1856.] Notes on a forest race called Puttooas or Juanga. 299 



huts, the whole not larger than the house of a nourishing Ooriya 

 ryot. 



The Puttooas do not themselves own land, although they some- 

 times, we were told, assist in its cultivation. Their pursuits are 

 chiefly those of the chase. They use the bow and arrow, and hunt 

 with dogs, killing deer, hogs, and not unfrequently snakes, of the 

 flesh of which and especially of that of the Python molurus they 

 are very fond. They appear to be nearly omnivorus, nothing coming 

 amiss to them except cow's flesh, from which they probably abstain 

 either from fear of the Hindu Rajahs, in whose territories they live, or 

 out of deference to the prejudices of their Hindu neighbours. Their 

 usual food, however, consists of roots and the seeds of jungle grasses. 

 We found three different kinds of roots in their houses which were 

 called by our Ooriya attendants toonga, Jcurba and panee aloo. We 

 took some specimens of each to camp and had them cooked for 

 dinner, but the experiment was not encouraging. Without being 

 absolutely nauseous, they were all insipid and had an earthy flavour 

 which was decidedly disagreeable. 



No distinctions of rank exist among these people. One and all 

 call themselves Pudhan, the title which the Ooriyas give to the 

 headman of a village. Thus the husband of Kumlee, that most 

 uncomely damsel who stands in the sketch with head averted, look- 

 ing, as she did in truth, the very picture of sulkiness, is called Mootee 

 Pudhan, and so on with the happy owners of the other ladies who 

 sat for their portraits. They have no distinction of castes. Some 

 of them told us indeed that they should object to eat with low caste 

 Hindus, but this of course was a mere piece of bravado, intended 

 for the ears of the Hindus who were with us ; as no Hindu, however 

 low his caste, would consent to join in their meals. 



They pay no rent to the Rajahs on whose lands they live, but 

 they are expected to furnish him, when required, with spirits manu- 

 factured from the flowers of the mhowa and with the honey of the 

 wild bee. They are forced also to carry his baggage when he 

 inarches through his estate, and to assist on the occasion of his 

 hunting excursions in beating the forest. 



The Dhekenal Rajah declares, that the Puttooas are Hindus, and 

 that they make offerings to the village deities, but although, as may be 



2 ii 2 



