The biggest group were the "Bamonns", who were converts from the priestly Brahmin class. All Brahmin sub-castes such as the Goud Saraswat Brahmins, Padyes, and Daivadnyas, especially the goldsmiths and a few merchants, were lumped into the Christian caste of "Bamonn". The descendants of Goud Saraswat converts comprised the majority of this caste. The "Bamonns" were further divided into other castes according to rank. In Mangalore, they were sub-divided into "Sirudhegars" (the highest class), "Alhdhengars", "Cutdhnangars", "Dhivodegars", "Nathnolegars", "Sashragars", "Puruvargars", and "Maidhegars". These names are taken from the villages to which they once belonged. This group constituted the landed gentry. In accordance with traditional Hindu law that allowed a Brahmin to practice any occupation except cultivation, the "Bamonns" refrained from cultivating their lands, and leased them to tenants.