Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 6.djvu/344

SAPIRI by begging, and pretend to powers of divination. They wear garments coloured with red ochre, and allow the hair to grow unshorn. They often have settled abodes, but itinerate. Many are married, and their descendants keep up the sect, and follow the same calling."*  Sapiri. — A synonym of Relli.  Sappaliga.— It is noted, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, that "in some tāluks of South Canara they are said to be identical with, or a sub-caste of Gāniga." The Gānigas are a Canarese caste, of which the traditional occupation is oil-pressing. In the Manual of the South Canara district, it is recorded that "Sappaligs appear to be identical with the Dēvādigas (temple musicians) in North Canara, though they are regarded as distinct castes in South Canara. The Sappaligs are, as the name sappal (noise) implies, a class of musicians in temples, but a number of them are cultivators." Sappaliga is an occupational term. The musicians among the Tulu Mogēr fishing caste are called Sappaligas, in the same way that those Mogērs who are engaged as oil-pressers are called Gānigas, both being occupational names.  Sara (thread). — A gōtra of Kurni.  Saragu (dried or withered leaves). — A sub-division of Valaiyan.  Sarangulu.——Recorded, in the Nellore district, as being sailors. The name is doubtless equivalent to Serang, which has been defined † as meaning "a native boatswain, or chief of a lascar crew; the skipper of a small native vessel."  Sarattu (sacred thread). — A sub-division of Kanakkan, members of which wear the sacred thread. 