OP TTIE NtLAGmi DISTRICT. Ixxvii 



smiths, poltera, &c., and ofTiciafe as mnsicians at fcastp, fnncrals, and 

 marriages ; in short they arc the only artizans on the liills, and arc 

 moreover good husbandmen ; paying more attention to ngriculturc, 

 their fields appear to thrive better around their hamlets than those 

 seen in the vicinity of the Badager villages ; they are, however, of a 

 very inferior caste, and by their neighbours considered in the same 

 light as the chuckler in the low country ; they have cattle, but from 

 superstitious motives never milk the cow, are not permitted to have 

 buffaloes, but such unserviceable old animals which the Cadagers 

 dispense with for a trifle ; these are allowed to die, when they partake 

 of them, in short of the flesh of all kinds of dead animals, not being 

 allowed by their laws to kill any ; the hides being dressed are disposed 

 of to advantage ; their exterior and filthy propensities render them so 

 peculiarly disgusting to their neighbours that a Badager will not 

 drink of the stream that flows in the vicinity of their villages, polluted, 

 as it is supposed to be, with the flesh of the dead animals and their 

 raw hides, these being generally dressed on the side of a stream. In 

 all the three Divisions or Nadds arc Kothur villages, denominated 

 Kothagerrys ; these hamlets, though few, have geneitiUy a large poimla- 

 tion, and always in pleasant situations, with a grove of large trees? 

 present an agreeable prospect from a distance. They are a moro 

 ancient people than the Badagers, their dress similar to that of the 

 Toduwars, both sexes wearing their cloths in the same manner as 

 the latter race- The men go bareheaded, wear the hair long, tied in 

 a knot behind ; they are in general of the middle stature, ill-made, 

 short and bad featured ; some of the women, however, are fair, and 

 withal well-made and handsome. 



'The ceremony, if such it may be called, takes place on the mutual Marriages, 

 consent of both parties, being allowed a previous cohabitation ; the 

 parents of the young woman receive from the husband a compensa- 

 tion of 3 to 5 rupees ; the man is at liberty to take a second wife, 

 provided the first has no male issue after three successive female 

 births. A woman from any disagreement is allowed to separate 

 herself from her husband ; in this case she leaves all her children, and 

 moreover returns the present on marriage, but to their credit it may 

 be said, though mean and contemptible, that female infidelity is not 

 common ; their ornaments are of small value. Copper bracelets adorn 

 their wrists, and brass bangles above the left elbow ; the neck decorated 

 with black beads of stone or glass. The Kothurs burn their dead, and 

 worship the manes in some dark grove on the following anniversary. 

 Their idol is Cumbatodeo ; for the worship of this deity small thatched 

 edifices arc erected, and offerings made on certain occasions. 



IRRELURS. 



These arc a distinct race of people from the other highlandcrs of Irrcl^rs, 

 the mountains, classed among the lowest of the Soodra caste, are very ^^^^^ cdsaii- 

 little superior to the Pariahs, diminutive and ill-made, are grossly wars, 

 ignorant, and iu their apparel scanty and excessively filthy ; their 



