burn incense, and those of the third drag the temple car, and sing and shout during its progress. For this reason, it is said, they are sometimes called Bandi (cart).
"The major divisions," Mr. Paupa Rao Naidu writes,"are four in number, and according to their gradation they are Sāthepāti, Kāvadi, Mānapāti, Mendragutti. They are all corrupted Tamil words.
"1. Sāthepāti is a corruption of Sāhupādi, which means adorning a Hindu deity with flowers, jewels and vestments.
"2. Kāvadi, meaning a pole carried on the shoulders with two baskets pendant from its ends, in which are contained offerings for a deity or temple.
"3. Mānapati is a corruption of Mānpadi, which means singing in praise of god, when He is worshipped in a temple.
"4. Mendragutti is a corruption of Menrikutti, which means stitching a pair of shoes, and presenting them to the temple — a custom still prevalent at Tirupati and other important shrines.
"Of these four divisions, the first two are, or rather were, considered superior to the other two, a Kāvadi man being styled Pōthuvādu (man), and a Sāthepāti man Penti (female)."
A still further classification of divisions and sub-divisions is given by Mr. F. S. Mullaly.*[1] I am informed by Mr. C. Hayavadana Rao that, in the Vizagapatam district, the Yerukalas are divided into Pattapu or Oddē, and Thurpu (eastern). Of these, the former, when they are prosperous, live in tiled houses, while the latter live in huts. Pattapu women wear brass bangles on both wrists, and Thurpu women brass bangles on the right
- ↑ * Notes on Criminal Classes of the Madras Presidency.
