MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR. 
7 
The Dhui, or sour curds, is made of buffalo’s milk ; and is much CHAPTER 
superior, he says, to that of Calcutta , and considerably cheaper. On 
account of the comparatively high value of provisions, he has 
hitherto been rather depressed in spirits. 
Throughout the Carnatic the ass is a very common animal. The Asses, 
breed is as small as in Bengal ; but there is a singular variety among 
them in their colour ; some are of the usual ash colour, whilst 
others are almost black, in which case the cross on their shoulders 
disappears. Milk-white, asses are also to be found, but they are 
rare.'" These are not varieties as to species; for black individuals 
have sometimes ash-coloured colts, and, on the contrary, black colts 
are sometimes produced by ash-coloured dams. They are kept by 
five classes of people, who are all of low cast, for the higher ranks 
disdain the use of an animal so impure. The ass is kept, 1st. by 
washermen, called Venar ; 2d. by a people called Caravar , that 
carry salt from the sea-coast to the interior parts of the country ; 
3d. by tinkers, called Cunnar , who go up and down selling brass 
utensils ; 4th. by people called Vaylacarar , who sell the glass rings 
worn on the wrists by the women of this country ; lastly, by a 
wretched kind of people called Chensu Carir. 
I have as yet obtained but an imperfect account of this tribe. They ChensuCarir , 
are said to have neither house nor cultivation ; but catch birds and 
game, part of which they sell for rice. One common article of 
their food is the white ant, or Termes . They travel about from place * 
to place, conveying their baggage and children on asses. Every 
man has also a cow, instructed like a stalking horse, by means 
of which he approaches his game, and shoots it with arrows. 
The Chensu Carir, who preserve their native manners, and never 
come among the villages, are said to speak an unintelligible jargon, 
and have no clothing hut the leaves of trees. Those, who oc- 
casionally wander about in the cultivated country, understand 
many Telinga words, and wear a small slip of cloth to cover their 
nakedness. 
