MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR. 
245 
understood by every one, the Devcingas are laughed at by their CHAPTER 
neighbours for considering them as of any value. The Panchanga 
attends at marriages, and reads a Mantram in Sanskrit; which, being June 22, &e. 
unintelligible, is very highly valued. The knowledge of the laity 
is confined to the keeping of accompts and writing letters. The / 
Gurus and Jangamas possess the same authority over the Dcvangas, 
as they do over the Pancham Banijigas . 
The proper god of the cast is Iszvara or Siva, and his wife and 
family ; especially his servant the Baswa , and his son Ganesa , wlm 
has particular authority over the loom, and, when his worship is 
neglected, is apt to make it go wrong. 
The hereditary chiefs of the Canara Devdngas are called Ijyamdna. 
With the assistance of a council of the elders, these chiefs take cog- 
nizance of all offences against the ceremonies of cast. They repri- 
mand for small offences; for those of a higher nature, excommuni- 
cate; and, in cases of, great importance, send the accused person to 
the Swcimalu for his decision. The chiefs and councils endeavour 
to settle all civil disputes between members of the cast, first by 
admonition; then by excommunication of those who are unreason- 
able ; and finally by applying to the officers of government, who 
generally enforce the decrees of the Ijyamdnas. 
The whole of the Canara Dfrodngas can intermarry. They are 
allowed a plurality of wives, which they purchase from their parents, 
paying from 4 to 16 Pagodas (1/. 6s, Q^d.—Sl. 7s. 5yd. ) for each, 
according to their circumstances. The wives are not shut up, nor 
are they ever divorced except for adultery. They eat no animal 
food, nor use any intoxicating substance, except as a medicine. 
They bu ; ry the dead, and believe that after death good men are 
united to God; bad men suffer transmigration. The Nidamamdy 
Swamalu is looked upon as the same with Iswara, and even a common 
Jangama is considered as a portion of the deity. 
The Teliga Demngas retain their native Telinga language, but are TdigaDc - 
divided into two sects ; of whom one worships Vishnu , and the other v ^ n S as - 
