80 
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH 
CHAPTER privileges are confirmed to them by the grant of Kali on the 
copper plate; and that they are of the highest rank, having been 
May 20, &c. placed by that goddess on her left hand, which in India is the 
place of honour. Frequent disputes arise concerning these impor- 
tant^matters ; and on such occasions, not only mutual abuse is 
common, but also the heads of the divisions occasionally stir up 
the lowest and most ignorant of their followers to have recourse to 
violence, and encourage them by holding out the houses and shops 
of their adversaries as proper objects for plunder. A very serious 
dispute took place at Seringapatam since it fell into the hands of the 
English. Thirty families of the weavers, belonging to the left hand 
side, joined themselves to the Teliga Banijigaru , and were encouraged 
by them to use all the honorary distinctions claimed by the right 
hand side. This gave great offence to the Panchum Banijigaru , and 
the Whalliaru were let loose to plunder : nor could they be repressed 
without an exertion of military force, by which several people were 
killed. In order to preserve the peace of the garrison, and to en- 
deavour to bring the two parties to an agreement, it has ever since 
been thought expedient to prohibit any marriages from being 
celebrated within the fort. 
Pride is the occasion of another violent dispute for precedency 
between two casts, the Panchum Banijigaru , and the Camatigaru , 
although they are both of the same side. The former allege, that 
they are the hereditary chiefs of the division ; and the Camatigaru 
declare, that they are of a higher cast, as being Vaisya , while the 
others are only Sitdras. The dispute at present runs very high, and 
has occasioned some trouble to government. 
In every part of India with which I am acquainted, wherever 
there is a considerable number of any one cast or tribe, it is usual 
to have a head man, whose office is generally hereditary. His 
powers are various in different sects and places; but he is com- 
monly intrusted with the authority of punishing all transgressions 
against the rules of the cast His power is not arbitrary ; as he is. 
Other dissen 
sions among 
the natives. 
Hereditary 
chiefs of 
casts. 
