each of these again has five partly exogamous septs or illams (families), namely, Mūttillam, Tōranattillam, Pallikkillam, Manjanāttillam, and Sōliya-illam. It is stated that the Mitāl and Pattanam sections will eat together though they do not intermarry, but that the Malayālam section can neither dine with nor marry into the other two. They are reported to have an elaborate system of caste government, under which eleven villages form a gadistalam (or stage), and send representatives to its council to settle caste matters; and eleven gadistalams form a nādu (or country), and send representatives to a chief council, which decides questions which are beyond the competence of the gadistalams." The occurrence of Malayām as the name of a sub-division, and of the Malayālam word illam as that of the exoga- mous septs, would seem to indicate that the Panikkans are immigrants from the westward into the Tamil country.
Panimagan (work children). — A name for Mukkuvans who are employed as barbers for members of their caste.
Panisavan.— Panisavan is defined in the Salem Manual as "a corruption of paniseygiravan (panisaivon), literally meaning one who works (or does service), and is the caste name of the class, whose business it is to carry news of death to the relations of the deceased, and to blow the thārai or long trumpet." According to Mr. H. A. Stuart,*[1] Panisavan appears to answer among the Tamilians to the Dāsaris or Tādas of the Telugus. It is a mendicant caste, worshipping Siva. Unlike the Tādas, however, they often employ themselves in cultivation, and are, on the whole, a more temperate and
- ↑ * Manual of the North Arcot district; Madras Census Report, 1891.
