3 



are small in person, are often of a meagre appearance, but have the 

 usual Hindu lineaments, except the 



Cowders — Whose flattened nose, robust make, dark complexion, 

 occasionally curly hair, and large white teeth, filed into the form 

 of a Saw, (some other classes of hill people observe a similar prac- 

 tice) give them an African appearance, though their features are by 

 no means so harsh — their hardiness has given rise to the observation 

 amongst their neighbours, that the Cowder and Caad Auney, wild 

 Elephant, is much the same sort of Animal. They inhabit the 

 Kodagerry Hills, bordering the Northern parts of Cochin, and 

 engage themselves to the renters (belonging to Coimbatoor) of those 

 Forests, whose productions they alone can collect. The Cowders 

 are infinitely better situated than the 



Vaishwans — Occupying the Iddiara and Mulliatoor Hills, a mi- 

 serable puny race, vitiated by use of Opium ; they are employed in 

 the Timber Department, and the profit of their labours dissipated 

 in the purchase of this pernicious drug; they are ever in the ex- 

 tremes of stupid langour or inebriety. 



Moodavenmars — Secluded amongst the Chenganaad and Neerea- 

 mungalum Hills, and nominally dependant on the Pagodas bearing 

 those names, the Moodavenmars (or Male Addeens) have not been 

 corrupted by an intercourse with the plain. They rank high in 

 point of precedency, were originally Vellaulars, tradition represent- 

 ing them as having accompanied some of the Madura Princes to 

 those Hills. — They are somewhat more civilized than the other Hill 

 tribes ; at least the comparative regard they shew their Women 

 would induce such a belief. 



Arreeamars — The Arreeamars to the South called Vailamars, 

 often Male Arrisens (Lords of the Hills) hold the chief place as to 

 Caste. They occupy the hilly tracts bordering on the inhabited 

 parts, and are less migratory than the other tribes. The Hills are 

 shared amongst them, each Family having a certain extent as its 

 patrimony. To the spontaneous produce of their wild domain, they 

 add such as they can collect in the more mountainous and distant 

 parts, a rude and lazy culture ekes out a scanty subsistence. Their 

 Houses are picturesquely scattered (sometimes in little knots, but 

 usually distant from each other) over the Hills, are sheltered by 

 some projecting crag, and embowered in Plantain Trees, which in- 

 termingled with a few Areka and Jack are also seen strewn along 

 its vallies. The Hill and in some measure its inhabitants are often 

 the property of a Pagoda or Junmeecars, they are subject to some 



