THE MAIIADEO HILLS. 125 



in detecting the points that mark the aborigine. They 

 were all of low stature, the Korkiis perhaps averaging 

 an inch or two higher than the Gonds, who seldom 

 exceed five feet two inches ; the colour generally a very 

 dark brown, almost black in many individuals, though 

 never reaching the sooty blackness of the negro. Among 

 the Gonds a lighter-brown tint was not uncommon. 

 In features both races are almost identical, the face 

 being flat, forehead low, nose flat on the bridge, with 

 open protuberant nostrils ; lips heavy and large, but the 

 jaw usually well formed and not prominent like that of 

 the negro ; the hair on the face generally very scanty, 

 but made up for by a bushy shock of straight black 

 hair. In form they are generally well made, muscular 

 about the shoulders and thighs, with lean, sinewy 

 forearm and lower leg. The ex^Dression of face is rather 

 stolid, though good-humoured. Some of the younger 

 men might almost be called handsome after their 

 pattern ; but the elders have generally a coarse, weather- 

 beaten aspect which is not attractive. All the men 

 present carried the little axe, without which they never 

 stir into the forest, and many had spears besides. 

 During the beat they had killed a good many peafowl 

 and hares, and one little deer, by throwing their axes at 

 them, in which they are very expert. 



The Korkiis, I found, were prevented by prejudice 

 acquired from the Hindus from eating the flesh of the 

 slain bison ; so the Gonds from Almod, and a number 

 of a tribe called Bharyas, who had come from the Motiir 

 hills, had him all to themselves, while the Korkiis set 

 to work on the sambar with their sharp little axes, 

 which are all that is wanted for skinning and cutting up 

 the carcase of the largest animal. My servant secured 



