MANUAL OF THE NILAdlR] DISTRICT. 20T 



leaf vessel ' out of which he takes two pieces of bark at intervals, CHAP. IX, 

 throwing one behind him. The calf is dragged to this stone and let PART I. 

 loose, when they all run after it, throwing themselves down at intervals ~ 



so as to touch the gi'ound with their foreheads and shouting 



* A)amaadga seruma Karma dharma tilinia,' which may be rendered 

 ' May he enter heaven ; may it be well with his good deeds and his 

 sins." ■ 



The Ked is burnt within an Azdram or circle of stones sunk in 

 the ground, with a miniatui*e bow and three arrows, a Kef-liaUi 

 or sickle, an axe, a palm-leaf umbrella, some jaggery, gram and 

 other articles. The fire is lighted at four in the morning, and as 

 it burns the Todas mourn and wail, sitting as before in couples 

 and sobbing their rhythmical farewell to the dead, whilst the 

 Kotas rend the air with their discordant music. Mr. Breeks 

 continues : — 



" Just as dawn is breaking the music is stopped, the mourning 

 ceases, and in dead silence all cluster I'ound the Azaram for the 

 impressive closing ceremony. Water is sprinkled on the embers, a 

 large stone at the entrance of the circle is taken up and a pit dug 

 under it, into which they scrape the ashes and the stone is replaced. 



Finally a dim figure enters the circle, and raising a cliatty high 

 over his head, dashes it to pieces on the stone covering the ashes, 

 bends down, touches the stone with his forehead, and hastens away. 

 All the others perform in turn the same prostration, and flitting 

 silently down the hill, a procession of hurrying shadows fades into 

 the mist, through which twinkles the distant fire of the Kkhnanei. 

 Imagination might easily transform them into the departing spirits 

 of the propitiated dead." 



With the exception of one or two vague stories, some of which Traditions, 

 may have been picked up from the Badagas at a comparatively 

 late date, the Todas have nothing to say of their past history. 

 They generally look on at the despoiling of the cairns and 

 cromlechs with perfect indifference, and appear to attach no 

 importance to them ; although, it is said, they do lay ^ claim to 

 some. Travellers from time to time have narrated crude stories, 

 supposed to have been gathered from the Todas, relating to their 

 origin, but they are very contradictory. Captain Ward^ says 

 they have some idea that they were originally self-born, and 

 that they have also a notion that their ancestors, in primitive 



* Containing the bark steeped with blood. 



^ This is done at a Tddi funeral. Peikis and Pekhans do not sacrifice a buffalo 

 or lose a calf at the dry funeral, but sacrifice a male buffalo at the next new moon. — 

 Breeks. 



3 See Metz. 



* Biographical and Stniii^fical Siirvey of the Kelagherry Mountains, 1824. 



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