of Nāyar. Pantrantu Vītan is also there recorded as a sub-division of Nāyar.
Pappadam. — People calling themselves Pappadam Chetti are largely found in Malabar, living by the manufacture and sale of cakes called pappadam, which are purchased by all classes, including Nambūtiri Brāhmans.
Pappini.— A name for Brāhmanis, a class of Ambalavāsi.
Pappu (split pulse). — An exogamous sept of Balija.
Paradēsi. — Recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as a class of Malayālam beggars. The name indicates strangers (paradēsa, a foreign country), and is applied to the White Jews of Cochin, in connection with whom it occurs in Sirkar (State) accounts and royal writs granted to them.
Paraiya Tāda. — Recorded, in the North Arcot Manual, as a name for those who are considered impure Valluvans. The name literally means Paraiya Tādan or Dāsari.
Paraiyan.— The Paraiyans or, as they are commonly termed. Pariahs of the Tamil country number, according to recent census returns, over two million souls, and a large proportion of those who returned themselves as Native Christians are said also to belong to this class. For the following note I am mainly indebted to an account of the Paraiyans by the Rev. A. C. Clayton.*[1]
The late Bishop Caldwell derived the name Paraiyan from the Tamil word parai a drum, as certain Paraiyans act as drummers at marriages, funerals, village festivals, and on occasions when Government or commercial announcements are proclaimed. Mr. H. A. Stuart,
- ↑ * Madras Mus. Bull., V, 2, 1906.
