The Canarese. 73 



under the leadership of a " Maistry " as in Ceylon, 

 and return to their villages, almost en masse, between 

 January and March ; a much smaller number re- 

 maining on the estate than is the case in Ceylon 

 under like circumstances. This is partly to be 

 accounted for by the wonderful cheapness of food 

 in their native country, which enables them to sub- 

 sist after their return, for many months, on the 

 savings of a few weeks' wages earned in the planting- 

 districts. The common food of the Canarese people 

 is a grain named " raggee," much resembling millet, 

 and four annas worth of this (one day's wages in the 

 Wynaad) will support a man for a week ! Animal 

 food is but little used, except on high occasions. 

 Another reason for the shortness of the season 

 during which the Canarese are willing to remain 

 at work, is their being required to return for the 

 harvesting of the grain crops in their own village. 



There is, however, another class of labour in the 

 Wynaad and the adjacent districts, which stands the 

 planter in good stead as far as it goes. This is 

 drawn from the local hill-tribes inhabiting the jungles 

 of the district in a semi-wild condition. These hill- 

 tribes, who are to be found nearly all over India, 

 are understood to be the remnants of the aboriginal 

 inhabitants. In the Wynaad they are known as 

 the Errawers, Adyars, Cooroombers, Punyars, Croo- 

 chers, &c. This class of labour, however, is very 



