Ixxvi APPENDIX TO THE MANUAL 



(lays, the funeral rites are fleferrcd to the succeeding good day ; tlie 

 ceremony on this occasion consists in assembling the relations of the 

 deceased, when they utter their condolence in loud lamentations ; after 

 this follows a sacrifice of two or more buffaloes, which are killed with 

 heavy clubs and their skull and horns chopped off ; the corpse is then 

 placed on the pile for cremation. On the anniversary following the 

 relations convene at the same spot, each bringing a buffalo ; to these 

 arc added others belonging to the stock of the deceased, and 

 pickctted near the place where the body was consumed ; the ceremony 

 being performed, eight or ten able men with heavy clubs enter on a 

 promiscuous slaughter, when they proceed to part the horns from the 

 head of the animals ; it has been a perfect mystery hitherto what was 

 done with the flesh of these animals ; from some inquiries in another 

 quarter it has been ascertained that the Toduwars eat of it, and are 

 in the habit always, when they can afford it, to partake of the flesh of 

 this animal, the hides serving them as beds, when clean and dressed ; 

 yet they pretend all animal flesh to be unclean. 



MtJLLUCOORMBERS. 



The aggregate amount of this caste is very small, inhabiting the 

 recesses of the valleys or slopes of the mountains, towards the plain 

 country. They are a primeval race, almost contemporary with the 

 Toduwars, and have an equal right to the inheritance of the soil ; have 

 from very remote times followed the occupations of husbandry, culti- 

 vating the steep acclivities, in the execution of which they only use 

 the hand hoe, a species of culture called cottiikad, and assessed very 

 moderately. The produce of their fields, however, is very precarious 

 and seldom affords them a sufficiency for consumption, for which they 

 are in a great measure indebted to the Buddagers, to whom they officiate 

 as priests. The Badager will never undertake any agricultural affair 

 without some ceremonies performed by the Miillticoormber* to Kali- 

 buntyan ; this ceremony ended, he holds the plough and turns up the 

 glebe in each field, when the duty of the husbandmen commences ; he 

 then receives from each ryot from four to ten colagays of grain, 

 according to the circumstances of each individual, and retires. At 

 harvest time his services are again required to apply the sickle to the 

 ripe grain ; when the reapers proceed for this duty, he is permitted to 

 take as many of the sheaves as he can well bear away on his shoulders. 

 Their marriages, funeral ceremonies, are similar to those of the 

 Badagers, differing very little in their habits and manners from them ; 

 living in seclusion they are seldom seen abroad, -dsiting the villages 

 from mere necessity. 



KOTHURS. 



This caste of people are the most industrious race on the Neilgherrics, 

 following all the most useful occupations as carpenters, black- 



* Who is fed for his spiritual duty. At the commencement, of the ploughing 

 season a sacrifice of fowls aud sheep arc offered by the Mdllucoormbcis. 



