208 
ON THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS 
Bara-malial. The Pujari of the Betta Kxirumbas in Kurg 
is also an Okkaliga. The last Census Report fixes their 
number at 711,622 souls. The Mysore Okkaligas have some 
peculiar customs, not the least extraordinary among them 
being that which prevails among the women of the Morasa 
Okkaligas, who cut off the ring and little fingers of their right 
hand, before they celebrate the marriage of their eldest 
daughter.i"^ 
The shepherds are known as Kurwnha Idaiyas, Kurumha 
Gollas, occasionally also as Kuri Kitrumhas and even as 
Hande Kurumhas. Others keep pigs, this do the widely- 
spread Handi-Kurvmbas, who must not be confounded with 
the Hande Kuxumbas ; the Pal or Sal Kurumhas sell milk ; the 
Ka^nhali Kurumbas weave and sell woollen blankets, which 
they themselves wear in a peculiar fashion ; and the Ciinndmhii 
Kurumbas prepare and sell lime. The Kurumha Vedas or 
hunting Kurumbas are well known in the Tamil countr\","° 
while the Ane Kurumhas seem to have obtained their name 
from their cleverness in way-laying and hunting elephants. 
The Kalla-Kurumhas lived not so long ago an easy life as 
thieves and robbers. Most likely they formed part of the 
warrior class and took to marauding in times of peace for 
want of other occupation, and in order to support them- 
See Dr. Buchanan's Travels, vol. I, pp. ISO, ISl : '• The Euddi are 
one of the tribes of Sildra caste, which being much employed in agricultui-e 
are called WocuUyaru in the language of Karnata, and Cunabi in that of the 
Decany Mussulmans. . . They are divided into two sects by a difference of 
religion; one party worshipping Vishnu, and the other Sit a ; but this does 
not prevent intermarriages. Those who worship Siva are followers of a kind 
of Jangamas ; but do not wear the Ziiiija. The people with whom I con- 
versed seemed to consider them as the same with the JaiiQamas of the 
Pancham Banijigas, but this caste informed me, that they were distinct, and 
that the Gurus of the Ritddi were the same with those of the Curuharu, 
whose chief resides at Cangundy in the Bara-mahal." Compare ]\lr. L. 
Rice's Mysore and Coorg, vol. I, pp. 337, 33S, 340. vol. Ill, pp. 208. 209, also 
tho Ethnological Compendium of the Eev. G. Eichter, p. 13, and pp. 23(5-240. 
n" See ilackenzie Collection, No. 11, CM. 765, Sect., new copy, vol. Ill, 
p. 298, where the Anda, Idaiga, Eamhali, Cunndmbu and Veda-Eurumhas are 
mentioned, and also No. 14, CM. 768, Section VII. 
