60 



The Neilgherry Mountains. 



[No. S4, 



perpetually filled ^vilh the dread of evil spirits hovering around them, 

 and ever haunted with fear of the " Coorunaburs" (a tribe to be 

 hereafter described), to whose necromancy and demoniac influence 

 they attribute all accidents and infirmities which befall them- 

 selves, their families, cattle or crops. To such an extent is this 

 feeling carried, that murders of the most brutal description have been 

 known to be perpetrated upon the unfortunate Corumburs, for which, 

 although in general it is found difficult to obtain evidence to con- 

 vict the perpetrators, Burghers have been tried and executed, much 

 to their indignation and astonishment; since the principle inculcated 

 amongst them appears to be, that to sacrifice a Ooorumbur (and in 

 some cases whole families of them), through whose preternatural 

 agency disease has been brought into a village, or murrain amongst 

 their cattle, is the only way in which the evil can be averted, and 

 the anger of the deity of destruction appeased. Yet notwithstanding 

 this intuitive horror of their influence over the common affairs of their 

 stand in great awe of ^i^'^^, t^^ey regard the Coorumburs with the ut- 

 the Coorumburs. ^^^^j. consideration in many other respects, look- 

 ing upon them as priests, or rather enchanters, whose favor must be 

 propitiated to secure their intercession with the geniuses of good 

 and evil in their favor. 



For example, in the spring when a field is ready for the seed, the 

 w^ork of husbandry cannot proceed until a Ooorumbur has been sum- 

 moned, a kid sacrificed to a goddess equivalent to Ceres, the soil 

 blessed, and the first handful of seed scattered over it by him. In 

 like manner, a Ooorumbur must drive the first plough a few paces, be- 

 fore their work of tillage commences ; and at harvest time not a grain 

 or ear is reaped until a small sheaf has been cut by a Ooorumbur. 

 For these offices, the Coorumburs receive gifts in money and produce, 

 and finding their interest in the existence of these superstitions, 

 doubtless encourage them by all the means in their power which they 

 can safely employ. The Burghers seem to live in great harmony 

 amongst themselves, ruled by their head men and elders. They are 

 fond and careful of their families, and pay great respect to the aged, 

 but in character they a})pear deceitful, ungrateful, and false. 



Their women and children all labour in the fields at the time of 

 harvest, as well as in preparing the ground for seed ; and by this 

 combination of industry it is easy to foresee to what a successful ex- 

 tent their farming operations might be carried, if a better system of 

 husbandry could be introduced amongst them. The total number^of 



