544 THE NORTHERX FORESTS. [Part IX. 



Even amongst the more civilised portion of the Ta- 

 mils, there is no characteristic Avhicli so forcibly as this 

 demonstrates the barbarism of their customs, and the 

 degraded nature of their domestic relations. Thouoh 

 the outward demeanour of men of the higher castes 

 and of ambitious pretensions, and the nature of their 

 pubhc pursuits, may draw off attention from their homes 

 and their personal habits ; still thek social arrangements, 

 and the economy of their private estabhshments, when 

 these can be examined, exhibit a picture of demoraUsation 

 truly deplorable. 



Notwithstanding all that has been achieved by the 

 successful labours of the Christian missions in the penin- 

 sula \ the private hfe of such of the lowest classes of the 

 people as are still uninfluenced by moral instruction, and 

 untouched by civilisation, is, of course, still more de- 

 praved and disgusting. Their households exhibit none 

 of those endearments and comforts which constitute the 

 charms and attractions of a home. Sensuality and gain 

 are the two passions of their existence, and in the pursuit 

 of these they exhibit a hcentiousness so shocking, and 

 practices so inconceivably vile, as woidd scarcely obtain 

 credence from those who are famihar only with the aspect 

 and usages of civihsed hfe, even in its lowest and least 

 attractive forms. 



Amongst the Tamils in Ceylon, as amongst the na- 

 tives on the coast of India, the behef in sorcery is 

 strongly and generally entertained, and its professors 

 turn the practice of witchcraft and charms to lucrative 

 account, pandering to the w^orst passions of degraded 

 humanity by the secret exercise of pretended arts, 

 and the performance of revolting ceremonies. In 

 1849, an occurrence of this Idnd was brouglit offi- 

 cially imder my notice, involving the disclosure of 

 practices, the existence of which amidst a dense popu- 



^ For an accoimt of the missions I labours, see Sir J. Emersox Tex 



Jafliia, and especially of the j nent's Hi at on/ of Christ ianifi/ in 

 erican missionaries and their j Ceylon, ch, iv. pp. 1-38 — 17(>; Sec. 



in 



American 



