THE HOLOYA CASTE. 355 



covered earthen jars, eacli containing several gallons, and is served out into 

 the customers' own drinking- vessels, usually gourds or lengths of the giant- 

 bamboo, at about a farthing a quart. Hencla, as this liquor is called, is to 

 the low-caste Hindoo what beer is to us ; and it appears to be a wholesome 

 beverage if not abused. It is not higlily intoxicating when used fresh, as is 

 customarily done ; whilst it contains a large amount of nutritious saccharine 

 matter. The contract for the sale of this product throughout Mysore is 

 leased out by Government, and brings in a large revenue. The consumption 

 of spirits (arrack) is comparatively triiling, and is chiefly confined to large 

 towns. Many of the drinkers of hcnda never taste spirits, which are more 

 difficult to procure, and almost prohibitory in price. The supply of hcnda 

 to the people is effected by petty contractors who rent one or more of the 

 numerous groves of the wild date that are scattered throughout the country. 

 The trees require no attention or culture. The sap is drawn from them by 

 an incision made just below the leafy crown of their otherwise bare stems, 

 and the earthen vessels into which it drains are emptied daily into skin-bags 

 borne by donkeys or ponies (the sacred bovine tribe is never used for this 

 somewhat discreditable work), and is despatched direct to the places where 

 it is consumed. 



I had just made arrangements with my Holoya beaters when I saw a 

 string of donkeys and ponies laden with the wobbling bullock-skins of fer- 

 mented liquor dear to their hearts, and I immediately despatched Subba to 

 purchase a load as a present for them. He returned shortly, accompanied by 

 the contractor, and driving a donkey whose hocks rubbed painfully against 

 each other, and whose hind - legs had the appearance of almost crossing 

 each other as it walked, from its being systematically overloaded, and hav- 

 ing been used when too young. Such is the condition of most of the hendcc 

 contractors' cattle. Subba had arranged for the transfer of the load for 

 a small sum, and he represented that he had further negotiated the purchase 

 of the donkey for one rupee and three-quarters (three and sixpence) if 

 approved, and advised its being taken as a bait for the panthers. I agreed to 

 this, as it was advisable to give the animals a feed overnight to make them 

 less inclined for exertion on the morrow. It may seem cruel to tie up a 

 living animal as a lure for the carnivora, but this is often a necessary mea- 

 sure towards compassing their destruction, and by the sacrifice of one the 

 salvation of many scores may be effected. So the donkey and its load were 

 driven off by the delighted Holoyas to a shady tree at a distance, and when 

 relieved of its burden, the wretched creature was led away to the garden to 

 be tied up as a last repast for the leopards and panther. As I sat outside 

 my tent after dinner that evening, I could not help pitying the poor donkey 



