapa-deven of Uttu-malai, 

 Tiru-v anal- deven of Settur, Kadari-Saravat-deven of Surandi, Sethu* 

 rayen of Singam-patti ; Nalla-Kutti-deven of Urkdduj Sevel-puli-deven 



