It is stated, in the Gazetteer of the Madura district, that "the Valaiyans are grouped into four endogamous sub-divisions, namely, Vahni, Valattu, Karadi, and Kangu. The last of these is again divided into Pasikatti, those who use a bead necklet instead of a tali (as a marriage badge), and Karaikatti, those whose women wear horsehair necklaces like the Kallans. The caste title is Muppan. Caste matters are settled by a headman called the Kambliyan (blanket man), who lives at Aruppukottai, and comes round in state to any village which requires his services, seated on a horse, and accompanied by servants who hold an umbrella over his head and fan him. He holds his court seated on a blanket. The fines imposed go in equal shares to the aramanai (literally palace, i.e., to the headman himself), and to the oramanai, that is, the caste people. It is noted by Mr. F. R. Hemingway that "the Valaiyans of the Trichinopoly district say that they have eight endogamous sub-divisions, namely, Sarahu (or Saragu), Ettarai Koppu, Tanambanadu or Valuvadi, Nadunattu or Asal, Kurumba, Vanniya, Ambunadu, and Punal. Some of these are similar to those of the Kallans and Ambalakarans." In the Gazetteer of the Tanjore district, it is recorded that the Valaiyans are said to possess "endogamous sub-divisions called Vedan, Sulundukkaran and Ambalakkaran. The members of the first are said to be hunters, those of the second torch-bearers, and those of the last cultivators. They are a low caste, are refused admittance into the temples, and pollute a Vellalan by touch. Their occupations are chiefly cultivation of a low order, cooly work, and hunting. They are also said to be addicted to crime, being employed by Kallans as their tools." Adult marriage is the rule, and the consent of the maternal uncle is necessary. Remarriage of widows is freely permitted. At the marriage ceremony, the bridegroom's sister takes up the tali (marriage badge), and, after showing it to those assembled, ties it tightly round the neck of the bride. To tie it loosely so that the tali string touches the collar-bone would be considered a breach of custom, and the woman who tied it would be fined. The tali-tying ceremony always takes place at night, and the bridegroom's sister performs it, as, if it was tied by the bridegroom, it could not be removed on his death, and replaced if his widow wished to marry again. Marriages generally take place from January to May, and consummation should not be effected till the end of the month Adi, lest the first child should be born in the month of Chithre, which would be very inauspicious. There are two Tamil proverbs to the effect that "the girl should remain in her mother's house during Adi," and "if a child is born in Chithre, it is ruinous to the house of the mother-in-law."