92 
ON THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS 
Bombay Presidency. I am well aware of the fact that the 
term Gaudn has often been derived from the Sanskrit go, 
cow ; but this I take to be a wrong derivation.^- 
The name is found in fact all over India. That the terms 
Grauda and Gonda are synonymous is proved by the fact that 
the well-known district and its capital in Oudh are known 
both as Gronda and Grauda. True^ the term Grond signifies 
now only a section of the Gaudian population, but this 
affects neither its etymology nor the point at issue. On the 
contrary the common origin of both terms explains why one 
can be used for the other, or both for one and the same place 
or individual. 
It is a curious coincidence that the national division of 
the Indian population into Gaudians and Dravidians was 
'2 There are altogether 263,497 Gaudas and 161,353 Gaudes in India. 
About the Gaudas see Dr. Francis Buchanan's Journey from Madras through 
the countries of Mysore, Canara and Malabar, second edition, vol. I, pp. 187, 
207, 208, 274, 338, 340, 367, 395 and 396. On p. 187 he remarks: "The 
Gauda, called corruptly Gaur, and in the Mussulman language the PotaU, 
is the chief Ryut, or farmer, in the -village, and receives the -n-hole dues of 
government. . The office of Gauda was originally hereditary ; hut now these 
persons are appointed by the Amildar, and continue in place so long as they 
keep up the collections to their supposed value, or until some other man im- 
dertakes, by bringing a greater number of farmers, to make the revenue more 
productive. The Gauda settles all disputes, in the same manner as here- 
ditary chiefs of casts do." On pp. 207, 208, stands : " The Gaudas here 
(in Colar) rent the villages, and every year make a new settlement with the 
Amildar ; while they receive authority to take from the cidtivators as much 
as they legally can. Some Gaudas rent two or three Gramas, or villages ; but 
to each there is an hereditary Gauda, who receives the title." See p. 338 : 
" In all this part (BeUuru) of the country it has been customary, when a 
new village was founded, for the person appointed to be hereditaiy Gauda, 
or chief, to place a large stone in or near the village. This stone is called 
the Curuvu Callu, or calf-stone, and is considered as representing the Grama 
Devaru, or god of the village. The hereditary Gauda always officiates 
as Pujnri or priest ; and at the annual village feast, after ha-v-ing rubbed it 
with oil, offers a sacrifice, with which he feasts his relations and the chief 
men of the place." On p. 274 we read: "The proper Curuhas have 
hereditary chiefs, who are called Gaudas, whether they be head-men of 
■villages or not, and possess the usual jurisdiction." See also p. 380. The 
title Gaudan is esteemed in Mi,-sore. About the narte Kaundar, see p. 127 
in Part I. As Gauda so has Gauli been derived from oo, cow, compare 
p. 117. About Gaula see Mysore r>iseriplio)is of L. Rice, pp. 20, 45, &c. 
