OF BHARATAVAESA OK INDIA. 
9a 
are not left-hand people, they belong to the Tamils ; " an 
expression whose exact meaning it is difficult to make out 
especially as a Tamilim or Tamulian denotes, in Madras, a 
Hindu in general, and not a Pariah.'''' I believe that the 
meaning of this phrase is that, as the TamUar or Yellalar, the 
masters of the Pariahs and principal Rudras, are right hand 
men, so are their dependents, the Pariahs. The Pariahs enjoy 
penters) ; the word Kammala is most likely the Sanskrit Kammara, which, 
occurs already in the Veda in the meaning of artificer.] With hammer, chisel, 
adze, compass or ulakani, stick, parrot flag, eagle flag, or white kite flag ; 5, 
Pallikal with big axe, crane feather, vgnkai garland, red lotus garland, crow 
flag, cloud-coloured flag, fire flag, cock flag, vulture flag, fox flag, date flag, 
stone flag, green flag, hair-queue flag, drum and how, kuntali, black flag. 
As belonging to the fifth class of the Ilankai are mentioned — 1, Pallar 
with neUi garland and crab flag ; 2, GakkiVd-al (leather-workers) with saffron 
screen, black garland, warrior sword, cocoa leaf, drum, curved stick. 
Mr. Coleman's decision refers also to the manner in which temple, 
funeral and other processions should be performed by the difi'erent castes, 
feut to quote his remarks here would lead us too far away. 
The Government Oriental Manuscripts' Library contains two Usts of the 
right and left hand castes. 98 different divisions are ascribed to each sect. 
If the lists had not been very inaccurate, I should have printed them here, 
but they place inter alias the Kammalar on the right-hand and the Brahmans 
on the left-hand. 
Dr. Macleane (in the Administration Manual, vol. I, p. 69), though 
without producing confirmatory evidence, makes the important statement 
that the male P/idlies belong te the right and the Jemale FuUics to the left 
hand. He says : " The following lists show the more important of the caates 
■" which take part in the disputes of the rival hands. On the left hand, 
Chetties, artisans,oilmongers, weavers, Patnavar, male leather- workers, and 
" female Pullies. On the right hand ; Vellaular, Cavarays, Comaties, account- 
" ants, silk-weavers, male Pullies, Pariahs and female leather-workers. 
*' It is to be observed that the females of two of the inferior castes take differ- 
" ent sides from their husbands in these disputes." I have made inquiries 
among the Pallis on this point and they deny the correctness of the state- 
ment, yet it is very difiicult to decide such a question, unless both sides 
produce their authorities. It must certainly appear peculiar that husband 
and wife should belong to the diiferent rival hands, as if it wore desirable 
to specially provide causes for domestic disagreements. Mr. Nelson has, as 
will be seen on the next page, made a similar statement cone«rning the 
Cakkilis in Madura. 
^ The Rev. E. Loventhal of Vellore communicated to me the existence 
of the saying: usro/DajfT ^u.fEJms ^eveo ^suir^en ^iSlLpir " The 
Pariyar are not left hand, they are Tamilians," 
13 
