200 
ON THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS 
I Lave been informed that there exist as many as 23 
Kurumba subdivisions. 
The Mackenzie Manuscripts contain in this respect valu- 
able information about the Tamil Kurumbas, while Dr. 
Francis Buchanan supplies interesting accounts of the 
Kanarese Kurumbas. Among such distinctions may be 
mentioned the Malai or Betta Kurumbas, who are confined 
to the mountains, and the Kddu Kurunibas, who dweU. in 
forests. It is probable that the Mullu Kurumbas, who are 
but she is never supposed to do her votaries any good. She is not, ho-wever, 
appeased by bloody sacrifices. There is a temple dedicated to her near 
Nunjinagodu ; but there is no occasion for the ofiering being made at that 
place. There is also in this neighbourhood (of Kegodu Bevana Cotay) an- 
other rude tribe of Ciirubaru, called Betta, or Malaya, both words signifying 
mountain, the one in the Karndta, and the other in the Tamil language. . . 
They are not so wretched nor ill-looking as the Cad'' Curuharu, but are of 
diminutive stature. They live in poor huts near the -s-illages, and the 
chief employment of the men is the cutting of timber, and making of baskets 
.... The Betta, Curuharu have an hereditary chief called Ijyamana, who 
lives at Priya-pattana. . . In this tribe, the concubines, or Cuti^a^, are 
women that prefer another man to theix husband, or widows who do not 
wish to relinquish carnal enjoj-ment. Their children are not considered as 
illegitimate. 
" Crirls are not considered as marriageable until after the age of puberty, 
custom that by the higher orders is considered as a beastly depravity. The 
men may take several wives, but never marry a woman of the same f:imily 
with themselves in the male line. The Betta Curuharu never intoxicate 
themselves ; but are permitted to eat every kind of anim;d food except beef, 
and they have no objection to carrion. They never take the vow of Daseri, 
and none of them can read. Some of them bum, and others bury their dead. 
They understand nothing of a future state. The god of the caste is Ejuruppa, 
who seems to be the siime with Hanumanfa, the servant of Rama, but they 
never pray to this last-mentioned deity although they sometimes address 
Siva. To the god of their caste they offer fruit, and a little money ; they 
never sacrifice to the Saktis. Their Ouru, they say, is of the caste TToti- 
meru, and from their description would appear to be of those people called 
Satananas." On p. 3S9 : " Bhairau-a Devaru is the god of the Curuhas, and 
is a malevolent m:ile spirit .... The Pujari, or priest, is a Hal Cutiibaru, 
who can neither read nor write." Compare further vol. II, pp. 3, 42, 433- 
43C : " The Curuharu are of two kinds ; those properly so called, and those 
named Eaiidy or Cumly Curuharu. The Curuharu proper, and the GoahrH, 
arc sometimes cultivators, and possess the largest flocks ; but they never 
make blankets. The Haudy Curuhas abstain entirely from culti^•^^tion, and 
employ tliomsclves in tending their flocks, and manufactiuing the wool. . . The 
Handy Curuharu . . . are a caste liviiiu; in the Earapuuya-hully and CliatraM 
