The name is derived from Sanskrit, Salika, a weaver. The Sales call themselves Senapati (commander-in-chief), and this is further the title of the caste headman. They are divided into two main endogamous sections, Padma or lotus, and Pattu or silk. Between them there are three well-marked points of difference, viz., (1) the Pattu Sales wear the sacred thread, whereas the Padma Sales do not; (2) the Pattu Sales do not take food or water at the hands of any except Brahmans, whereas the Padma Sales will eat in Kapu, Golla, Telaga, Gavara, etc., houses; (3) the Pattu Sales weave superfine cloths, and, in some places, work in silk, whereas Padma Sales weave only coarse cloths. Each section is divided into a number of exogamous septs or intiperulu. Both speak Telugu, and are divided into Vaishnavites and Saivites. These religious distinctions are no bar to intermarriage and interdining. It is recorded, in the Gazetteer of the Vizagapatam district (1907), that "on the plains, cotton cloths are woven in hundreds of villages by Sales, Padma Sales, Pattu Sales, Devangas, and Salapus. The ryots often spin their own cotton into thread, and then hand it over to the weavers to be made into cloths, but large quantities of machine-made yarn are used. In the south, the chief weaving centres are Nakkapalli and Payakaraopeta in Sarvasiddhi taluk, the Pattu Sales in the latter of which turn out fabrics of fine thread, enriched with much gold and silver 'lace,' which are in great demand in the Godavari and Ganjam districts. At Razam, coloured cloths for women are the chief product, and in the country round this place the white garments so universal everywhere give place to coloured dress. The cloths are sold locally, and also sent in large quantities to Berhampur, Cuttack, and even Calcutta. Most of the weaving is in the hands of Devangas, but the dyeing of the thread is done with imported aniline and alizarine colours by the Balijas of Sigadam in Chipurupalle taluk and Balijapeta in Bobbili. In Siripuram and Ponduru, the Pattu Sales make delicate fabrics from especially fine thread, called Pattu Sale nulu, or silk-weaver's thread, which the women of their caste spin for them, and which is as fine as imported 1508. These are much valued by well-to-do natives for their softness and durability. The weaving industry is on the decline throughout the district, except perhaps in Razam, and the weaver castes are taking to other means of livelihood. Round Chipurupalle, for example, the Pattu Sales have become experts in tobacco-curing, and have made such profits that they are able to monopolise much of the trade and money-lending of the locality."