666 Some Account of the Hill Tribes [Dec. 



rather superior, and more modest in the wear of ornaments: a few 

 stone or glass beads around the neck, called Kulpashy, and rings, are 

 their only decoration ; they wear a white cloth, not very clean, from 

 above the shoulders, knotted in front, and made fast round the waist 

 with a bandage ; those to the east wear theirs similar to the females 

 of the low country. The men are very simple in their finery, having 

 a couple of cloths, one worn round the head, and the other about the 

 waist ; they seldom or ever wear sandals, and by way of ornament, 

 display a few golden trinkets, pendent from their ear. Their dialect 

 is the Tamul, which they speak fluently ; but are otherwise illiterate. 

 The Kunnuvers burn their dead, with the exception of barren women, 

 and those who may die of the small-pox, who are buried. 



The Kdrakat Velldlers. — This class of people are the primitive in- 

 habitants of Anjinad, or five counties, or portions into which this di- 

 vision appears to have been divided on their first settlement in these 

 regions: they are considered a people of superior caste, their custom 

 and manners being indicative of it, though not in any manner esteem- 

 ed above those of the same caste in the low country. A brahman 

 usually performs the duties at their temple, and the other ceremonies, 

 &c. &c, as marriages, &c. are performed by a Pandarun or priest of 

 their own caste. They speak the low Tamul, but are most of them illi- 

 terate. A Tamul school of late has been established atMuraiir. Theyare 

 a very abstemious race. Rice constitutes their principal food, as also 

 tyre, milk, and butter. They have no aversion to fowl or animal food, 

 and use ghi as a substitute for oil ; with it they also anoint themselves 

 previous to bathing. They are not addicted to spirituous or fermented 

 liquors. Opium is in use among them in moderation, and they chew 

 and smoke tobacco. The apparel worn by both sexes does not differ in 

 the least from the inhabitants of the plains, and consists chiefly of 

 coarse white cloths ; the women, besides the small ornaments worn in 

 the nose and ears, decorate their arms with silver bangles, and .such 

 whose circumstances will not admit of their being of silver have them 

 made of brass. A few of the men have the exterior membranes of 

 the nose bored ; and all invariably decorate their ears with rings : 

 sandals for their feet are prohibited them. They are known to 

 associate with the Kunnuvers, to the east : though their customs and 

 manners greatly differ. Both castes make no scruple about eating what 

 is cooked by either. But a Kunnuver, when invited to an entertainment 

 by a Karakat, is not admitted to that part of the house, where the 

 meats are dressed, nor is he allowed to touch any of the cooking 

 implements. This class, by the laws of their sect, are contracted in 

 marriage, when very young ; it however happens, when the parties 



