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MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR.

3$3

retain the Telinga language, and follow the usual ceremonies of the Chapter
Sudra, who have the Sri Vaishnavam Brahmans as their Gurus. By \*0^^j
these teachers they are kept in a most beastly state of ignorance, y 13,
nor could they give me a rational answer to any question that I
proposed relative to their customs. They are, however, very active
and skilful in their business.

The people, who here are commonly called Satanana, call them- Customs of
selves Vaishnavam, as being the very chief of the worshippers of o^Vaishna-'
Vishnu, an honour to which no other cast seems to think them en- mm-
titled. The Brahmans allege that they are Sudra; but this title is
rejected with scorn by the Vaishnavam, although they have received
the Brahmans as their Gurus. The Vaishnavam seem to be the same
tribe with those called Boistum in Bengal; but it must be confessed,
that many of the rules of the two casts are very different; yet per-
haps not more so, than the rules observed by the Brahmans of the
two countries. The Brahmans evidently entertain a jealousy of the
Vaishnavam, and endeavour to render them as ridiculous as pos-
sible ; for their profession approaches too near to that of the sacred
order. I am inclined to suspect, that they are the remains of a
very extensive priesthood, who formerly held the same station with
respect to the Whalliaru, that the Brahmans do now to the Sudra,
and who with their followers formed the heretical sect called Vaish-
navam. This would be cleared up, perhaps, by a conversation with
a sect called the Valmika Satanana, who are said to be the proper
Gurus of the Parriar below the Ghats : but I have not had an op-
portunity of investigating this matter.

The Satlinana are divided into two sects besides the Vctlmika.
Both contend for apriority of rank ; and they neither intermarry,,
nor eat in common. If we were to judge by the circumstances that
give rank to Brahmans, the Tricoveluru Satanana ought Jo be the
highest; but the other class call themselves Pratama, or first.
They are also called Coil Satanana, as being a kind of officiating
priests in the temples.

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