merely called mathams, a name given to the houses of Brahmans not indigenous to Malabar. The occupations, which the Samantas pursue, are chiefly personal attendance on the male and female members of Royal families. Others are landlords, and a few have taken to the learned professions." In the Cochin Census Report, 1901, it is stated that "Samantas and Ambalavasis do not interdine. At public feasts they sit together for meals. Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Nampidis, and most of the Ambalavasi castes, do not take water from them. Birth and death pollution last for eleven days." In the Madras Civil List of titles and title-holders, the Zamorin of Calicut, and the Valiya Rajas of Chirakkal, Kadattanad, Palghat, and Waluvanad, are returned as Samantas. Samanthi (Chrysanthemum indicum).--An exogamous sept of Kuruba and Togata. The flowers of the chrysanthemum are largely used for garlands, etc., in temple worship. Samantiya.--The Samantiyas are an Oriya caste of agricultural labourers and firewood sellers. It has been suggested that the caste name is derived from samantiba, which denotes sauntering to pick up scattered things. The Samantiyas are one of the castes, whose touch is supposed to convey pollution, and they consequently live apart in separate quarters. All the Samantiyas are said to belong to the nagasa (cobra) gotra. The headman is called Behara, and he is assisted by an official called Poricha. There is also a caste servant entitled Dogara. The caste title is Podhano, which is also frequently given out as being the name of the caste. Samantiya women will not eat food prepared by Brahmans or members of other castes, and they apparently object to cooking in open places when travelling, and leave this work for the men to perform. An Oriya Brahman purohit officiates at the marriage ceremonies, which, with slight variations, conform to the standard Oriya type. The marriage pandal (booth) is generally covered with cocoanut leaves and leafy twigs of Eugenia Jambolana and Zizyphus Jujuba. Four lights, and a vessel of water, are kept on the dais throughout the marriage ceremonies. The knot, with which the cloths of the bride and bridegroom are tied together, is untied on the evening of the bibha (wedding) day, instead of on the seventh day as among many other castes. Samanto.--A title of Jatapus, and other Oriya castes.