^12 



ETHNOLOGY OF THE KURRABAS. 



like the wool of a negro : this is an essential point of difference between 

 them and the Hindoo people of the open country. Still the Kurrabas have 

 no separate language, but talk Canarese with a peculiar intonation. They 

 worship jungle -spirits, elephants, tigers, certain trees, &c. A peculiar dif- 

 ference between them and the wild tribe of the Billiga-rungun hills — the 

 Sholagas — is, that the Kurrabas eat the flesh of the bison, whilst a Sh51aga 

 will not even touch the dead animal. Eating the flesh of the cow being 

 abhorrent to the Hindoos, it would appear that the Kurrabas belong to the 

 earliest races of Southern India, distinct from the Aryan or Dravidiau 

 people who overspread the country from the north, and probably brought 

 the observance with them. 



I always collected a number of these poor aborigines in my camp ob 

 my shooting expeditions, and though all of them were not engaged in track- 

 ing, I had the pleasure of their society when the day's work was over. 

 There was rice, curry-stuff, tobacco, and a tot of grog at night for each, of 

 which they much approved. Amongst the Kurrabas at Kakankot^ was one 

 old man, their PoojAree'^ or hereditary priest and head-man. This ancient 

 of the woods held the rather extraordinary but convenient idea in a tracker, 

 that, in virtue of his sacred office, he could not be killed by a wild elephant, 

 and he would lead the way after a wounded or evilly-disposed one where 

 the other Kurrabas were reluctant to go. I did not attempt to pervert 

 him from his convictions, but always took care to support him with my 

 heavy rifles, to prevent his being convinced of the fallacy of his views, 

 and trampled into a pancake, at the same moment. It is a remarkable fact 

 that jungle-people are ordinarily more afraid of wild elephants than of any 

 other animals. I have known many who had little fear of tigers, bears, or 

 bison, and yet dreaded being called on to track elephants. This is from no 

 superstitious fear, but probably has its origin in the size and formidable 

 appearance of, and the noise made by, elephants when roaming at large in 

 their native wilds. 



The Kakankot^ rogue was well known to the Kurrabas by his large size 

 and dark colour, and the upward curve of his short tusks. He had also lost 

 more than half his tail whilst fighting — a common mutilation amongst 

 elephants. The day I arrived at Kakankot^ to hunt him I despatched two 

 parties of Kurrabas to ascertain his whereabouts. In the evening they 

 returned ; the Poojaree's party had found recent marks at a pool, and had 

 followed them till sundown. The rogue was then within half a mile of the 

 same pool, and feeding towards it with the evident intention of drinking 



• The illustration is a reproduction of a pencil sketch made on the spot by a friend, and is a- 

 most faithful portrait of old Poojdree. 



