OF BHARATAVARSA OR INDIA, 
127 
In Chingleput and its neighbourliood the Pallis add to 
their name the title of NdyaJictr or leader, which term is 
synonymous with the Telugu Ndyadu and the Malayalam 
Ndyar. Those in Tanjore and its neighbourhood prefer the 
Tamil title Padaii/dcci (um>L^ujfr,^S),^'^ army-leader, which has 
the same meaning as Nayakar ; while others in Coimbatore, 
Salem, North and South-Arcot call themselves, like the 
neighbouring hill men, Kaundar (QsmeikTi_ir or fflajeron-zr). I 
connect this word with the root ko, and derive it from konda, 
mountain, and if this etjrmology is right, it shows that 
these Pallis have preserved in their name some recollection 
of their original habitat. 
Paniavas.'" — I have mentioned the names of the worshippers, in order to 
prove that they are Pallis (Nayakar) and Padaiyaccis. 
Read also " The Village Feast," by Cax^tain J.S.F. Mackenzie in the Indian 
Antiguanj, vol. Ill, pp. 6-9, and " Passing through Fire," by Mr. M. J. 
Walhouse, late M.C.S., in the Jw(^ia» Aiitiquayy, vol. VII., pp. 126-129 : 
" When not done in discharge of vows made in time of sickness or disaster, 
" the fire-walking seemed to be performed (generally in March and Jime) in 
most places in honour of Vlrabhadra, the portentous flame-clad progeny 
" of Siva, who is especially feared as presiding over family discord and mis- 
" fortune, or else of Dharmaraja, the elder Pandava, to whom there are five 
*' hundred temples in South Arkat alone, and vsrith whom and Draupadi the 
*' ceremony has some particular association. In Ganjam and Maisur it is per- 
" formed in honour of a village goddess, and everywhere seems connected' 
" with aboriginal rites and Siva-worship, Brahmans always disowning it." 
I myself witnessed this fire-treading in June 1885 in Coimbatore. With 
respect to the sun worship previously mentioned on p. 62 as peculiar to the 
Scythians, it should be remembered that Draupadi prayed twice to the sun 
god for assistance. Concerning the explanation of MahamaUapura I may 
also add that I regard Mallapura as the original form of Mailapur in Madras. 
These names will be considered in the last part of this treatise. 
92 The higher castes are often anxious to enhance their superiority at 
the expense of their inferiors, whom they ridicule. To this tendency must 
be ascribed many expressions which reflect on the language used by Pariahs, 
PaUar, Pallis, and Padaiyaccis. The word Padaiyacci is derived from padai 
and dtci, which originally signified Army ruling. Its more correct spelling 
is Padaiyatci, usis^i—ULKtlLSi. 
The Rev. Mr. Loventhal of Vellore informs me that the hill-people near 
Vellore insist on being addressed as Gaundan and Gau^dal, and that they 
feel insulted when called Ayya or Amma. He tells me also that many 
Pallis adopt now the title Mudaliyar. Occasionally the term Kaundar is 
used by Pulayar andCandalas. 
