Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 3.djvu/292

KASI Kāsi.— A name for the stone-mason section of Kamsalas.  Kasturi (musk). — An exogamous sept of Badaga, Kamma, Okkiliyan, and Vakkaliga. Indian musk is obtained from the musk glands of the Himalayan musk-deer, Moschus moschiferus.  Kasuba (workmen). — A section of Irulas of the Nīlgiris, who have abandoned jungle life in favour of working on planters' estates or elsewhere.  Kāsukkar.——The name, derived from kās, cash, of a sub-division of Chetti.  Kāsula (copper coins). — An exogamous sept of Padma Sālē.  Kasyapa.——A Brāhmanical gōtra adopted by Bhatrāzus, Khatris, and Tontis. Kasyapa was one of the seven important Rishis, and the priest of Parasu Rāma.  Katakam (crab). — An exogamous sept of Kōmati.  Katal Arayan.—— See Vālan. <section end="H292" /> <section begin="I292" />Katāri (dagger: katār). — An exogamous sept of Golla, Mutrācha, and Yerukala. The dagger or poignard, called katār, has "a solid blade of diamond section, the handle of which consists of two parallel bars with a cross-piece joining them. The hand grips the crosspiece, and the bars pass along each side of the wrist."* <section end="I292" /> <section begin="J292" />Katasan.— Recorded † as "a small caste of basket-makers and lime-burners in the Tinnevelly district. It has at least two endogamous sub-divisions, namely, Pattankatti and Nīttarasan. Widows are allowed to remarry. The dead are buried. The social position of the caste is above that of the Vēttuvans, and they consider themselves polluted if they eat food prepared by a Shānān. But they are not allowed to enter Hindu temples, <section end="J292" />