Page:Castes and tribes of southern India, Volume 5.djvu/94

MUCHERIKALA and reflect that the term piece-goods was originally applied in trade to the Indian cotton fabrics exported to England. The term Mucchi is applied to two entirely different sets of people. In Mysore and parts of the Ceded Districts, it refers to Marāthi -speaking workers in leather. But it is further applied to Telugu-speaking people, called Rāju, Jīnigāra, or Chitrakāra, who are mainly engaged in painting, making toys, etc., and not in leather-work. (See Rāchevar.)  '''Mucherikāla. —''' Recorded by Mr. F. S. Mullaly* as a synonym of a thief class in the Telugu country.  Mudali.— The title Mudali is used chiefly by the offspring of Dēva-dāsis (dancing-girls), Kaikōlans, and Vellālas. The Vellālas generally take the title Mudali in the northern, and Pillai in the southern districts. By some Vellālas, Mudali is considered discourteous, as it is also the title of weavers. † Mudali further occurs as a title of some Jains, Gadabas, Ōcchans, Pallis or Vanniyans, and Panisavans. Some Pattanavans style themselves Varūnakula Mudali.  '''Mudavāndi. —''' The Mudavāndis are said ‡ to be "a special begging class, descended from Vellāla Goundans, since they had the immemorial privilege of taking possession, as of right, of any Vellāla child that was infirm or maimed. The Modivāndi made his claim by spitting into the child's face, and the parents were then obliged, even against their will, to give it up. Thence-forward it was a Modivāndi, and married among them. The custom has fallen into desuetude for the last forty or fifty years, as a complaint of abduction would entail 