18 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



The Cojidu-vdndlu, dwell in hills and passes of hills; in rude huts, 

 like cow-sheds. They are very careful of water- springs. They beat, 

 and plunder, solitary travellers : some use brass vessels : some (hy gourds ; 

 some earthen vessels. In eve"y house two or three dogs are reared. 

 Their chief has the title of Nai/a^c ; inferior chiefs are termed doralu. 

 The villages pay from six to thirty rupees, as tax. The Nat/ak, on re- 

 ceiving the tax, points out, and assigns larids to dilferent individuals. 

 They cultivate C/i;/a'?2 (Hole. Sa-.) and other dry-land grains ; as also 

 rice in the wet lands : the poorer sort, sell a portion of their grain, to 

 pay their tax, and live on the rest, as also on the proi^eeds from tama- 

 rinds produced on their lands. Both sexes labour in the caltivation of 

 grain. They labaur in their fields, from day break till noon ; when, from 

 their position, it is very cold. At noon the power of the sun produces 

 great heat, and thirst, which induces them to cease from work : they 

 make large use of butter-milk, and other beverage, tlie effect of which, 

 according to the manuscript, is to make them pot-beilied, with small legs 

 and arms, and causing unhealthy aspects. In the hot season they sleep 

 wherever they p)'eas3. In the rainy season they sleep on couches with- 

 in doors, having stoves, or similar things, inside to warm their dwellings. 

 Thev place a watchman at night on a stage in the fields, to protect the 

 corn from beasts. The Paindu-vdiidlu, a class of pariars, weave their 

 garments; which, as worn by the men, are a cubit and three quarters in 

 breadth, and sixteen or seventeen cubiis in length. The women's cloth 

 is not quite so long. As they are very undeanly in their persons, so 

 they emit an offensive smell. The men wear a crown-tufc of hair. They 

 wear finger rings of brass, or other mixed metal ; some have them of sil- 

 ver. Their language isdistinot; and if they speak Telugu, it is with an 

 imperfect utterance. Their mirriages are fixed, as to time, by an astro- 

 loger whose influence extends over from forty to fifty villages. Some 

 specification is given of their miarriage-ceremonies ; the eating of flesh, 

 and drinking strong liquor, being a part. They have some other cere- 

 monies, connected with the age of their female OiTspring. Their pusari 

 is termed J a7il vcindu ; the numen worshipped is called Jacara, a sylvan 

 god. In order to promote the growth of grain in their fields, they give a 

 portion of grain from a former crop to the Jani, who then performs a 

 ceremony, by o.Tering some leaves, and anointing the image of Jacara. 

 The same thiag is practised, tlo-ough fear of tigers, for the sake of pro- 

 tection. The caste-thread is not worn by any among this people; with 

 one exception, in the case of Vencatapati raju of Pdhi-conda-vira Goi- 

 tam; who, exercismg kindly power, puts on the thread, but without any 

 attendant ceremony. The Condu vandla are also termed Jdtdpa doralu ; 



