i06 Topographical Report on the Neilgherries, [JuM 



The Koters are the artizans of the hills, and have a celebrity with 

 the people in the low country as manufacturers of niamoties, and other 

 iron tools of a coarse kind. In their habits they resemble the Bur- 

 ghers, but are still more filthy and offensive in their persons: this is 

 ascribed to the use of carrion as food, as they claim all carcasses of dead 

 animals for their perquisite, in addition to which they indulge in the 

 use of opium. Their houses are built like those of the Burghers, and 

 they cultivate a small portion of land adjoining their villages, for their 

 own use alone. Their temples are like those of the Todars, only that 

 the ends of the edifice are not closed, and therefore they resemble an 

 open shed, in which there is no image or symbol of worship. In one 

 Koter village I observed the secure way in which they stored their 

 grain, which is also known in other parts of the east. The grain is 

 put into a vault, excavated in the ground near the house, which is 

 about eight feet deep and twelve or fourteen feet in diameter. The 

 entrance being a hole in the top, just wide enough to admit a man with 

 ease. In one village there is a large stone, on which there is a rude 

 carving of lines, to which they ascribe the power of healing sore legs, 

 by merely placing the sore spot on the stone. The history of this 

 carving they could not give any account of, more than of themselves, 

 in which respect all the inhabitants of the hills are equally deficient, 

 as they are all ignorant of letters, and have no symbols to record or 

 convey their ideas. All that they could say of the lines was that they 

 were carved long ago, by some very clever men, and they expressed 

 great astonishment that a copy could be taken. 



Their dead are burned with the same ceremonies as those of the 

 Burghers, with regard to dancing, singing, &c. Should the deceased 

 have been in good circumstances, a cow is sacrificed in front of the 

 body, and afterwards all his cattle are made to graze round it. With- 

 out reference to the month in which a death occurs, December is fixed 

 for the performance of another ceremony, in which month the ap- 

 pointed day is made known to all the people, who come with sawmay 

 rice, and such things as can be obtained from the villages. The near 

 relatives bring one or two buffaloes, or as many as they can afford, 

 together with the rice; all these are taken to a wood, with much noise 

 of music, singing and dancing. On their arrival at the place they kill 

 the buffaloes, and put on new cloths, and the men and women dance; 

 they then dress their rice and beef, eat and return to their dwellings. 



The annual festival in honour of their idol is celebrated in the month 

 of February, and on the day appointed they collect together, bringing 



