The Kanakkans are employed in fishing in the backwaters, cutting timber and floating it on bamboo rafts down rivers flooded during the monsoon, boating, pumping out water from rice fields by means of water-wheels, and all kinds of agricultural labour. They were at one time solely engaged in the manufacture of salt from the backwaters. Women are engaged in making coir (cocoanut fibre) and in agricultural labour. Vettuva Kanakkans are engaged in cocoanut cultivating, and making lime out of shells. They are very skilful in climbing cocoanut trees for plucking cocoanuts. The Kanakkans take food prepared by members of the higher castes, and by Kammalans, Izhuvas, and Mappillas. They have a strong objection to eating at the hands of Veluthedans (washermen), Velakkathalavans (barbers), Panans, Velans, and Kaniyans. Pulayas, Ulladans, and Nayadis have to stand far away from them. They themselves have to keep at a distance of 48 feet from high caste Hindus. They pollute Izhuvas by touch, and Kammalans and Valans at a short distance. They cannot approach the temples of the higher castes, but take part in the festivals of temples in rural parts. At Cranganur, they can come as far as the kozhikallu, which is a stone outside the temple at a short distance from it, on which fowls are offered by low caste people. Kanakku.--A prefix to the name of Nayars, e.g., Kanakku Raman Krishnan, and also adopted as a prefix by the Todupuzha Vellalas of Travancore. Kancharan.--A Malabar caste, the occupation of which is the manufacture of brass vessels. Kanchera.--Kanchera and Kanchari are names of the Telugu section of metal-workers. Kanchimandalam Vellala. --A name assumed by Malaiyalis of the Salem hills, who claim to be Vellalas who emigrated from Conjeeveram (Kanchipuram). Kanchu (bell-metal).--An exogamous sept of Kuruba. Kansukejje (bronze bell) occurs as a sub-division of Toreya.