142 APPENDIX. 



Tliesc sliecls often cover one or two Legalis of gronncl. In tlie centre 



a temporary dwelling is bliilt, in which the merchant resides and 



lodges his supply of stores tox the oonsumptioai of the Katoyis and his 



own establishment. The following are generally the articles in store; 



Jiicey n tic Jim\ un'd, onions^ garlic^ pepper, salt, tui'meric, cocoannts, 



cnmin, asafoetida, salt^fish.ghi^oil^ tobacco, steely arrack, and various 



sorts of coarse claths. These things are disposed of to theKutoris at 



from 50 to 75 pev ceut. aboye tbeir value in the ueighbouring 

 markets, 



The Katoris erect their bhoongus Cd' huts around the D3.erohant's shed,- 

 and in front of their hut they prepare the tdvoo or fire-place. They 

 form the fire-place by digging a trench four or five cubits in length 

 and one in breadth^ which they coyer at the top and leave the ends 

 open to. adnut the air to pass freely through. . In the top there aro 

 twelve small round holes to receive an equal number of pots^ 



Before they com,m,ence the operatioai of cutting any billets, of wood> 

 they perform certain propitiatory ri^es, by worshipping one of the 

 Khair trees. leaving procured a cocoanut^ some ]^ed pigment^ and 

 a little frankincense, they select a tree for their purpose, rub the red 

 pigment qjx the trunX near- the root^ burn the frankincense in fi'ont 

 of it, and then break the nut ; after which they pia their handa 



position 



all 



ance of good catechu. Having constituted the tree by this cere 

 mony, a subordinate deity, which they term lidn Shea IFdriay they 



divide the consecrated cocoanut among those present. Each family 



possessing a fire-place peiiorms a similar ceremony. Tbey make 

 one or two incisions in the trunk of the tree during these rites, but 

 ■will not cut it down at the time, although these trees are sometimea 

 cut down at a subseq[uent period. 



The following day the Katoris proved into the jungle an^ 

 examine the Khair trees, They, in the first instance, strike two or 

 three blows with an a.^e deep into the trunk of a tree to obtain a 

 chip from near the centre, and if, upon ex;amination, it appears to 

 have attained maturity, that is, if it is of a red colour (termed by 

 them mdrhi), and there appears a white crust formed by the inspis- 

 sated juice, they are satisfied the tree is a valuable one and they cut 

 it down. These people have a superstitious dread of bad luck attend- 

 ing their operations, aiul they object to a person speaking wliile a tree^ 



