1. Defendants 1, 3 and 4 are the appellants. The 1st defendant-appellant died and the 3rd defendant-appellant has been recorded as his legal representative. The plaintiff and the other defendants are the respondents. The parties are "Plappallies" who are a caste peculiar to Travancore (There are only one or two families). They do not enjoy any of the privileges of the Ampalavasie. The males are invested with the sacred thread in the sixteenth year. Formerly the Ilayathus officiated as their priests, but now the service is performed by Namputhiris or Pottis. The girls have the thalikettu celebrated, the thali being tied by the Aryapattar. The women marry Brahmins. The Plappallies are marumakkathayis. (Page 834,

Travancore State Manual, Vol. I).

2. The family name of the parties is Kiliyat. It had three sakhas having several houses in each. In the first sakha there are three houses called "Pozhisseril", "Pathiyil" and "Vadakamparampu". In the second sakha, there are four houses namely, "Muringanat", "Vadakke Kiliyat", "Kiliyat" and "Madathilparampu". In the third sakha there are three houses called "Plappally Matom", 'Kaithakat" and "Thaikkattusseri".

3. It is the common cas