It is noted by Mr. F. R. Hemingway that the Vallambans "speak of five sub-divisions, namely, Chenjinadu, Amaravatinadu, Palayanadu, Melnadu, and Kilnadu. The Mel and Kilnadu people intermarry, but are distinguishable by the fact that the former have moustaches, and the latter have not. The women dress like the Nattukottai Chettis. Tattooing is not allowed, and those who practice it are expelled from the caste. The men generally have no title, but some who enjoy State service inams call themselves Ambalakaran. The Melnadu people have no exogamous divisions, though they observe the rule about Kovil Pangolis. The Kilnadus have exogamous kilais, karais, and pattams." As examples of exogamous septs, the following may be cited:--Solangal (Chola), Pandiangal (Pandyan), Nariangal (jackal), and Piliyangal (tiger). The headman of the Vallambans is referred to generally as the Servaikaran. The headman of a group of nadus is entitled Nattuservai, while the headman of a village is known as Ur Servai, or simply Servai. Marriage is celebrated between adults, and the remarriage of widows is not objected to. It is stated [101] that "the maternal uncle's or paternal aunt's daughter is claimed as a matter of right by a boy, so that a boy of ten may be wedded to a mature woman of twenty or twenty-five years, if she happens to be unmarried and without issue. Any elderly male member of the boy's family--his elder brother, uncle, or even his father--will have intercourse with her, and beget children, which the boy, when he comes of age, will accept as his own, and legitimatise." This system of marriage, in which there is a marked disparity in the ages of the contracting couple, is referred to in the proverb: "The tali should be tied at least by a log of wood." The marriage rites are as a rule non-Brahmanical, but in some well-to-do families the services of a Brahman purohit are enlisted. The presence of the Umbalakaran or caste headman at a marriage is essential. On the wedding day the contracting couple offer, at their homes, manaipongal (boiled rice), and the alangu ceremony is performed by waving coloured rice round them, or touching the knees, shoulders, and head with cakes, and throwing them over the head. The wrist-threads, consisting of a piece of old cloth dyed with turmeric, are tied on by the maternal uncle. Cooked rice and vegetables are placed in front of the marriage dais, and offered to the gods. Four betel leaves are given to the bridegroom, who goes round the dais, and salutes the four cardinal points of the compass by pouring water from a leaf. He then sits down on a plank on the dais, and hands the tali (marriage badge) to his sister. Taking the tali, she proceeds to the bride's house, where the bride, after performing the alangu ceremony, is awaiting her arrival. On reaching the house, she asks for the bride's presents, and one of her brothers replies that such a piece of land, naming one, is given as a dowry. The bridegroom's