254 
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH 
CHAPTER 
IV. 
June 22, &c. 
Customs of 
the Shalay. 
Ill the Brahmanda Parana, which is the book that they consider as 
appropriated to their cast, it is related, they say, that their ances- 
tors, on account of some injury done to the Brahmans , were con- 
demned to follow their present mechanical occupations. They are 
divided into two sects ; one worshipping Ska, and the other Vishnu: 
but this division produces no difference of cast, as they can all eat 
and marry together, the wife, as usual, adopting the religion of her 
husband. The worshippers of Ska do not wear the Linga, but are 
followers of the Smartal Brahmans. A Vaidika Brahman residing 
here bestows the thread and Upadesa, and attends at births, marri- 
ages, and funerals, which are performed on the pile, and are some- 
times accompanied by the sacrifice of a wife. Those who worship 
Vishnu are followers of the Sri Vaishmvam Brahmans . Neither di- 
vision of these people eat animal food, nor drink spirituous liquors. 
They are allowed plurality of women, but do not confine them. 
Like all the other tribes of this country, however, they do not wil- 
lingly admit any person of a different race into the inner apartments ^ 
of their houses ; especially if he be of a cast that they consider as 
inferior to their own; persons of their own tribe, and those whom 
they consider as of higher rank, can go into every part of their 
house, except the kitchen. The circumstance's which seem chiefly 
to add dignity to a cast are, its being restricted from the pleasures 
of the world, especially those of the table ; the following no useful 
employment; and the being dedicated to what they call piety and 
learning. Almost every man endeavours, as much as possible, to 
assume at least the external appearance of these qualifications; and 
in the people of this country a hypocritical cant is a remarkable 
feature. Even young men of active professions, when talking on 
business, will frequently turn up their eyes to heaven, and make 
pious ejaculations, attended with heavy sighs. 
The Shalay are a cast of weavers, divided into two distinct tribes, 
that never intermarry, and have separate hereditary chiefs. They 
