200 MANUAL OP THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



CHAP. IX, been dug at the entrance to the cattle kraal^ and each relative 

 PART I. throws three handfuls of earth on it and then into the cattle kraal 



Ethnology, ^s at the green funeral, muttering " May I throw earth V 



" Purzhu hikama V to which a Peiki ^ replies " Purzhul,'' 



''Throw earth. ^^ It is curious to note that whilst a "Peiki" 

 performs this office for the lower clans, a " Tarserzh/d " performs 

 it for the high caste, " Devahjdh" 



After this the pujari approaches with garlands of creepers, 

 which he throws at the buffaloes. This is the signal for the coiip- 

 dc- grace. The poor terrified creatures, who have been half 

 maddened by the treatment they have received from the youug 

 men who have spent the pi^cceding hours in exciting them in 

 every way, rush madly about and sometimes leap the kraal 

 wall and make their escape to some distance before they can be 

 caught and despatched. Their bodies are dragged back and 

 placed in a line with the iridhuJi and Ked beside them, and men 

 and women sit round it, mourning in couples as at the green 

 funeral. 



What follows next is weird and cruel, and the Todas evidently 

 fear that Government may prohibit it on the score of cruelty, for 

 they "make a secret ^ of this part of their proceedings.^' A 

 buffalo cow and calf are brought ; the latter is held by three men, 

 whilst the former receives a blow between the horns which stuns 

 without killing her.^ A gash is made under the fore leg of the 

 poor animal, and the Varzhdl'^ dipping some pieces of bark into 

 the wound, gives seme of the blood to the kinsmen, who smear it 

 upon the Ked, muttering " Karma odi pona," " May the sin run 

 away," and some other sentences containing the words Kirma, sin, 

 and Ammundd, heaven. The conclusion of this strangely 

 significant rite I give in Mr. Breeks' own words : — 



" A Peiki man then puts on the ptitkidi in which the Ked has been 

 wrapped and a silver necklace, and taking the bow^ and arrows, 

 the latter laid across the bow as if in readiness for shooting, dips the 

 points of the arrows into the blood on the Ked, saying ' Birzhutu- 

 kama T ' Shall I give a bow ?' After this they walk to another stone 

 near the Kedmanei in procession, shouting ' Hob, Hoh,' the Peiki 

 with the bow in the middle and the Varzhal in front, carrying the 



^ This pujari does not appear to be a priest or at least one of higher orders, but 

 simply an officiating layman. Colonel Marshall made particular inquiries on this 

 point and learnt that neither Palal or Kavalal had any religious duties to perforin 

 on such occasions. 



2 Breeks. 



3 See MacPhekson's Klwnd Hills.— The buffalo has now taken the place of 

 the human meria as the most httiug sacrifice to the Earth. Mother among the 

 Khonds. 



* An inferior priest. 

 Made by the Kdtas expressly for each occasion. 



