OF BH4RATAVARSA OB INDIA. 
201 
found in the Nilagiri Mountains, are so called from mullu, 
thorn, as they live among the jungle ; if so, the term is to 
some extent synonymous with Kddu Kurumbas. Some think 
that the word mullu may apply to their arrows, as these 
sturdy, well-made mountaineers are never seen without their 
bows and arrows. As regards their neighbours whom the 
Eev. F. Metz, otherwise a great authority on this subject, 
calls Naya Kurumbas, and Mr, Grigg Ndi/a or Bog Kurumbas, 
I have ascertained on reliable authority that their name is 
in reality not Nay a but Nay alia Kurumbas, aud that they 
are held in respect by the neighbouring tribes. The Mullu 
districts, and are of Kamata descent. . . All those who have settled ia that 
(Marattah) country being horsemen, they are called Handay Ravalar, a name 
pronounced Eawut by the Mussulmans, and by them frequently applied 
to every kind of Curubas . . . The deities, whom this caste consider as 
their peculiar objects of worship, are Bira Deva, and his sister Mayava. 
Bira is, they say, the same with Iswara, and resides in Kailasa . . There 
is only one temple of Bira, which is situated on Curi Betta, or the sheep 
hiU, on the banks of the Krishna, near the Poonah. There is also only one 
temple dedicated to Mayava. It is near the Krishna, at a place named 
Chinmli. Once in ten years, every man of the caste ought to go to these 
two temples ; but a great many do not find leisure for the performance 
of this duty. These deities do not receive bloody sacrifices, but are worship- 
ped by ofi'erings of fruit and flowers. The priests (Pujaris) at both these 
temples are Curuharu, and, as the ofiiee is hereditary, they of course marrj'. . 
Besides the worship of the deities proper to the caste, the Curubas offer 
sacrifices to some of the destructive spirits, such as Diirgawa, Jaeani, and 
Barama Deva. . . The Curubaru have no trouble from Fysachi ; and ordinary 
Butas, or devils, they believe, are expelled by prayer addressed to the deities 
of the caste. At Sujiny, in the Harapunya-hully district, resides Ravana 
Siddheswara, the Guru of this caste." In bis description of Malabar, 
Buchanan speaks in vol. II., pp. 156-158 of the Curumbalum or Catalun 
in Kurumbaranadu : " Another caste of Malay ala, condemned to slavery, 
is called in the singular Catal or Curiimbal, and in the plural Catalam or 
Gurumbalun. They reckon themselves higher than the Churman, Polian, 
or Parian. The deity is worshipped by this caste under the name of 
Malayadevan, or the god of the hill, and is represented by a stone placed on 
a heap of pebbles. This place of worship is on a hill, named Tuntta Malay, 
near Sivapurata, in Curumbara Nada. To this place the Catalmi annually 
go, and offer their prayers, coco-nuts, spirituous liquors, and such like, but 
make no sacrifices, nor have they any kind of priest. They pray chiefly 
for their own worldly happiness, and for that of their relations. The spirits 
of good men after death are supposed to have the power of inflicting disease, 
and are appeased by offerings of distilled and fermented liquors, which the 
votary drinks after he has called upon the spirit to take such part of them 
