FORESTS OF MYSORE DISTRICT 



dress of a wild uncivilised member of the jungle 

 fraternity consisting of loose, shaggy locks, well 

 matted with dirt, and innocent of the comb. 



The word " Kurraba " in Canarese signifies a 

 shepherd, so it seems possible that the jungle tribes 

 bearing this appellation may originally have been 

 a race of pastoral origin, but if so, their habits have 

 been entirely changed by residence in the forests. 

 Certain it is, that at one time there was a powerful 

 race of Kurrabas, presided over by a Kurraba king, 

 but whether the jungle Karrabas are, or are not, 

 offshoots from that race, is not known. 



Kurrabas are usually of small stature and of 

 miserable physique, with tiny limbs which look as 

 if their possessors would be unable to either walk 

 far or to carry any weight. In this respect, how- 

 ever, appearances are very deceptive. I have 

 known a little man of this tribe, who was only two 

 or three inches above five feet in height, walk all 

 day long, carrying for a great part of the time an 

 8-bore rifle of fifteen pounds in weight. 



I n disposition, Kurrabas are the mildest, gentlest, 

 and most peaceable people whom I have ever met. 

 Crime amongst them seems to be almost unknown. 

 They never go to court, and, in fact, would bear in 

 silence any injury or oppression rather than visit 

 the dreaded town with its "busy haunts of men." 

 If the poor Kurraba be ill-treated and bullied be- 

 yond endurance by less primitive natives, he pos- 

 sesses but one remedy, viz., flight, and he seeks no 

 other. 



A Kurraba's notions of the value of money are 



415 



