Māstiga.— The Māstigas are described by the Rev. J. Cain*[1] as mendicants and bards, who beg from Gollas, Mālas, and Mādigas. I am informed that they are also known as Mǎla Māstigas, as they are supposed to be illegitimate descendants of the Mālas, and usually beg from them. When engaged in begging, they perform various contortionist and acrobatic feats.
Matam (monastery, or religious institution). — An exogamous sept of Dēvānga.
Mātanga.— Mātanga or Mātangi is a synonym of Mādiga. The Mādigas sometimes call themselves Mātangi Makkalu, or children of Mātangi, who is their favourite goddess. Mātangi is further the name of certain dedicated prostitutes, who are respected by the Mādiga community.
Matavan.— Recorded, in the Travancore Census Report, 1901, as a name for the Pulikkapanikkan sub-division of Nāyar.
Matsya (fish). — A sept of Dōmb.
Mattiya.— The Mattiyas are summed up as follows in the Madras Census Report, 1901. " In Vizagapatam these are hill cultivators from the Central Provinces, who are stated in one account to be a sub-division of the Gonds. Some of them wear the sacred thread, because the privilege was conferred upon their families by former Rājas of Malkanagiri, where they reside. They are said to eat with Rōnas, drink with Porojas, but smoke only with their own people. The name is said to denote workers in mud (matti), and in Ganjam they are apparently earth-workers and labourers. In the Census Report, 1871, it is noted that the Matiyās are 'altogether superior to the Kois and to the
- ↑ • Ind. Ant., VIII, 1879.
