1837.] 



An Account of the Tribe of Mhadeo K&lies. 



07 



amby mohur. Krishen Sail — this is a coarser description of rice, and 

 rather dark. It is called the black rice, and sells about twenty-two 

 seers for the rupee. Kummade — this is a large grained rice, it possess- 

 es a high flavour, and is much sought after, as it is in general cheap, sell- 

 ing about twenty-four seers for the rupee. Raie Bhogg— -this is a rather 

 common rice, grain of a medium size, has little flavour, sells at the price 

 of the Kummode rice. Sukwar rice — this grain is of a medium size, 

 has no flavour, but is rich and glutinous, sells about twenty seers the 

 rupee. Wurrunggull — this is a rather large grain, is coarse and taste- 

 less, sells about twenty seers the rupee. Takkia — this is a large coarse 

 grain. It is very insipid, sells from twenty-eight to thirty-two seers 

 the rupee. Some of the poorer Kolies make it into bread. Dhoull 

 rice — this resembles the takkia rice very much in being coarse and 

 tasteless, and sells at the same price. 



These three latter grains are sown on the mallzumeen, where it can 

 be irrigated by some passing stream, otherwise they must depend on 

 the monsoon rains. These coarse kinds of rice are sown early in June, 

 after the first fall of rain, and ripen in September, and are consequently 

 called hullwa, meaning early ; while the finer kinds take longer time 

 to attain maturity, and are called gurwah, or slow. They are also sown 

 in June, and pulled up in July or beginning of August ; the roots hav- 

 ing been well washed, they are replanted in the bhautt churries, or 

 fields prepared for their reception, and cut down in November. The 

 operation of transplanting the rice into the new fields, is not only an 

 important, but' a tiresome and most fatiguing one. The new fields re- 

 quire being well soaked with water, and the earth softened, so that 

 when the hand is placed on the surface it produces an undulation like a 

 bog. The men and women employed provide themselves with small 

 stools to sit on in the midst of this sheet of mud. It frequently rains 

 all day, and they are teased in a distressing manner during the time by 

 musquitoes, gnats, &e. A few weeks after this, when it becomes neces- 

 sary to weed the rice, all engaged in the labour keep a cow dung bratty 

 (cake) burning near each, that the smoke may assist in driving away 

 these tormenting flies. Men and women use a description of covering of 

 leaves and split bamboos, made to fit the body, and termed yearlah, to 

 shelter themselves on this and all occasions from the rains. While 

 weeding, it requires no small ingenuity to keep the piece of cowdung 

 burning, owing to the rain and wind : they therefore are frequently 

 obliged to keep it inconveniently close to them. 



The Kolies dispose of the different kinds of finer rice to the Bunniahs 

 or grain merchants, retaining only a very small quantity for their own 

 consumption, on the occasion of particular festivals, and when visited 

 by any friends to whom they are anxious to show attention. 



Nagly (Cynosurus Coracanus) — this small grain is sown broad 

 cast, chiefly on the rough ground (dully), prepared for it with the hoe, 



