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are not divorced for any caufe, except adultery. In this country they are not confined $but in the northern parts of Hindoftan the Comatigas follow the example of theirneighbours, and fhut up their wives. Many of this call read books compofed inpoetry; that which is confidered as peculiarly belonging to it, is called Vaifya Purana,and is imagined to have been compofed by the goddefs Kanyaka Paramefwari, whichis one of the, names of the wife of Ifwara. They ali burn the dead, and fometimesthe widow accompanies on the pile her departed hufband. The women are no longermarriageable after the figns of puberty have appeared; and widows are condemnedto perpetual celibacy. Some families of this call worlhip Vilhnu, and their Guru isBhadra Acharya, one of the hereditary chiefs of the Sri Vailhnavam Brahmans, whorefides at Sri Rangam near Tritchinopoly. Younger branches of the family refide atdifferent places, and aft as deputies for the chief. The one who afts in this neigh-bourhood refides at Doda-Bala-pura, and is called Chicana Botalu. The other familiesof this caff worfhip Siva, and have for their guru a Sannyafi Brahman of theSmartal feft, who lives at Sivaganga, and acknowledges the Sringa-giri Swamalu ashis fuperior.

The Ruddi are one of the tribes of Sudra caft, which being much employed inagriculture, are called Woculigaru in the language of Karnata, and Cunabi in that ofthe Decany Mulfulmans. Befides cultivating the land, both as farmers and as -theirfervants, they aft alfo as porters, and fometimes carry on a fmall trade in grain. Likeall the other Sudras employed in agriculture, they have formed a part of the native footmilitia, that feems to have been eftablifhed throughout India , and in which probablyevery man of this defcription was enrolled. The confidering the Kfhatriya as themilitary caft feems an error. At prefent, the Ruddi frequently ferve as Candalhara,or the armed men, that without difcipline collefted the revenue, and compofed themoft confiderable body in the armies of all native princes. They appear to form anumerous race of men; many of them live below the Ghats, and fome are ofTelinga , while others are of Karnata extraftion. They can all eat together, butthey never intermarry, except with particular families, the purity of whofedefcent they confider as well known. They acknowledge an inferiority to anotherclafs of Sftdras who cultivate the land, and are called Sadru; for they will eatin the houfe of a Sadru, but he will not return the compliment by eating in theirs,which, among the Hindus, is a fure criterion of rank. They have Ijyamanas orhereditary chiefs, poffeffmg the ufual jurifdiftion and immunities. Some of themcan read and write accompts ; but none proceed farther in learning. They eat hogs,fheep, goats, venifon, and fowls,, and can take bang (or the leaves of the Cannabisfativa ); but lofe caft by drinking fpirituous liquors. The men are allowed polygamy;but do not fhut up their women, who are very induftrious, and perform much of thecountry labour. They are divided into two fefts by a difference of religion ; one partyworfhipping Vilhnu, and the other Siva; but this does not prevent intermarriages.Thofe who worlhip Vilhnu are followers of the Sri Vailhnavan Brahmans; but donot receive either upadefa or chakrantikam, contenting themfelves with a little holy-water, which they obtain in return for their charity. Thofe who worlhip Siva arefollowers of a kind of Jangamas, but do not wear the linga. The people withwhom I converfed feemed to confider thefe as the fame with the Jangamas of thePancham Banijigas; but this caft informed me, that they were diftinft, and that theGurus of the Ruddi were4he fame with thofe of the Curabaru, whofe chief refides atCangundy in the Bara-mahal. In their vifits, the Gurus of both kinds receive fromone to ten fanams (from 8d, to 6s. 3 |d.) from each Ruddi, according to his circum-

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