a4 RECORDS OF THE BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA. 
moved every few years to follow their shifting cultivation, or abandoned in 
haste with the appearance of epidemic. diseases. 
They, like the next race, cultivate several crops: Andropogon Sorghwim 
Brot., ZHleusine coracana Gaertn., Amarantus paniculatus Linn,, and 
Ipomoea Batatas Poir, They are also. suspected of growing “ Ganja” 
(Canabis sativa Linn.), the cultivation of which is prohibited, but-no real — 
evidence ofthis is forthcoming. 
They will eat thie flesh of the Indian Bison (Gaur) which neither’ the 
Kadirs nor the Muduvas will touch, as the latter hold that animal in some’ 
reverence as being of the nature of a bull or cow, in spite of which they 
‘will assist the sportsman in stalking these fine beasts ; once killed, however, 
they will not approach within 5 yards of the carcase. 
The Malasas are similar in many ways to the Pulaiyas but are in 
closer contact with the people of the plains, often living close to them and 
performing agricultural labour and other servitude for them. They will 
not, however, move far from the foot of the hills. 
Finally; the Muduvas, who hold themselves as the aristocracy of the 
hills and occupy among tliese hill tribes a position analogous to that of the 
Brahmins among the Hindus. They. are supposed to be descendants of 
plains people who fled to the hills before thé Mahomedan invaders of Tippoo. 
They are somewhat cleaner, more intelligent and more industrious than the 
‘other tribes, but otherwise do not materially differ from them in mode of 
There is also a small settlement of Irulas near Paralai, but these people 
were brought over from the Nilgiris for work on coffee plantations. 
‘Fauna. As implied by the name of the range (Anaimalai is a_ literal 
Tamil translation of Elephant Hill) the Indian elephant abounds in these 
hills, They are little molested and have become a source of anxiety to the 
planters and cultivators and are frequently dangerous to human life. A few 
are captured every year in pits by. the officers of the Forest Department, 
but this does not affect. their numbers perceptibl ‘ae 
_ The Indian Bison or Gaur (Gaviens gaurus) is common both in the 
lower moist forests and on the high grassy downs, where it grazes almost — 
side by side with large herds of the Nilgiti goat (Hemitragus hylocrius)« — 
“f a not. very common, but panthers are more frequent and black 
Se ee ed wots och: a hy Z 
_, Other animals of interest to the sportsman are’: the sambar, spotted- 
» Sloth bear, wild dog, often met in very large packs, wild pig and 
mouse deer. Small game is not at all abundant. ihe dig 
: aur, (Of special. interest may be meritioned the’ hamadryad 
\ bungarus) of which a specimen 11’ 94” long was killed at Attakatti, 
