1847.] 



Neilgherry Hills, S^^c, 



143 



sions daily. After he had devoured the impost, he swallowed the 

 driver, so runs the story, and then with a kick sent the cart back 

 again to bring him a fresh supply the next day. Beeman one of the 

 five Pandoos (the king Arthur of Hindoo romance) travelling in this 

 part of the country came to Moonoor munglum formerly a large 

 city, the ruins of which the natives assert may still be seen on the 

 bank of the river opposite to Metapollium. Struck with the desolate 

 aspect of every thing around him and the sad looks of the inhabitants 

 he inquired into the cause, and resolved to convey himself to the gi- 

 ant the bandy load of provisions, but on the way growing hungry he 

 was fain to appropriate them to his own use. Then substituting 

 mud for the provisions he drove the cart to the Fort. Pukasooren 

 directly he saw what had been brought to him fell upon Beeman, who 

 after a hard contest slew the giant, but not before the latter had pro- 

 nounced a curse upon the whole face of the country over which the 

 shadow of his mountain fell during the day, to the effect that it 

 should be always afflicted with a deadly fever, which, say the natives, 

 has happened ever since. 



On hearing this story related, it occurred to me that the raksi of 

 the legend was in reality some Buddhist or Jain chief whom the 

 Hindus had identified with an evil personage out of one of their 

 books, to render his memory more infamous, and in conformity with 

 their custom of calling the ancient Buddhists raksies or giants, and 

 demons, Ravannah the Buddhist leader of the expedition from Cey- 

 lon to India being considered the king of them. I therefore resolved 

 to pay a visit to the Fort, in the hope I might discover something to 

 confirm my conjecture. Starting in the morning I crossed the deep 

 ravine, and two others tributary to it, at a point half way between 

 Coonoor and Cartary, reaching Hoolicul about eight o'clock. This 

 village derives its name from the circumstance of a chief having in 

 former days slain a tiger here, and set up a sculptured stone to 

 commemorate his exploit. The present inhabitants were unable 

 to show me this relic of antiquity. A remarkable custom prevails 

 amongst the Burgher inhabitants of this, and probably of all 

 parts of the Hills, " it being customary for one who is in want of la- 

 bourers to promise his daughter in marriage to the son, or other re- 

 lative of a neighbour, not in circumstances so flourishing as himself ; 

 and these engagements entered into, the intended bridegroom serves 



