DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2374#0495
482
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
CHAPTER of salt produced from one Canny, namely four Nallis, or two Pud-
^J^ dies; but he says that the productive season lasts only 75 days.
Dec.26—30. 1 shaii however, as before, consider 84 days as a just medium be-
tween his account and that of the Vaytwoans; and then the
produce of his estate will be annually 1,20960 Nallis, or 3428
bushels, worth at the cheapest season 2016 Fanams. This is di-
vided as follows:
Fanams,
- 300
1344
60
To the Vaytwvan, for two months wages
for two thirds of produce
Land-tax -
To the landlord, interest of 400 Fanams advanced by
the landholder -
Paid annually -
Profit to the landholder --■.-.-
30
20
50
262
Customs of
the Vaytu-
vans.
At this rate, the bushel of salt is worth
3 8 6 3
IOOOO
Fanams 2016
of a penny.
These Vaytwoans are not considered as Sudras, and consequently
are of the impure tribes called Panchumas. They are of Malayala
extraction. Besides making salt, they quarry stones, dig tanks,
build mud walls; and, from the outer husk of the coco-nut, their
women twist Coir rope. They can all eat together and intermarry.
They have no hereditary chiefs, and refer all their disputes to the
officers of government. A man marries only one wife, who lives in
his family, and whose children are considered as his heirs. The
ancient custom permitted a man to put his wife to death, if he de-
tected her in adultery; but at present the cuckold contents himself
with drubbing his wanton spouse. The reason of this seems to be,
that none of the higher casts will touch a Vaytuvan woman, and
none of the slaves can approach her house; so that she has no
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
CHAPTER of salt produced from one Canny, namely four Nallis, or two Pud-
^J^ dies; but he says that the productive season lasts only 75 days.
Dec.26—30. 1 shaii however, as before, consider 84 days as a just medium be-
tween his account and that of the Vaytwoans; and then the
produce of his estate will be annually 1,20960 Nallis, or 3428
bushels, worth at the cheapest season 2016 Fanams. This is di-
vided as follows:
Fanams,
- 300
1344
60
To the Vaytwvan, for two months wages
for two thirds of produce
Land-tax -
To the landlord, interest of 400 Fanams advanced by
the landholder -
Paid annually -
Profit to the landholder --■.-.-
30
20
50
262
Customs of
the Vaytu-
vans.
At this rate, the bushel of salt is worth
3 8 6 3
IOOOO
Fanams 2016
of a penny.
These Vaytwoans are not considered as Sudras, and consequently
are of the impure tribes called Panchumas. They are of Malayala
extraction. Besides making salt, they quarry stones, dig tanks,
build mud walls; and, from the outer husk of the coco-nut, their
women twist Coir rope. They can all eat together and intermarry.
They have no hereditary chiefs, and refer all their disputes to the
officers of government. A man marries only one wife, who lives in
his family, and whose children are considered as his heirs. The
ancient custom permitted a man to put his wife to death, if he de-
tected her in adultery; but at present the cuckold contents himself
with drubbing his wanton spouse. The reason of this seems to be,
that none of the higher casts will touch a Vaytuvan woman, and
none of the slaves can approach her house; so that she has no