MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR. 
26 1 
whether or not he be of the same sect with them. Some of this CHAPTER 
cast are able to read' poetry, and peruse a book called Vaisya Pu- 
rdna, which they consider as belonging to their cast. June 22, &c. 
The Pallhocmlu are the only persons in the Colar province (of Customs of 
which this is a part) who cultivate kitchen gardens. They also cul- w d n lu, 
tivate the ground, both as farmers, and as their servants. They are 
all of Tamul extraction ; and, although they have been in tins 
country for many generations, still speak the Tamul language in their 
own houses, and intermarry with the Palli of Arcot and Vellore , 
They are properly called Vana Palli , and must be distinguished 
from the Mina Palli , who are fishermen. This is one of the most 
numerous of the tribes of the Tamul nation, but is considered as 
rather low. They have hereditary chiefs called Gauncla , who pos- 
sess the usual jurisdiction. None of them can read. They are al- 
lowed to eat animal food, and to drink spirituous liquors. Their 
women continue to be marriageable after the age of puberty, and 
are very laborious. They cannot be divorced for any cause, except 
adultery ; hut the men are permitted to have a plurality of wives. 
They bury their dead. 
The Palliwdnlu h&vQ no Guru ; but the Panchdnga acts as their 
Purbhita at births and marriages, at the Amdvdsya , and at the annual 
commemoration of their deceased parents. They wear the mark of 
Vislmu's sect, and sometimes pray to Vencaty Humana ; but the pro- 
per god of the cast is Dharma Raja. His images exactly resemble 
those of Godama, who is frequently called by that name; but by 
the people here their god is said to be the eldest brother of the five 
sons of Pdndu , wholived at the commencement of this Yugam. He 
is a beneficent deity, like Godama , abhorring blood ; and is wor- 
shipped by offerings of fruit, flowers, and the like. The Palliwanla 
have temples, of this god attended by Pujdris of their own cast. 
Like all the other inhabitants of this country, they are much ad- 
dicted to the worship of the Saktis, or destructive powers ; and 
