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86
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
into three classes; 1st, the race of fire, whose kings were called by the common appellation of Seran. They reigned over the kingdom of Maleywar, which was corrupted by the Portuguese into Malabar, signifying the mountain; and according to this name of that kingdom, their language Tamil is called Malavy, i.e., Malabar, as also Malen Tamil, i.e. Malabar Tamil. 2nd, the race of the sun, whose kings were called by the common appellation of Solen (Chôlan). They governed the kingdom of Solamandalam, which was also corrupted by the Portuguese into Coromandel, signifying the kingdom of Solen, and their language is the Telugu, which is also called Va dagu (Northern). 3rd, the race of the moon, whose kings are called by the common appellation of Pândiyan. They governed the kingdom of Madura, and their language is the pure and elegant Tamil, which is also commonly called, though improperly, Malabar.
The Vaisyas are noblemen, and divide themselves also into three classes, viz. :
[MARCH, 1881. 12th. Uppu-vâniyar (Uppu-kârar,) i.e. salt
makers.
13th. Pûmâlai-kârar, i.e. flower sellers (and garland makers).
14th. Illewaleyr, i.e. watchmen of the
fortresses.
9th. Pannar, i.e. tailors.
10th. Ennai-vâniyar, i.e. oil-mill workers. 11th. Sunnambu-vâniyar (Cunnambu-kârar,)
15th. Vettiyar, i.e. Paraiyar, tom-tom beaters, who likewise are weavers, and bear the corpses of the dead, (and grave-diggers).
16th. Kossevar (Kusavar), potters.
17th. Viraka-diyâr, i. e. chank blowers at weddings and deaths.
18th. Vannar, i. e. washermen.
The out-door servants among others are 1st. Kômaṭṭiyar, a low sort of traders. 2nd. Salapar, also a low sort of traders. 3rd. Âgambadiyar, a low sort of husband
men.
4th. Parawar, 5th. Karaiyâr, 6th. Tamilar, 7th. Mukkuvar, 8th. Pattenewar, 9th. Sampade war, 10th. Pallewallar: Fishermen of different kinds. 11th. Sandar, (Śâpâr), 12th. Pallar, 13th. Nallavar: Toddy-drawers of different kinds. 14th. Tannekanar, 15th. Mâvuttar, ("Mahouts"), 16th. Parambar: Elephant-keepers.
1st: the race of Ko-vaisyas or Iḍaiyar, i.e. pastors, who earn their livelihood by keeping cattle. 2nd: that of Tâna-vaisyas, or Chettis, i.e. merchants, who support themselves by trade and merchandise. 3rd, that of Pu-vaisyas or Vellalar, i.e. husbandmen, whose work is husbandry.
17th. Kaykalar, 18th. Śêniyar, 19th. Châlliar: (Saliyar), Weavers of different kinds.
20th. Elutta-karar, i. e. painters. 21st. Sayekârar, i. e. dyers.
The Sûdras are servants of the three classes of Vaisyas aforesaid, and are divided into two castes, viz. :
22nd. Eleyvâniyar, i. e. betel vendors. 23rd. Maṛawar, 24th. Kurawar, 25th. Vêdar: Inhabitants of the forest, of different kinds.
26th. Semmâr, 27th. Sakkiliyar: Shoemakers
1, House servants, named Kuḍimakal, and 2, out-door servants. The house servants are eighteen in number, viz. :
of different kinds.
1st. Nawidar, (Nâviyar). i.e. barbers.
28th. Turumbar, i. e. washermen of the lowest caste.
2nd. Oacher (? Vâchar) who announce the weddings and deaths of the Vaisyas.
3rd. Tattar, i.e. goldsmiths. 4th. Kollar, i.e. blacksmiths. 5th. Tachchar, i.e. carpenters. 6th. Kannâr, i.e. brass founders. 7th. Katsipper, i.e. bricklayers or masons. These five castes are known by the common appellation of Kamålar, i.e. craftsmen.
All the above castes have special virudu, (banner), i. e. arms and rights, different one from another. Those among the Sûdras, who of old by the Kshattriyas, or Vaisyas, on account of some reasons and merits were entitled to and favoured with new arms and states above their own, are called Valankaiyar, i. e. those of the right hand; but all the other Sûdras,
8th. Valaiyar, i.e. deer and hare catchers Idankaiyar, i. e. those of the left hand. with nets.
Besides the above castes, there are, in the province of Jaffnapatam, three regular sorts of castes, viz. :
1st. Madapalle, who are the offspring of the natural children of former kings of Jaffna
i.e. limeburners.
Some of the names in the list, we have ventured to modify the spelling of, in order to represent them in their usual forms: others have been left as in the MS.-ED.
