20 



Report Oil ilie Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



[Jan. 



section is not without use. It seems to me that the Hindus had hut 

 imperfectly penetrated the mountain-fastnesses; still possessed by abori- 

 ginal mountaineers. 



Section 5. Account of the Maliyasavarulu, in the neighbourhood of 

 the Jayapur district. 



These are a people with small eyes, noses, ears, and very large faces, 

 (Hun, Tartar, or Cahnuc, class). Tbeiv hair is thickly matted toge- 

 ther. They bind either a cord, or a narrow bit of cioih around their 

 head, and in it stick the feather of a stork, or of a peaeo k, and also 

 wild flowers, found in the forests. They go about in th^;^ high winds, 

 and hot sun-shine, without in 3onvenience. They sleep on beds formed 

 of mountain-stones. Their skin is as hard as the skin of the large 

 guana-lizard (rough, indurated, not delicate). They build houses over 

 mountain-torrents, previously throwing trees across the chasmis ; and 

 these houses are in the midst of forests of fifty, or more miles, in extent. 

 The reason of choosing such situations is stated to be, in order that they 

 may the more readily escape by passing underneath their houses, and 

 through the defile, in the event of any disagreement, and hostile attack, 

 in reference to other rulers, or neighbours. They traffic with the grain, 

 which they raise ; and purchase tobacco leaf, and various other trifles, in 

 return. They cultivate independently, and pay tax or tribute to no one. 

 Each one has a very small field ; and they are obliged to make up their 

 subsistence by other means : among which catching hares is mentioned. 

 If the zemindar of the neighbourhood trouble them for tribute, they go 

 in a body to his house, by night ; set it on fire, plunder, and kill : and 

 then retreat with their entire households into the wilds and fastnesses. 

 They do in like manner v/ith any of the zemindar's subordinates, if trou- 

 blesome to them. If they are courted, and a compact made with them, 

 they will then abstain from any wrong or disturbance. If the zemindar, 

 unable to bear with them, raise troops, and proceed to destroy their 

 houses, they escape underneath, by a private way as above mentioned. 

 The invaders usually burn the houses, and retire. If the zemindar> 

 forego his demands, and make an agreement with them, they rebuild 

 their houses, in the same situations, and then vender assistance to him. 



In their marriage ceremonies they consult the Succii-divi, or astrolo- 

 ger, and these are similar, on the whole to those detailed with reference 

 to the two former classes, in the two last sections. They seem to be 

 only a variation of the same species. 



