they have exogamous septs or vīdu (house), of which the following are examples: —
| Mandhi, black monkey. | Ozhakkan, a measure. |
| Kottangkachchi, cocoanut shell. | Thondhi, belly. |
| Thuniyan, cloth. | Mungināzhi, bamboo measure. |
| Kachchandhi, gunny-bag. | Ōdakkazhinjan, one who defæcated when running. |
| Vellai parangi, white vegetable marrow. | Kamban, the Tamil poet. |
| Ettadiyan, eight feet. | Ōttuvīdu, tiled house. |
| Thadiyan, stout. | Kalli, Euphorbia Tirucalli. |
| Kazhudhai, donkey. | Sirandhān, a noble person. |
| Thavalai, frog. | Thambirān, master or lord. |
| Sappaikalan, crooked-legged. | Kollai, backyard. |
| Malaiyan, hill. | Mādīvīdu, storeyed house. |
| Kaththan, an attendant on Aiyanar. | Murugan, name of a person. |
The Sāliyans have further acquired gōtras named after rishis, and, when questioned as to their gōtra, refer to the Brāhman purōhits.
The Sāliyan weavers of silk Kornād women's cloths, who have settled at Mayāvaram in the Tanjore district, neither intermarry nor interdine with the Sāliyans of the Tinnevelly district, though they belong to the same linguistic division. The Tinnevelly Sāliyans closely follow the Kaikōlans in their various ceremonials, and in their social organisation, and interdine with them. Sāliya women wear three armlets on the upper arm, whereas Kaikōla women only wear a single armlet. The Sāliyans may not marry a second wife during the lifetime of the first wife, even if she does not bear children. They may, however, adopt children. Some of the Tinnevelly Sāliyans have taken to trade and agriculture, while others weave coarse cotton cloths, and dye cotton yarn.
