At the census, 1901, the following were returned as sub-castes of the Gollas: —
Dayyālakulam (wrestlers), Perike Muggalu or Mushti Golla (beggars and exorcists), Podapōtula (who beg from Gollas), Gavādi, and Vadugāyan, a Tamil synonym for Gollas in Tinnevelly. Another Tamil synonym for Golla is Bokhisha Vadugar (treasury northerners). Golla has been given as a sub-division of Dāsaris and Chakkiliyans, and Golla Woddar (Oddē) as a synonym of a thief class in the Telugu country. In a village near Dummagudem in the Godāvari district, the Rev. J. Cain writes, *[1] are "a few families of Bāsava Gollalu. I find they are really Kois, whose grandfathers had a quarrel with, and separated from, their neighbours. Some of the present members of the families are anxious to be re-admitted to the society and privileges of the neighbouring Kois. The word Bāsava is commonly said to be derived from bhasha, a language, and the Gollas of this class are said to have been so called in consequence of their speaking a different language from the rest of the Gollas."
Like many other Telugu castes, the Gollas have exogamous septs or intipēru, and gōtras. As examples of the former, the following may be quoted: —
Agni, fire | Kōkala, woman's cloth |
Āvula, cows | Katāri, dagger |
Chinthala, tamarind | Mūgi, dumb |
Chevvula, ears | Nakkala, jackal |
Gundala, stones | Saddikūdu, cold rice or food |
Gurram, horse | Sēvala, service |
Gorrela, sheep | Ullipōyala, onions |
Gōrantla, henna (Lawsonia alba). | Vankāyala, brinjal (Solamum melongena) |
- ↑ *Ind. Ant. VIII, 1879.