Page:Castes and tribes of southern India, Volume 5.djvu/129

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119
MUSSAD

During my wanderings in the Malabar Wynād, I came across a gang of coolies, working on a planter's estate, who called themselves Mūppans. They were interesting owing to the frequent occurrence among them of a very simple type of finger-print impression (arches).

Mūppil (chief). — A sub-division of Nāyar.

Murikinādu.— Murikinādu or Murikināti is a territorial name, which occurs as a division of Telugu Brāhmans, and of various Telugu classes, e.g., Kamsala, Māla,Mangala, Rāzu, and Tsākala.

Muriya.— A small class in Ganjam, who are engaged in making a preparation of fried rice (muri) and in cultivation.

Mūru Balayanōru (three-bangle people). — A sub-division of Kāppiliyan.

Musaliar.— An occupational term, denoting a Muhammadan priest, returned at times of census in the Tamil country.

Musāri.— A division of Malayālam Kammālans, whose occupation is that of brass and copper smiths. The equivalent Musarlu occurs among the Telugu Kamsalas.

Mūshika (rat). — A gōtra of Nagarālu. The rat is the vehicle of the Elephant God, Vignēsvara or Ganēsa.

Mushtiga.— An exogamous sept of the Gollas, who may not use the mushtiga tree (Strychnos Nux-vomica). It also occurs as a synonym of Jetti.

Mushti Golla.— A class of mendicants, usually of mixed extraction. Mushti means alms.

Mūssad.— For the following note on the Mūssads or Mūttatus of Travancore, I am indebted to Mr. N. Subramani Aiyar. They are known as Mūttatus or Mūssatus in Travancore and Cochin, and Potuvals (or