The Kappiliyans are one of the nine Kambalam castes, who are so called because, at their caste council meetings, a kambli (blanket) is spread, on which is placed a kalasam (brass vessel) filled with water, and decorated with flowers. Its mouth is closed by mango leaves and a cocoanut. According to the Gazetteer of the Madura district, they are "split into two endogamous sub-divisions, namely the Dharmakattu, so called because, out of charity, they allow widows to marry one more husband, and the Munukattu, who permit a woman to have three husbands in succession." They are also said to recognise, among themselves, four sub-divisions, Vokkiliyan (cultivator), Muru Balayanoru (three bangle people), Bottu Kattoru (bottu tying people), Vokkulothoru, to the last of which the following notes mainly refer. They have a large number of exogamous septs, which are further divided into exogamous sub-septs, of which the following are examples:-- Sept. Sub-sept. Basiriyoru { Hennu (female) Basiri. { Gandu (male) Basiri. { Loddu. { Palingi Loddu. { Kolingi Loddu. Lodduvoru { Uddudhoru (Phaseolus Mungo, var. { radiatus). { Huniseyoru (tamarind people). { Mottuguni. { Manaloru, sand people. One exogamous sept is called Ane (elephant), and as names of sub-septs, named after animate or inanimate objects, I may mention Hatti (hamlet), Arane (lizard) and Puli (tiger). The affairs of the caste are regulated by a headman called Gauda, assisted by the Saundari. In some places, the assistance of a Pallan or Maravan called Jadipillai, is sought. Marriage is, as a rule, adult, and the common emblem of married life--the tali or bottu--is dispensed with. On the first day of the marriage ceremonies, the bride and bridegroom are conducted, towards evening, to the houses of their maternal uncles. There the nalagu ceremony, or smearing the body with Phaseolus Mungo, sandal and turmeric paste, is performed, and the uncles place toe-rings on the feet of the contracting couple. On the following day, the bride's price is paid, and betel is distributed, in the presence of a Kummara, Urumikkaran, and washerman, to the villagers in a special order of precedence. On the third day, the bridegroom goes in procession to the house of the bride, and their fingers are linked together by the maternal uncle or uncles. For this reason, the day is called Kai Kudukahodina, or hand-locking day.