462 THE VILLAGE AND ITS TEMPLES. Chap. XXVII. 



race of aboriginal herdsmen, scattered over the western ghauts 

 from Mahabaleshwur to Kolapore. Though they now speak 

 the Mahratta language, yet a great number of tlieir words, 

 their features, and many of tlieir customs are Canarese ; and 

 they are evidently a branch of the great Dravidian group of 

 nations. 



The temples of Mahabaleshwur possess extensive landed 

 property, some of it on the slopes overhanging the Parr 

 valley. It is in charge of an hereditary Enamdar, who lives 

 in the Deccan, and visits the temples once a year. He keeps 

 them in tolerable repair, and pockets the surplus of their 

 revenues. From the village there is an extensive view of the 

 deep valley of the Krishna and Yena, to the eastward, which 

 slopes down abruptly from the hill on which Mahabaleshwur 

 is built. 



As in Coorg there is a curious legend respecting the origin 

 of the Cauvery, so in the Mahabaleshwur hills an equally wild 

 story is attached to the source of the Krishna. It is said that 

 two giants, called Mahaballee and Anteeballee, made war upon 

 the Brahmins, until they were destroyed by Siva. Before 

 they died they asked a favour, which was granted, namely, 

 that they and their followers might be turned into rivers. 

 This is the fabulous origin of five rivers : — the Krishna, named 

 in honour of one of Vishnu's avaturs ; the Koina and the 

 Yena, flowing to the Deccan ; and tlie rivers Sawitri and 

 Gawitri, finding their way through gorges to the westward, 

 and becoming tributaries of the Bancoot river in the Concan. 

 The Krishna is looked upon as a personation of the God 

 Krishna in a female form, and is often called baee or lady 

 Krishna. This important stream, issuing from the cow's 

 mouth at Mahabaleshwur, flows down a gorge bounded by 

 steep barren hills, terminating in rocky cliffs. We could see 

 the river, like a silver thread, meandering through some 

 cultivated land far below; but the general aspect of the 



