An interesting story, which is the legendary account of the exodus of the artisans from Malabar, and their return with the Tiyans, is narrated by the Panans. There were, in olden times, five recognised classes, which includes the Asaris (carpenters), Musaris (workers in bell-metal), Thattans (goldsmiths), and Perin-Kollans (blacksmiths). The fifth class is unknown. When an individual of the artisan classes dies, the Panan of the tara must bring a death gift to the house, which consists of cocoanuts and jak fruits or plantains. The Panan places the gift in the yard and repeats a long formula, which he has learnt by heart. It is very likely that he knows little or nothing of its meaning. But he reels it off, and at its conclusion the gifts are accepted. The same formula is also always repeated among the carpenters, goldsmiths, and blacksmiths during wedding and tali-tying ceremonies. It relates how the artisans deserted the land of Cheraman Perumal, and sought an asylum in the country of the Izhuvans with the island king, and how the Perumal sent the Panan to bring them back. Every one knows this old story, and believes it firmly. It must be learnt by heart, and the Panan gives it in the yard when a member of the artisan classes dies. The story is to the following effect. During the four Yugams, Kreta, Treta, Dwapara, and Kali, many kings reigned over the earth. Parasu Raman destroyed the Kshatriya kings on twenty-one occasions, and was obliged to make atonement in expiatory ceremonies. He worshipped Varuna, the ocean god, and recovered from the sea a hundred and sixty kathams of land, consisting of Kolanad (?), Venad (Travancore), Kanya Kumari (Cape Comorin), Cheranad, and Malayalam up to Changala Vazhi beyond the Anaimalai hills. Cheraman Perumal was the ruler of this land, in which were the four castes. His capital was at Tiruvanja Kolam. One day, Veluthedan [27] Chiraman was washing the Perumal's cloths in a tank. He beat the cloths on a stone which was flat on the ground, and held one of the cloths in his hand. A girl of the carpenter caste, Ayyesvari by name, was just then going to the tank to bathe after her monthly period. She called out "Ho! Kammal. [28] That is not the way to wash cloths. Put a small stone under one end of your washing stone, so as to make it slope a little. Then hold both ends of the cloth in your hand, and beat the middle of the cloth on the stone." The Veluthedan did so, and found that he washed better, and the cloths were whiter. The Perumal asked him "Were you not washing the cloths before? Who washed them to-day?" To which the Veluthedan replied "Oh! Tamburan (chief or lord), a carpenter girl instructed your slave to-day how to wash cloths properly. May Perumal be pleased to order the girl to be given to your slave as his wife." Perumal then said "To whatever caste she may belong, you may take her by force, and will not lose your caste." Having received the king's permission,