It is recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1891, that "the term Marathi denotes the various Marathi non-Brahman castes, who came to the south either as soldiers or camp followers in the armies of the Marathi invaders; but in South Canara, in which district the caste is most numerous, it appears to be the same as Are, a class of Marathi cultivators. Of the total number of 65,961, as many as 40,871 have returned Marathi as both caste and sub-division. The number of sub-divisions returned by the rest is no less than 305, of which the majority are the names of other castes. Some of these castes are purely Dravidian, and the names have evidently been used in their occupational sense. For example, we have Bogam, Gandla, Mangala, etc." Mr. H. A, Stuart writes further, in the South Canara Manual, that "Marathi, as a caste name, is somewhat open to confusion, and it is probable that many people of various castes, who speak Marathi, are shown as being of that caste. The true Marathi caste is said to have come from Goa, and that place is the head-quarters. The caste is divided into twelve wargs or balis, which are exogamous sub-divisions. Caste disputes are settled by headmen called Hontagaru, and allegiance is paid to the head of the Sringeri math. The favourite deity is the goddess Mahadevi. Brahmans, usually Karadis, officiate at their ceremonies. Marriage is both infant and adult. The dhare form of marriage is used (see Bant). Widows may remarry, but they cannot marry again into the family of the deceased husband--a rule which is just the reverse of the Levirate. In some parts, however, the remarriage of widows is prohibited. A husband or a wife can divorce each other at will, and both parties may marry again. Marathis are either farmers, labourers, or hunters. They eat fish and flesh (except that of cattle and animals generally regarded as unclean) and they use alcoholic liquors. They speak either the ordinary Marathi or the Konkami dialect of it." The Marathis of South Canara call themselves Are and Are Kshatri. In the North Arcot Manual, Mr, Stuart records that the term Marathi is "usually applied to the various Maratha Sudra castes, which have come south. Their caste affix is always Rao. It is impossible to discover to what particular Sudra division each belongs, for they do not seem to know, and take advantage of being away from their own country to assert that they are Kshatriyas--a claim which is ridiculed by other castes. In marriage they are particular to take a bride only from within the circle of their own family, so that an admixture of the original castes is thus avoided. Their language is Marathi, but they speak Telugu or Tamil as well, and engage in many professions. Many are tailors. [4] Others enlist in the army, in the police, or as peons (orderlies or messengers), and some take to agriculture or trading."