MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR. 395 
akid they appear never to have been permitted to carry arms. The CHAPTER 
Idigas can read and write accompts. Although they eat animal 
food, they are prohibited from drinking even palm-wine. The men July 25, &c.. 
are allowed a plurality of wives, but can divorce them for no cause 
except adultery. Adultresses and widows cannot marry again ; 
they may, however, become concubines, or Cutigas. All the de- 
scendants of these form an inferior kind of breed, called also Cuti- 
gas , with whom those who are descended from chaste mothers will 
not intermarry. The women sell the produce of their husband’s 
labour, and manage household affairs ; but never toil in the fields. 
Even after the age of puberty they continue to be marriageable, 
and are not permitted to bury themselves with their husband’s bo- 
dies. They have no hereditary chiefs ; but the renter, with a council 
as usual, settles all disputes, and punishes by fine all transgressions 
against the rules of cast. At their marriages, and at the monthly 
and annual ceremonies performed in commemoration of their de- 
ceased parents, the Panchdnga , or astrologer, reads Mantrams . 
Their Guru is of the cast called Satanana, and is named Cadry Sin - 
gala. Near this place he has two houses, and his office being here- 
ditary, he is a married man. He reads to them the history of the 
gods, written in the Telinga language ; gives them holy water, 
admonishes them to wear the mark of Vishnu on their foreheads* 
and from each person he receives two Fanams as charity. His visits 
are about once in two years. With such a Guru , the principal ob- 
ject of their worship is of course Vishnu ; but they also offer sacri- 
fices to the Salctis , and to the Virika, or men who, on account of 
chastity, have been sainted. All other good men are supposed to 
become powerful spirits, but are not objects of worship. Bad men 
are punished in hell. This cast do not take the vow of DdsSri. 
The Curubaru are an. original cast of Karnata, and, wherever Customs of 
they are settled, retain its language. They are divided into two properiyto^ 
tribes, that have no communion, and which are called Handy Guru - called. 
baru } and Curubaru proper. These last again are divided into a 
