The Saliyans have taken to wearing the sacred thread, engage Brahman purohits, and are guided by Brahman priests. They are said to have had their own caste priests until a Brahman from Sendangudi, near Mayavaram, accepted the office of priest. It is reported that, in former days, the Saliyans were not allowed to sell their goods except in a fixed spot called mamaraththumedu, where they set out their cloths on bamboos. High-caste people never touched the cloths, except with a stick. At the present day the Saliyans occupy a good position in the social scale, and employ Brahman cooks, though no other castes will eat in their houses. A curious feature in connection with the Saliyans is that, contrary to the usual rule among Tamil castes, they have exogamous septs or vidu (house), of which the following are examples:-- Mandhi, black monkey. Kottangkachchi, cocoanut shell. Thuniyan, cloth. Kachchandhi, gunny-bag. Vellai parangi, white vegetable marrow. Ettadiyan, eight feet. Thadiyan, stout. Kazhudhai, donkey. Thavalai, frog. Sappaikalan, crooked-legged. Malaiyan, hill. Kaththan, an attendant on Aiyanar. Ozhakkan, a measure. Thondhi, belly. Munginazhi, bamboo measure. Odakkazhinjan, one who defæcated when running. Kamban, the Tamil poet. Ottuvidu, tiled house. Kalli, Euphorbia Tirucalli. Sirandhan, a noble person. Thambiran, master or lord. Kollai, backyard. Madividu, storeyed house. Murugan, name of a person. The Saliyans have further acquired gotras named after rishis, and, when questioned as to their gotra, refer to the Brahman purohits. The Saliyan weavers of silk Kornad women's cloths, who have settled at Mayavaram in the Tanjore district, neither intermarry nor interdine with the Saliyans of the Tinnevelly district, though they belong to the same linguistic division. The Tinnevelly Saliyans closely follow the Kaikolans in their various ceremonials, and in their social organisation, and interdine with them. Saliya women wear three armlets on the upper arm, whereas Kaikola women only wear a single armlet. The Saliyans may not marry a second wife during the lifetime of the first wife, even if she does not bear children. They may, however, adopt children. Some of the Tinnevelly Saliyans have taken to trade and agriculture, while others weave coarse cotton cloths, and dye cotton yarn.