Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 7.djvu/250

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ULIYAKARAN
214
2. The existence of disputes in connection with landed property, likely to give occasion to any fight or rioting.
3. The arrival of Fakirs, Bairāgis, or other strangers in the village.
4. The arrival or residence in the village of any person whom the villagers suspect to be a bad character.
5. The commission of mischief in respect of any public property, such as roads, road avenues, bridges, cattle pounds. Government trees on unreserved lands, etc.

Ūliyakāran.-A synonym, denoting menial servant, of Parivāram.

Ullādan.— It is recorded, in the Travancore Census Report, 1901, that "the Ullātans and Nāyātis are found in the low country, as well as on the hills. At a remote period, certain Ullāta families from the plains settled themselves at Talpurakkōtta near Sabarimala, and even to-day pilgrims to Sabarimala consider this place as sacred. In the low country, the offerings to the same deities as the Ullātans worship are offered by the Vālans. Hence the Ullātans were called by them Kochchuvālans. The place near Sabarimala where they once dwelt is known as Kochuvālakkuti, or the cottage of the Kochchuvālan. Most of these Ullātans have left this place for fear of wild beasts, and are now straying in the woods with no fixed abode. It is said that they are the descendants from a Nambūtiri woman, who, on being proclaimed an outcast, said Ullatāna, meaning that (the offence for which she was ostracised) is true. [According to another derivation, the name is derived from ull, within, and otunnu, runs, and means one who runs away into the forest at the sight of a member of any of the higher castes.] They are good hunters, and experts in the collection of wax and other forest produce. A