Kammalan (Malayalam).--"The Kammalans of Malabar," Mr. Francis writes, [78] "are artisans, like those referred to immediately above, but they take a lower position than the Kammalans and Kamsalas of the other coast, or the Panchalas of the Canarese country. They do not claim to be Brahmans or wear the sacred thread, and they accept the position of a polluting caste, not being allowed into the temples or into Brahman houses. The highest sub-division is Asari, the men of which are carpenters, and wear the thread at certain ceremonies connected with house-building." According to Mr. F. Fawcett "the orthodox number of classes of Kammalans is five. But the artisans do not admit that the workers in leather belong to the guild, and say that there are only four classes. According to them, the fifth class was composed of coppersmiths, who, after the exodus, remained in Izhuva land, and did not return thence with them to Malabar. [79] Nevertheless, they always speak of themselves as the Ayen Kudi or five-house Kammalans. The carpenters say that eighteen families of their community remained behind in Izhuva land. Some of these returned long afterwards, but they were not allowed to rejoin the caste. They are known as Puzhi Tachan or sand carpenters, and Pathinettanmar or the eighteen people. There are four families of this class now living at or near Parpan gadi. They are carpenters, but the Asaris treat them as outcastes." For the following note on Malabar Kammalans I am indebted to Mr. S. Appadorai Iyer. The five artisan classes, or Ayinkudi Kammalans, are made up of the following:-- Asari, carpenters. Musari, braziers. Tattan, goldsmiths. Karuman, blacksmiths. Chembotti or Chempotti, coppersmiths. The name Chembotti is derived from chembu, copper, and kotti, he who beats. They are, according to Mr. Francis, "coppersmiths in Malabar, who are distinct from the Malabar Kammalans. They are supposed to be descendants of men who made copper idols for temples, and so rank above the Kammalans in social position, and about equally with the lower sections of the Nayars."