The Kammas forbid a man to marry in the _gotra_ or family group to which he belongs, but a wife from the same _gotra_ as his mother's is considered a most desirable match, and if his maternal uncle has a daughter he should always take her in marriage.

A man is even permitted to marry his own sister's daughter, but he may not wed his mother's sister's daughter, who is regarded as his own sister.

Among the Kammas of the Tamil country Mr.( Sir H.) Stuart [452] states that a bride is often much older than her husband, and a case is cited in which a wife of twenty-two years of age used to carry her boy-husband on her hip as a mother carries her child.

One other curious custom recorded of the caste may be noticed.

A woman dying within the lifetime of her husband is worshipped by her daughters, granddaughters or daughters-in-law, and in their absence by her husband's second wife if he has one.