Mutracha.--Mutracha appears, in published records, in a variety of forms, such as Muttaracha, Muttirajulu, Muttarasan, and Mutratcha. The caste is known by one of these names in the Telugu country, and in the Tamil country as Muttiriyan or Palaiyakkaran. Concerning the Mutrachas, Mr. H. A. Stuart writes as follows. [68] "This is a Telugu caste most numerous in the Kistna, Nellore, Cuddapah, and North Arcot districts. The Mutrachas were employed by the Vijayanagar kings to defend the frontiers of their dominions, and were honoured with the title of paligars (cf. Palaiyakkaran). The word Mutracha is derived from the Dravidian roots mudi, old, and racha, a king; but another derivation is from Mutu Raja, a sovereign of some part of the Telugu country. They eat flesh, and drink liquor. Their titles are Dora and Naidu." Mr. Stuart writes further [69] that in the North Arcot district they are "most numerous in the Chendragiri taluk, but found all over the district in the person of the village taliari or watchman, for which reason it is often called the taliari caste. They proudly call themselves paligars, and in Chendragiri doralu or lords, because several of the Chittoor palaiyams (villages governed by paligars) were in possession of members of their caste. They seem to have entered the country in the time of the Vijayanagar kings, and to have been appointed as its kavilgars (watchmen). The caste is usually esteemed by others as a low one. Most of its members are poor, even when they have left the profession of taliari, and taken to agriculture. They eat in the houses of most other castes, and are not trammelled by many restrictions. In Chendragiri they rarely marry, but form connections with women of their caste, which are often permanent, though not sanctioned by the marriage ceremony, and the offspring of such associations are regarded as legitimate." In the Nellore Manual, the Mutrachas are summed up as being hunters, fishermen, bearers, palanquin-bearers, and hereditary watchmen in the villages. At times of census, Mutracha or Mutarasan has been recorded as a sub-division of Urali, and a title of Ambalakkaran. Muttiriyan, which is simply a Tamil form of Mutracha, appears as a title and sub-division of Ambalakkaran (q.v.). Further, Tolagari is recorded as a sub-division of Mutracha. The Tolagaris are stated [70] to be a small cultivating caste, who were formerly hunters, like the Palayakkarans. Most of the Mutrachas are engaged in agriculture. At Paniyam, in the Kurnool district, I found some employed in collecting winged white-ants (Termites), which they sun-dry, and store in large pots as an article of food. They are said to make use of some special powder as a means of attracting the insects, in catching which they are very expert.