OF BHARATAVAESA OR INDIA. 
193 
is now known as the name of a district round Kancipuram, 
and that Yalluvanadu is bordering on Kurumbaranadu.-"* 
Before entering further on the discussion concerning the 
ethnology and history of the Kurumbas, I feel it incumbent 
on me to make a few linguistic remarks, which apply to the 
whole chapter. I have already derived their name from 
kuru, an enlarged form of ko (ku), mountain. A Kuruba 
or Kurumba signifies thus a mountaineer. 
The terms Kuruba and Kurumba are originally identical, 
though the one form is in different places employed for the 
other, and has thus occasionally assumed a special local 
meaning. I have previously proved that even the wandering 
Koravas are direct offshoots from the same stem, in spite 
of their being now distinguished from the bulk of the 
Kurubas or Kurumbas by occupation and caste. Mr. H. B. 
Grigg appears to contradict himself when, while speaking 
of the Kurumbas, he says that " in the low country they are 
" called Kurubas or Curubdru, and are divided into numerous 
" families, such as the ' Ane ' or Elephant, Ndya or Dog, 
" M41e or Hill Kurumbas." Such a distinction between 
Mountain-Kuxumbas and Plain-Kurubas cannot be estab- 
lished. The E,ev, Gr. Richter will find it difficult to prove 
that the Kurubas of Mysore are only called so as shepherds, 
and that no connection exists between these Kurubas and the 
Kurumbas. Mr. Lewis Eice calls the wild tribes as well as 
the shepherds Kurubas, but seems to overlook the fact that 
both terms are identical and refer only to the ethnological 
distinction. Instead of Kuruba he uses also occasionally 
Kurumha. In the Tamil language all the Kurumbas are 
103 Or Velanadu. Near Chingleput in Valanadu lies Vallam ■with an 
ancient temple on the top of the hill and Valam in Tanjore is also situated 
on a height. I am not ignorant of the fact that the term Valanadu is 
generally explained as the extensive or excellent district. (See F. M. Ellis' 
Mirdsi Article, p. 229, and Mr. Nelson's Manual, Part II, p. 49.) In Mr. 
Nelson's Manual of Madura the Vallama Nadu in Tanjore is mentioned 
in Part II, on pp. 28 and 57 and " the Vella( Vala) Nadu, near Kaachipuram 
(Conjeveram)," on p. 44, the Vala Nadu or excellent district of Madura 
on p. 49. 
