A loin-cloth, which should not reach to the knees, with a Madras handkerchief on the shoulders, is the orthodox dress of the males, and a double loin-cloth that of females. Women were not allowed to wear anything above the waist, except when under death pollution. Any colour might be worn, but white and blue are most common. A ring, composed of hollow gold beads, called mani-kathila, is the proper ornament for a Tiyan woman's ear. Twenty or thirty, with a pendant in the middle, might be worn. Gold or silver bracelets could be worn. Hollow silver bracelets were worn by girls until the birth of their first child. But times have changed, and nowadays Tiyan women wear the ornaments which, strictly speaking, appertain to Nayar and Brahman women. Their mode of tying the hair, and even their dress, which is inclined to follow the fashion of the Christians, has changed. In olden days, a Tiyan woman could wear an ornament appropriate for a Nayar on a special occasion, but only with the permission of the Nayar landlord, obtained through the Tandan, on payment of a fee. In North Malabar a good round oath is upon Perumal Iswaran, the God of the shrine at Kotiyur. In South Malabar it is common to swear by Kodungallur Bhagavati, or by Guruvayur Appan, local deities. The Tandan is the principal person in the tara, to decide all caste disputes. In South Malabar, he is, as a rule, appointed by the senior Rani of the Zamorin. A fee of anything up to 101 fanams (Rs. 25-4-0) must be paid to this lady, when she appoints a Tandan. When there is a problem of any special difficulty, it is referred to her for decision. In territories other than those within the power of the Zamorin, the local Raja appoints the Tandan, and gives the final decision in special cases. As we have seen, the Tiyan is always to some extent subordinate to a Nayar overlord, but he is not bound to any particular one. He can go where he likes, and reside anywhere, and is not bound to any particular chief, as is the Nayar. It is noted by General E. F. Burton, [26] in connection with bygone days, that "such was the insolent pride of caste that the next (and very respectable) class of Hindus, the Teers, were not allowed to come near the Nairs, under penalty of being cut down by the sword, always naked and ready."