castes are fed. At two other considerable chattrams Bráhmans are fed. Three insignificant choultries are maintained by the municipality at Rajahmundry.
Private chattrams appear to exist in large numbers1[1] in this district, and they are much less exclusively devoted to the needs of Bráhmans than is the case in some places. Indeed at several of them food (though not accommodation) is provided even for Málas. At many of them all Súdra castes are fed. Most of them, it seems, are supported by private liberality without regular endowments. Some are of a considerable size. Those at Cocanada (maintained by a Kómati), Samalkot (by a rich Reddi merchant), Pithápuram (by the zamindar) and Kótipalli (by the Pólavaram proprietor) are worthy of particular mention. The largest of all is supported by a Kómati at Rajahmundry. Another large one in that town, called the chanda('subscription') choultry, is kept up by subscriptions from the local merchants, who set aside a percentage of their daily profits for the purpose.
- ↑ 1 The Collector's office estimates the number of these institutions at 71.
