Pambala.--The Pambalas, or drum (pamba) people, are Malas who act as musicians at Mala marriages and festivals in honour of their deities. They also take part in the recitation of the story of Ankamma, and making muggu (designs on the floor) at the peddadinamu death ceremony of the Gamallas. Pammi (a common lamp).--An exogamous sept of Devanga. Pamula (snake people).--A name for snake-charming Koravas, and Jogis, who, in the character of itinerant showmen, exhibit snakes to the public. The name also occurs as an exogamous sept of Mala and Yanadi. Panam (palmyra palm: Borassus flabellifer.)--A sub-division of Shanan. It also occurs as a branch or kothu of Kondaiyamkotti Maravans. Panan.--The Tamil Panans are said, in the Census Report, 1901, to be also called Mestris. They are "tailors among Tamils in Madura and Tinnevelly. They employ Brahmans and Vellalas as purohits. Though barbers and washermen will not eat food prepared by them, they are allowed to enter Hindu temples." The Malayalam Panans are described in the same report as "exorcists and devil-dancers. The men also make umbrellas, and the women act as midwives. In parts they are called Malayans, and they may be descendants of that hill tribe who have settled in the plains." In the South Canara Manual, the Panans are said to be "the Malayalam caste corresponding to the Nalkes and Pombadas. They are numerous in Malabar, where they are also known by the name of Malayan. The devils whom they personify are supposed to have influence over crops, and at the time of harvest the Panans go about begging from house to house, dancing with umbrellas in their hands. On such occasions, however, it is only boys and girls who personify the demons." "The village magician or conjurer," Mr. Gopal Panikkar writes, [26] "goes by different names, such as Panan, Malayan, etc. His work consists in casting out petty devils from the bodies of persons (chiefly children) possessed, in writing charms for them to wear, removing the pernicious effects of the evil eye, and so on." On certain ceremonial occasions, the Panan plays on an hour-glass shaped drum, called thudi.