354 
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH 
CHAPTER 
VI. 
July 1.9, 20. 
Smartal 
Brdhmans , 
and origin of 
the family 
distinction 
called Go- 
tram . 
Rishis. 
Commerce of 
Dada Bala- 
pura. 
and write accompts. Although they do not wear the Ling a, they 
reject the Brahmans as Gurus , and follow Cari-Basxva Uppa, who 
admonishes them to wash their heads, and to pray to Iswara . He 
as usual receives Dharma, or charity, and on every marriage has a 
small fee. At births, marriages, funerals, new moons, and the an- 
nual celebration of their parents’ decease, the Fanchdnga reads 
Mantrams; but the Jangamas share in the profits, as on all these 
occasions they receive charity. 
I found here three Smartal Brdhmans, who were reckoned men of 
learning. They said, that the sacred cast is divided into at least 
two thousand tribes, which, from hatred to one another, never in- 
termarry; for they might do so without infringing the rules of 
cast. It is considered as incestuous for two persons of the same 
Gotram to intermarry. The origin of the Gotrams is thus explained. 
The first Brdhmans that sprung from the head of Brahma when he 
created mankind are still alive, and are called Rishis. They are 
endowed with wonderful powers, being able to induce the gods 
to perform whatever they please. This power they obtained by long 
fasting and prayer ; and they continue to pass their time in these 
exercises, living in very retired places, and having been very sel- 
dom seen, especially in these degenerate days. Each of these Rishis 
had children, and each became thus the founder of a Gdtram ; all 
his descendants in the male line constituting one family. Every 
Gdtram possesses Vaidika , Lokika , and Numbi , or Sim-Brahmana, as 
this last set are called by the Smartal. 
Merchants from Tadepatry , on the Fennar river, come to Dock 
Bala-pura, and bring chintses, muslins, turbans, and handkerchiefs; 
they take away Jagory and cash. The merchants of Saliem bring 
muslins, cotton cloths with red borders, blue cotton cloths, and tur- 
bans : they take away money, with which they repair to Bangalore , 
and purchase betel-nut. From Naragunda , in the Duab , merchants 
bring blue cotton cloth, cotton thread, Terra japonica, and dates : 
they take away Jagory and cash ; with which, on the road back 
