xxxm. 



the hills, probably only one clan visits the eastern portion of the high 

 ranges frequented by the Pooliars. They appear to be a wandering 

 race, cultivating small patches of ground ; they possess herds of cattle 

 and buffaloes, with which they till the soil ; and when the grass is 

 fresh and green after the annual fires they drive them on to the 

 higher ranges to graze. They have no fixed habitations, or villages ; 

 but wander over the mountains with their cattle, erecting temporary 

 huts, and seldom remaining more than a year at one place. They 

 eat sambur, ibex, pig, &c, but will not touch the bison, which latter 

 the Pooliars do not object to eat ; they are a timid race, and avoid 

 strangers ; they make ' pooja ' to the Pooliar idols. 



" The high ranges abound in ibex ; every rocky crag and 

 mountain has its herd, but they are exceedingly wild ; both the 

 Pooliars and Moodoovars possess guns, and they have periodical 

 hunts after the ibex, which accounts for their being so shy ; their 

 mode of operation is as follows : — before the hunt takes place they 

 erect barriers of stout bushes at various spots along the passes 

 frequented by the ibex. At every ten or twelve feet along the 

 barrier there is a weak spot composed of light twigs with a running 

 nooze of rattan surrounding it, the other end of the rattan being 

 firmly secured to a post fixed in the ground ; having made these 

 preparations, they proceed to drive the ibex towards the barriers 

 shooting any they can get a chance at on the way. The ibex on 

 being driven up to the barrier rush at the weak portions of it and are 

 caught in the noozes, from which, owing to their curved horns, they 

 cannot possibly extricate themselves, and are quickly despatched 

 by their pursuers. The Pooliars endeavoured to persuade me that 

 very few ibex were captured in this way, and that it was only the 

 Moodoowars that hunted them ; but from the numerous barriers I 

 saw, it is, I imagine, a very successful method of catching them. I 

 was surprised to find so few sambur on the range, though it was the 

 season of the fresh green grass, hardly a deer was to be seen. The 

 only way I can account for it is, that the open hills being divided into 

 blocks separated by deep precipitious and almost inaccessible ravines 

 down which there are but few passes, the deer can be easily hemmed 

 C 



