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96
TAMIL STUDIES

other South Indian castes not mentioned in the above table belong either to the right hand faction or to the left, or hold with the Brahmans a neutral attitude in the dispute. It will be curious to note that later immigrants in South India such as the Musalmans, Guzaratis, Marwaris and Patnulkars are classed with right-hand castes. This strange dissension, which is confined only to South India, exists in no other part of the country. Similar distinctions may still be found among the Sakti worshippers of Bengal ; but this religious sect does not seem to have any connection whatever with the social division of the non-Brahmanical castes of the Madras Presidency. The members of the two divisions struggle for certain honorary distinctions, such as the use of twelve pillars in the marriage pandal, the beating of five big drums on certain ceremonial occasions, the ride on horse-back or the carrying of a monkey flag. These privileges are claimed by the right-hand castes on all public and festive occasions, and whenever any of these privileges are exercised by a member of the left-hand faction, fights usually occur.

The Pancham Banajigas of the Canarese province, the Paraiyas of the Tamil districts and the Malas of the Andhra country are the strenuous supporters of the right-hand division. They are assisted by the Holeyas in Mysore and Canara, and by the weavers in the Tamil and Telugu districts. The left-hand division is commanded throughout the presidency by the Kammalas, Kamsalis or Panchalas with