OF BHARATAVARSA OR INDIA. 
145 
of the Koraga when he encounters a stranger in his jungles. 
The Kodaga has a comparatively fair complexion, while 
the skin of the Koraga is black ; the former delights to 
cover himself with handsome clothes, the latter prefers rags 
or a state bordering on nudity ; while the Koraga woman is 
even contented with a partial covering of interwoven leaves. 
In spite of his poverty and wretchedness, the Koraga is a 
contented man and lives happy and contented so long as 
nobody interferes with him, and of course so long as he 
can satisfy his hunger and thirst. He likes meat and is 
fond of spirits. The dead are buried according to Mr. N. 
Eaghavendra Eow, but burnt according to Dr. Francis 
Buchanan, Mr. N. Eaghavendra Eow asserts that the 
owe their notable position to the special favor of the British Government. 
Their presumption to be of Eskatria or Rajput descent may flatter their 
natural pride, bat has not the slightest foundation in history or tradition, 
or in the evidence derived from their language or social and religious insti- 
tutions and customs. Lieutenant Connor, whose professional duties brought 
him into daily intercourse with them for a period of two years, 1815-1817, en- 
joyed the most favorable opportunities to form an unbiassed opinion of the 
Coorgs before any European influence had affected their habits and social 
position. He rejects the supposition of their being a division of the Nairs 
as ha's"ing ' no pretension to rank with the higher classes of the Soodra tribe.' " 
P. 38 : " The Coorgs are generally charged with the practice of polyandry, 
and Lieutenant Connor writes of the custom as an undoubted fact, the reason 
for which he fails to see. He states, ' The Codugus generally marry after 
the age of puberty, the nuptials of the eldest brother are first celebrated, 
and the lady in all cases yields a consent to become the wife of the younger 
ones, who, when circumstances will permit, are married successively, their 
spouses being in turn not less accommodating.' Upon a careful and confi- 
dential examination of the matter, I have come to the conclusion that, what- 
ever may have been the custom of bygone ages, or whatever form it may 
have assumed, — Thornton in his history of the British Empire alluding to 
the marriage laws of the Coorgs, called it ' communism of wives ' — there is no 
such thing now practised amongst the Coorgs as a 'general usage.' " P. 42 ; 
" Eegarding the religion of the Coorgs the general statement already given 
needs some special remarks. Considering their intimate connection with 
local and neighbouring castes and tribes, it is but natural that their religious 
practices, which originally stood on the same level with those of the Koleyas, 
viz., demon and ancestor worship, have been much influenced by Malayalim, 
Tulu, Kanarese, Brahmanical and Lingayet superstitions. Malayalis have 
made themselves indispensable at demon and ancestor worship; Tulus have 
smuggled in their demons and are in requisition as pnjaris ; Mysoreans at 
certain times of the year carry Mari Amma shrines through the cointry to 
