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fingular number may in general be obtained by rejecting the final ru. I mull alfoxib-ferve. that thefe lifts differ, in fome refpects, from a valuable account of the right andleft hand fides, which Colonel Clofe was fo obliging as to communicate. The difference,I fuppofe, arifes partly from his having received the accounts through the medium oftheMuffulman language, and partly from his having taken them at Bangalore . MineI received at Seringapatam , by means of an interpreter from the Karnataca language;and I have found, that in different places, though at no great diftance, there are con-fiderable variations in the cuftoms of the fame tribes: a circumftance to which I requeltthe reader’s attention. My defcriptions of feds are only to be confidered as ftrittlyapplicable to thofe of the places where they have been taken. I avoid the Muflulmannames ; as I find that thefe people had, in general, very imperfect notions concerningtheir Hindu fubjeds, and frequently ufed diftindions to which there was nothing ana-logous among the aboriginal natives.
The origin of the divifion of Hindus into the right and left hand fides, is involvedin fable. It is faid to have'taken place at Kunji, or Conjeveram, by order of thegoddefs Kali; and the rules to be oblerved by each fide were at the fame time engravedon a copper plate, which is faid to be preferved at the temple of that place. Theexiftence of fuch a plate, however, is very doubtful ; both parties founding on itsauthority their pretenfior.s, which are diametrically oppolite. The different cafts, ofwhich each divifion is compofed, are not united by any common tie of religion, occu-pation, or kindred : it feems, therefore, to be merely a ftraggle for certain honorarydiftindions. The right hand fide pretend, that they have the exclufive privilege ofufing twelve pillars in the pundal, or fhed, under which their marriage ceremonies areperformed ; and that their adverfaries, in their proceflions, have no right to ride onhorfe-back, nor to carry a flag painted with the figure of Hanumanta. The left handfide pretend, that all thefe privileges are confirmed to them by the grant of Kali on thecopper plate; and that they are of the higheft rank, having been placed by that goddefs ■on her left hand, which in India is the place of honour. Frequent difputes arife con-cerning thefe important matters ; "and on fuch occafions, not only mutual abufe iscommon, but all'o the heads of the divifions cccallcnally ftir up the loweft and moftignorant of their followers to have reeourfe to violence, and encourage them by hold-ing out the houfes and (hops of their adverfaries as proper objects for plunder. A verylerious dil'pute took place at Seringapatam fince it fell into the hands of the Engliftt.Thirty families of the weavers, belonging to the left hand fide, joined themfelves to theTeliga Banijigaru, and were encouraged by them to ufe all the honorary diftindionsclaimed bv the right hand fide. This gave great offence to the Panchum Banijigaru,and the Whalliaru w’ere let loofe to plunder : nor could they here prelfed without an ex-tion of military force, by which feveral people were killed. In order to preferve thepeace of the garrifon, and to endeavour to bring the two parries to an agreement, ithas ever fince been thought expedient to prohibit any marriages from being cele-brated within the fort.
Pride is the occafion of another violent difpute for precedency between two cafts, thePanchum Banijigaru, and the Camatigaru, although they are both of the fame fide.The former allege, that they are the hereditary chiefs of the divifion ; and the Camx-tagaru declare that they are of a higher caft, as being Vaifya, v/hile the others areonly Sudras. The difpute at prelent runs very high, and has occafioned fome troubleto government.
In every part of India with which I am acquainted, wherever there is a confiderablenumber of any one call; or tribe, it is ufual to have a head man, wffiofe office is gene-rally hereditary. His powers are various in different feds and places : but he is com-monly
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