"On entering a Patnulkaran's house, we are led to a courtyard, spacious and neat, where all the necessary arrangements are made for weaving purposes. The Patnulkarans live in streets. A male Patnulkaran resembles a Tamil Vaishnava Brahman in outward appearance, but the women follow the custom of the Telugu Brahmans alike in their costume and ornaments. Their jewels exactly resemble those of the Telugu Brahman women, and indicate a temporary residence of the caste in the Telugu country on the way from Gujarat to Madura. There is a Tamil proverb to the effect that, if a male Patnulkaran is seen without his wife, he will be taken for a Vaishnava Brahman, whereas, in the case of the Tatan caste, a woman without her husband will be taken for an Aiyangar. Children wear the karai round the neck. Tattooing prevails on a very large scale. "The Patnulkarans may be divided into three classes on a religious basis, viz., (1) pure Vaishnavites, who wear the vertical Vaishnavite mark, and call themselves Vadakalas or northerners; (2) those who are mainly Smartas; (3) Sankara Vaishnavas, who wear gopi (sandal paste) as their sect-mark. It is to the last of these religious sects that the Travancore Patnulkarans belong, though, in recent times, a few Smartas have settled at Kottar. All these intermarry and interdine, and the religious difference does not create a distinction in the caste. The chief divinity of the Patnulkarans is Venkatachalapati of Tirupati. The month in which he is most worshipped is Kanni (September-October), and all the Saturdays and the Tiruvonam star of the month are particularly devoted to his adoration. One of their men becomes possessed on any of these days, and, holding a burning torch-light in his hand, touches the foreheads of the assembled devotees therewith. The Patnulkarans fast on those days, and take an image of Garuda in procession through the street. The Dipavali, Pannamasi in Chittiray, and the Vaikuntha Ekadasi are other important religious days. The Dusserah is observed, as also are the festivals of Sri Rama Navami, Ashtami, Rohini, Avani Avittam, and Vara Lakshmivratam. Formal worship of deities is done by those who have obtained the requisite initiation from a spiritual preceptor. Women who have husbands fast on full-moon days, Mondays, and Fridays. The serpent and the banyan tree are specially worshipped. Women sing songs in praise of Lakshmi, and offer fruits and cocoanuts to her. The Patnulkarans have a temple dedicated to Sri Rama at Kottar. This temple is visited even by Brahmans, and the priests are Aiyangars. The Acharya, or supreme religious authority of the Patnulkarans, in Travancore is a Vaishnava Brahman known as Ubhaya Vedanta Koti Kanyakadana Tatachariyar, who lives at Aravankulam near Tinnevelly, and possesses a large number of disciples. Once a year he visits his flock in Travancore, and is highly respected by them, as also by the Maharaja, who makes a donation of money to him. Elders