BO MM AY GOUDA. 41 



From living in this unhealthy place for so many years, amongst the 

 wild beasts of the forest, Bommay Gouda has come to be regarded with 

 superstitious awe by the inhabitants of the open country. Few would dare 

 to offend liim, as his powers of injuring them by supernatural means are 

 never doubted. Neither he nor any of his family eat meat, but in his 

 younger days he occasionally shot sambur and bison with his old match- 

 lock, to barter their flesh for grain. He also used to make a good deal 

 by shooting elephants and tigers. The reward for a tiger was Es. 30, and 

 for an elephant Es. 70 ; but whilst the reward for the tiger has been 

 increased to Es. 50, that for the elephant has been withdrawn, and 

 protection substituted. 



Of late years there has been a police-guard stationed at Poonjoor, as a 

 check to the numerous robberies on the Hiissanoor road, but owing to its 

 unhealthiness the men have to be changed frequently. Bommay Gouda's 

 family, from long usage to the place, enjoy fair health, but it is hurtful to new- 

 comers. It is a favourite grazing station when drought in the open country 

 obliges the ryots to send their cattle to the jungles. Sholagas and Brinjar- 

 ries are mostly engaged to take charge of these herds. In the jungles 

 around Poonjoor when there is plenty of rain, game of all descriptions, from 

 elephants downwards, is abundant. At all times tigers are, or were before 

 I thinned them, numerous, attracted by the herds of cattle ; but the same 

 marauders visited Morlay (eleven miles distant through the jungles), and 

 there they were laid low. 



Three miles from Morlay, situated in a beautiful glade on the banks of 

 the Honhollay river, surrounded by fine trees and jungle, is Koombappan 

 Goody, or the temple of Koombappah, the shrine whither the Morlayites 

 and other adjacent villagers repair at certain times to pay their devotions. 

 The temple is sixteen feet long, eight broad, and nine high ; it has a flat 

 roof, and is composed throughout of large dressed slabs. It was built in 

 old days, probably when an adjacent village, the site of which is now marked 

 by ancient trees and stones, flourished. Worship has been kept up though 

 the village has ceased to exist. Mondays and Fridays are the poojah or 

 service days, when the priest attends. Only such people visit it as have 

 some request to prefer, usually connected with their families, their crops, 

 or their bodily ailments. They are not continually found about their 

 church, as they do not consider it necessary either for their spiritual welfare 

 or for the sake of respectability. 



Koombappah is regarded as an evil god who must be propitiated. The 

 priest often told me he was " a very bad god indeed," and if his iwojah were 



