such by day, but became transformed into a beautiful woman under the miraculous influence of a pious Brahman. As a redemption for their sin, these Komatis were ordered by the Brahman to take their names after the various parts of the animal, and as, by killing the animal, they proved worse than Madigas, they were ordered to show respect to these people. In the Kumbum taluk of the Kurnool district, a flour buffalo is substituted for the cow. In the Markapur taluk of the same district, two elephants are made of mud, and the bride and bridegroom sit beside them. Presentations of cloths and jewels are then made to them. The officiating purohit (priest) worships the elephants, and the bride and bridegroom go round them. Two further points of connection between the Komatis and Madigas are referred to by Major Mackenzie. "I find," he writes, "that it is the custom to obtain the fire for burning Kama, the Indian Cupid, at the end of the Holi feast from a Madiga's house. The Madigas do not object to giving the fire, in fact they are paid for it." This appears to be a purely local custom, and no trace of its existence has been found in various parts of the Madras Presidency. The other point refers to the identification of the goddess Matangi of the Madigas with the Komati goddess Kanyaka Amma. "I cannot," Major Mackenzie writes, "discover the connection between two such different castes as the Komatis and Madigas, who belong to different divisions. The Komatis belong to the 10 pana division, while the Madigas are members of the 9 pana. [144] One reason has been suggested. The caste goddess of the Komatis is the virgin Kannika Amma, who destroyed herself rather than marry a prince, because he was of another caste. She is usually represented by a vessel full of water, and, before the marriage ceremonies are commenced, she is brought in state from the temple, and placed in the seat of honour in the house. The Madigas claim Kannika as their goddess, worship her under the name of Matangi and object to the Komatis taking their goddess." The Komatis stoutly deny that there is any connection between Matangi and Kanyaka Amma, and it would seem that they are independent goddesses.