Ixvi APPENDIX. 



With a modest and retiring demeanour, tliey are perfectly free from 

 the ungracious and menial-like timidity of the generality of the sex of 

 the low country ; and enter into conversation with a stranger, with a 

 confidence and self-possession, becoming in the eyes of Europeans, and 

 strongly characteristic of a system of manners and customs widely differ- 

 ing from those of their neighbours. 



They wear necklaces of twisted hair or black thread, with silver 

 clasps, and here and there a bead, and suspended to them bunches of 

 cowry shells, which hang down from the back of the neck between the 

 shoulders. On the arms, immediately above the elbow, they wear a 

 pair of armlets of brass, those of the right arm being much larger than 

 those of the left ; silver bracelets are on the wrists, and on the fingers 

 and thumbs of each hand, a nxmiber of rings of various descriptions. 

 They also wear a zone round the waist, composed of a sort of chain 

 work, of either silver or mixed metal resembhng brass. 



The upper garment, or mantle, resembles that of the men ; but it is 

 worn differently, and, reaching to the feet, envelopes the whole frame. 



This attire is by no means graceful ; it gives them an imfeminine 

 and mummy -like appearance ; and neither they nor the men having 

 any pretensions to cleanliness : this wrapper is from that circumstance 

 often rendered still more unseemly. 



They are, however, a lively, laughter-loving race, and in the sudden 

 transition and free expression of their sentiments, shew strength of 

 feeling, and correctness of thought, little to be expected under such a 

 garb. 



Their life being in every respect a pastoral one, they do not con- 

 gregate in towns or villages, but every family, or the principal branches 

 of each family, live separately ; and these places of their residence are 

 called Morrts or Munds (corresponding to our word home). 



In each of these morrts is a building, in size, construction, and appear- 

 ance, superior to the others, a short distance apart from them, and 

 surrounded by a wall. In this is carried on all the process of the 

 dairy, such as making butter, clarifying and converting it into ghee, 

 &c. ; they also attach to this building a sacred feeling, and would not 

 at first allow me to go near it, declaring that there was a deity within, 

 whose malevolence would be provoked by my near approach. 



The huts in which they dwell, and which are generally clustered to- 

 gether, very much resemble in appearance the tilt of a waggon. The 

 roof, which is formed of thatch very neatly put on, is supported on 

 posts, and thick rude planks of wood, which, excepting at the ends, 



