The Pandya Vellalas are sub-divided into the Karkattas or Karaikatus, who, notwithstanding the legends about their origin, are probably a territorial sub-division named from a place called Karaikadu; the Nangudis and Panjais, the origin of whom is not clear; the Arumburs and Sirukudis, so called from villages of those names in the Pandya country; the Agamudaiyans, who are probably recruits from the caste of that name; the Nirpusis, meaning the wearers of the sacred ashes; and the Kottai Vellalas or fort Vellalas. These last are a small sub-division, the members of which live in Srivaikuntam fort (in Tinnevelly), and observe the strictest gosha (seclusion of females). Though they are, as has been seen, a sub-division of a caste, yet their objection to marry outside their own circle is so strong that, though they are fast dying out because there are so few girls among them, they decline to go to the other sub-divisions for brides. [See Kottai Vellala.] The Kongas are sub-divided into the Sendalais (red-headed men), Paditalais (leaders of armies), Vellikkai (the silver hands), Pavalamkatti (wearers of coral), Malaiyadi (foot of the hills), Tollakadu (ears with big holes), Attangarais (river bank), and others, the origin of none of which is clearly known, but the members of which never intermarry. In addition to all these divisions and sub-divisions of the Vellala caste proper, there are nowadays many groups which really belong to quite distinct castes, but which call themselves Vellalas, and pretend that they belong to that caste, although in origin they had no connection with it. These nominally cannot intermarry with any of the genuine Vellalas, but the caste is so widely diffused that it cannot protect itself against these invasions, and, after a few generations, the origin of the new recruits is forgotten, and they have no difficulty in passing themselves off as real members of the community. The same thing occurs among the Nayars in Malabar. It may be imagined what a mixture of blood arises from this practice, and how puzzling the variations in the cranial measurements of Vellalas taken at random are likely to become. Instances of members of other castes who have assumed the name and position of the Vellalas are the Vettuva Vellalas, who are really Vettuvans; the Puluva Vellalas, who are only Puluvans; the Illam Vellalas, who are Panikkans; the Karaiturai (lord of the shore) Vellalas, who are Karaiyans; the Karukamattai (palmyra leaf-stem) Vellalas, who are Shanans; the Gazulu (bangle) Vellalas, who are Balijas; the Guha (Rama's boat-man) Vellalas, who are Sembadavans; and the Irkuli Vellalas, who are Vannans. The children of dancing-girls also often call themselves Mudali, and claim in time to be Vellalas; and even Paraiyans assume the title Pillai, and trust to its eventually enabling them to pass themselves off as members of the caste." The name Acchu Vellala has been assumed by some Karaiyans, and Pattanavans