Minpidi (fish-catching). — A sub-division of Pānan.
Mirapakāya. (Capsicum frutescens). — An exogamous sept of Bōya.
Mirigani.— A sub-division of Dōmb.
Miriyala (pepper). — An exogamous sept of Balija.
Mir Shikari.— A synonym of Kurivikkāran.
Misala (whiskers). — An exogamous sept of Bōya.
Mise (moustache). — An exogamous sept of Kuruba.
Mochi.——See Mucchi.
Modikāran.— The name sometimes applied to Nōkkan mendicants, who dabble in jugglery. Modi is a trial of magical powers between two persons, in which the hiding of money is the essential thing.
Mōduga (Butea frondosa). — A gōtra of Mēdara.
Mogēr.— The Mogērs are the Tulu-speaking fishermen of the South Canara district, who, for the most part, follow the aliya santāna law of inheritance (in the female line), though some who are settled in the northern part of the district speak Canarese, and follow the makkala santāna law (inheritance from father to son).
The Mogērs are largely engaged in sea-fishing, and are also employed in the Government fish-curing yards. On the occasion of an inspection of one of these yards at Mangalore, my eye caught sight of the saw of a saw-fish (Pristis) hanging on the wall of the office. Enquiry elicited that it was used as a "threatening instrument " in the yard. The ticket-holders were Māppillas and Mogērs. I was informed that some of the Mogērs used the hated thattu vala or āchi vala (tapping net), in using which the sides of the boats are beaten with sticks, to drive the fish into the net. Those who object to this method of fishing maintain that the noise made with the sticks frightens away the shoals of mackerel and sardines.
