30 The Ethnology of India. 



as a charm, is shaved with the Aborigines by all the Hindustanees. 

 Another practice of the Aborigines the latter also have in hilly tracts, 

 the heaping up cairns of stones at particular points, and tying bits of 

 rag to a particular tree as votive offerings. This last may be seen 

 anywhere, and these practices are probably very widely spread. 



If there really be such a distinction between the Dravidian and 

 Kolarian religions as that at which I have hinted, it is very like a 

 similar distinction in Africa. In a work on South Africa by the 

 Hev. Mr. Grout, we are told that the gods of the Hottentots are 

 above, the sun, moon, &c. while those of the Kaffirs and more war- 

 like Negroes south of the line are below, demons and evil Spirits. 

 Among some of the latter too are seen the horrid rites and bloody 

 sacrifices. It strikes me that there is some resemblance in appearance 

 between Hottentots and Santals. 



A curious testimony to the ancient rights of the Indian ' Boomcas* 

 or people of the soil, is the practice in many parts of Central India 

 where Hindu chiefs are dominant, that a new chief on his accession 

 receives the teka or investiture from the blood of an Aboriginal Kole, 

 Grond or Bheel. 



I proceed to mention the various tribes in detail, so far as my imper- 

 fect knowledge of them permits. 



The Aboriginal tribes now living apart from the general population 

 in the South of India, appear to be very small and scattered. They 

 are there for the most part absorbed in the general social system. 

 Pariahs and others, as is well known, merely form a lower social grade # 

 The robber tribes, Beders and such like, seem for the most part to 

 have robbed themselves into a respectable and even aristocratical posi- 

 tion. The Beders in some parts of Mysore now form a considerable 

 portion of the population, and they have many Polygarships. There 

 seems to be some doubt whether the Badagras and Kotas of the lower 

 Neilgherry hills are properly Aborigines, they being, it appears, immi- 

 grants in those parts, and the Carambers the true Aborigines. I have 

 not been able to meet with any very connected or detailed account of 

 the thoroughly Aboriginal tribes of the hills and forests of the 

 Neilgherries, Pulneys, and Western Grhats. The word Maleasur seems 

 to mean simply a tollman, and the more proper tribal designations 

 appear to be Carambers, Irulars, Puliars, and Veders. These seem to 





