4 



giiglit tax, and are bound to aid the capture of Elephants, for which 

 they are remunerated. Active in clearing lands, they are employed 

 in this way by the inhabitants of the Plain, but naturally supine, 

 necessity alone impels thena to industry. 



Oorallays — The distinguishing characteristics of the Arreearaars, 

 are less remarkable than the Oorallays, who wander over the Thod- 

 huwuUay Hills. Their numbers are very limited, some belong- to 

 the Circar, and are under a Kyeaulchy or Manager, who rarely 

 fails to make the most of his authority over them. They were (as 

 also some other of the hill tribes) at a remote date, the particular 

 property of the Alwanchayree Tumbracui. Their singular aversion 

 to the BufFaloe, whose approach they anxiously avoid, is supposed to 

 mark their purity as a Caste, which ranks with the Moodavenmars. 

 They are expert in the use of the Bow, and particularly attached 

 to their Dogs, who share all their toils ; they pay much respect to 

 parental authority, are timid, mild, but even less amicable than the 

 other tribes. 



Proedial Slaves — Proedial Slavery'^ is common to a considerable 

 portion of the Western Coast, but its extent throughout this princi- 

 pality is comparatively greater, and the prejudices of the people ren- 

 ders the degradation it entails more complete. Those subject to 

 proedial bondage are known under the general term of Sherramuk- 

 kul (Children of Slavery) their name is connected with every thing 

 revolting, shunned as if infected with the plague, the higher classes 

 view their presence with a mixture of alarm and indignation ; and 

 even Towns and Markets would be considered as defiled by their 

 approach. The Sherramukkul are attached to the Glebe, but real 

 property in absolute Market value not much above the Cattle united 

 with them in the same bondage, and greatly below them in estima- 

 tion. But though a slavery deserving commiseration, it is by no 

 means the most rigid form of that wretched state, they are treated 

 with a capricious indifference or rigour, much of this arises from the 

 prejudices of ' "^^girs, the Christians have no such excuse, but 

 though divideu . they agree in oppression. Personal chas- 



tisement is not often ini;.. xl, but they experience little sympathy. 

 In sickness they are wholly left to nature, perhaps dismissed to po- 

 verty, and in age often abandoned. 



Manumission is rarely practsied, or even desired, indeed as a 

 Polayen never possesses property of any kind, his freedom could only 

 be productive of starvation ; or a change of servitude,- which occurs 



* It is nearly unknown in Nunjaynaad. 



