Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 4.djvu/132

KUNTA On the other hand, if the wife dislikes her partner, she may leave him upon giving up her golden jewels — the silver she retains — and may, according to her pleasure, either go back to her father's house, or marry another man. In the west, however, she takes with her only such property as she may have possessed at the time of her marriage. Her children must all be made over to the deserted husband; and, if she be pregnant when she goes away, and a child be born while she is living with her second husband, it must nevertheless be given up to the first, upon payment of the expense of rearing it if in the east, upon mere demand in the west. In this way a woman may legally marry any number of men in succession, though she may not have two husbands at one and the same time. She may, however, bestow favours on paramours without hindrance, provided they be of equal caste with her. On the other hand, a man may indulge in polygamy to any extent he pleases, and the wealthier Kunnuvans keep several wives as servants, especially for agricultural purposes. The religion of the Kunnuvans appear to be the Saiva, but they worship their mountain god Valapan with far more devotedness than any other.

The name Kunnuvan is derived by Mr. Nelson from kunru, a hill.  '''Kunta. —''' A division of Kuravas of Travancore, who derive their name from their first ancestor having appeared from a sacrificial altar (hōmakunta).  Kuntē (pond). — A gōtra of Kurni.  Kūrākula (vegetable class). — An occupational title, returned at times of census, by Oriya and Telugu cultivators in Ganjam and Vizagapatam.  Kurava.——For the following note on the Kuravas of Travancore, I am indebted to Mr. N. Subramani Aiyar. 