MVSOR.fi, CANARA, AND MALABAR. 633

is faid to be a Sanfcrit word, fignifying any perfon of the Vaifya cad who followstrade.

The Pancham Banijigaru are divided into a number of tribes, which feem to derivetheir names from certain places where they were formerly fettled. Two perfons ofdifferent tribes never intermarry; but all perfons of the call can eat together, and thewhole are under the jurifdiftion of the head-man (pedda chitty), of whatever «ribehe may be. This office is, as ufual, hereditary ; and the perfon who enjoys it isexempted by government from houfe-rent, and from one half of the cuftoms on hisgoods. He finds merchants coming from a diftance in lodging and warehoui'es, fettlesdifputes among his clan, and punifhes them for mifdemeanors. In general, he is fupportedby the officers of government, who puriilh fuch of his followers as do not give himthe cuftomary obedience. His judicial authority, however, is not arbitrary. All hisproceedings are open ; and he cannot aft contrary to the advice of his council, whichconftfts of all the old and refpeftable men of the call.

Befides this divifion into tribes, which arifes from the names of places, there feemto be other diftinftions among the Linga Banijigas; fome are called Aray, that is,Marattahs, and fome Teliga, that is, Telingas; and neither of thefe ever intermarrywith each other, or with thofe who are of the Kamata nation. Some perfons allegethat Pancham, the title commonly given to the whole, is only the name of a divifion;and that there are alfo Linga Banijigas called Budugulu, Lulgunderu, and Turcanaru.

The Pancham Banijigaru are chiefly traders. They may, however, follow any pro-feflion, except fuch as belong to the moll difgrac.ed caffs ; and this exception feemsrather to arife from a wilh to keep themfelves refpeftable, than from any pofitive law.Like all other worfliippers of Siva, they bury the dead, and never offer facrifices.They do not purchafe their wives, of whom they may marry as many as they pleafe.The women are not confined, but cannot marry a fecond hulband ; and after the fignsof puberty appear, a girl is no longer marriageable. Adultery is very rare; that isto fay, among the women; for. among the people of this country the term is neverapplied to the infidelity of married men. The Pancham Banijigas never eat animalfood, nor take any intoxicating fubftance. They cannot eat, except when the funfhines ; of courfe, in cloudy days they are under the neceflity of faffing.

Like mod other Hindu caffs, the Pancham Banijigas confift of a portion that followworldly affairs, and another that dedicate themfelves entirely to what they call thefervice of the gods ; that is to fay, idlenefs, meditation, prayer, abftinence, and themortification ol the paflions. Among this caff, thefe confecrated perfons are calledJangamas, Einaru, or Wodearu. Any Pancham Banijiga, who is qualified by hiseducation and manners, may become a Jangama ; but the defendants of a Jangamanever betake themfelves to honeft induftry. They always fubfift upon charity; andmod of them wander about with a great number of fmall bells tied to their legs and ,arms, in ordpr to give the inhabitants of the villages notice of their prefence; fo thatthey may come out to invite the holy men to their houfes, or to beftow charity. Manyothers live about the matas, or colleges of the Gurus of the caff, and aft as theirfervants.

The Gurus or Swamalus of the Pancham Banijigaru are Sannyafis; that is, menwho have forfaken all, and they poflfefs an abfolute authority in all religious matters,among which is included the chaftity of the women. Of thefe Gurus, or Sannyafis,there are four that are called thrones, and whofe matams are called baly-hully;huginy, near Nagara; fri-lhela, near Nundyal; and canelly, near Bangaluru .Thefe thrones feem to be independent of each other; and their occupants for the time

vol. vin. 4 M being