OLD GRAVES IN THE COIMBA'l'OEE DISTRICT. 
19 
deeper, and tliere was no shelf to tlie southern compartment. 
Both cells as usual had a small hole in their eastern wall 
which led — on removing a stone slab^ to a front yard as it 
were also shut in by stones, but not roofed. One curious 
feature of this grave, was that each of the stone slabs 
which shut the eastern entrance holes, was held inposition 
by a heavy block of stone — more or less round and measur- 
ing some 2 1, by Ih by 1^ feet. 
By the side of the stone block which closed the northern 
cell, were the remains of an iron spear, much eaten away 
by rust. A few fragments of pottery, and bones only were 
found in the mud, no entire pots remaining. In the three- 
foot partition to the northern cell, was a hole, rising from 
the stone floor, about a foot, and leading under the stone 
shelf, which thus formed a sort of cupboard. This feature 
I have not observed before in any kuris and it is difiicult 
to see what purpose it can have served. The use of the 
large stone blocks to close the entrances seems to dispose 
finally of the people^s idea that a race of pigmies lived in 
these cells, and passed in and out ; for no one — pigmy or 
full grown — could find his way out against such blockading. 
To my mind, the kuris are beyond doubt graves, dating 
from time when sun-worship was in vogue. Hence the inva- 
riable eastward position. It would also seem that ancestor 
worship — some early form probably of the present Hindu 
custom — was practised. It is probable that once a year or 
on stated occasions the relations of the deceased would visit 
the grave, and ofier libations through the holes in the eastern 
wall — which would be left for that purpose. Closing them 
with stone slabs and blocks would effectually keep out wild 
animals, while leaving them accessible to the relations when 
required. 
The grave was clearly sank in the ground, and not origin- 
ally built up and subsequently buried by lapse of time, for 
we came upon the natural rock some 3 feet below the cap 
