Buchanan’s journey through

648

Tumcuru, Magadi, and Kriflina-giri. The merchants of this place bring their cottonfrom Bangaluru , Hoffo-cotay, and Colar.

Owing to a want of hands, much of the country through which I palfed to-dayis wafle ; but by the way I faw many fortified villages. The country is remarkablybare. The crops of dry grains ought now to cover the ground; owing, however, tothe want of rain, they have not yet begun to fpring.

5th July. — I went four codes to Walur, and by the way paffed through a manufac-turing town named Lacor. It is not quite fo large as Walur; but is a well built mudfort, flrengthened by a fine hedge.

I found the Brahman who had been attentive on my former vifit, and who hadcalled himfeif Amildar, or chief of a diftrift. This I now learned was a falfehood.He was only a parputty, or chief of a fubdivifion ; and his civility feems to havearifen from a defirc of being confidered as a great man, and of receiving attentionsto which he was by no means entitled. Having been now dete&ed, he did every-thing, fo far as he could venture, to crofs my wifhes. This adumption of titles towhich they have no right, is a very common piece of vanity among the natives ofIndia, though it often leads to very fevere mortifications: all the amildars herewifh to be called fubadars, or chiefs of principalities, and.from all their dependentsreceive this title ; but in the Raja’s dominions two perfons only have a juft claim tothis appellation.

Every where in Karnata the palanquin-bearers are of Telinga defcent , and in theirown families fpeak the language of their original country. In the language of Karnatathey are called Teliga Bellas, but in their own dialed! they are called Bui. Havingaflembled thole who live here, they gave me the following account of their call.Their proper occupations, bcfide that of carrying the palanquin, are filhing, and thediftillation of rum. Wealthy men among them become farmers; but none of thecall hire themfelves out as farm-fervants. They are acknowledged to be of theSudra call, but rather of a low rank. Their hereditary chiefs are called Pedda Bui,which among the Europeans of Madras is bellowed on the head-man of everygentleman’s let. They are allowed a plurality of wives, who are not confined.Though they all can eat together, they never intermarry, but with certain families,which are well known to each other, fa as to avoid all danger of an impure race.They are allowed to eat Iheep, goats, and filh, but ought to lofe call by drinkingfpirituous liquors. I well know, however, that this law is very much neglected.They bury the dead, and are all worlhippers of Vilhnu. They make offerings of fruit' and flowers to the Saktis , but never offer bloody facrifices to thefe deftru&ive powers.Their Gurus are hereditary chiefs of the Sri Vailhnavatn Brahmans, who receive theircontributions, and f>eftow on them holy water, and confecrated vi&uals; but do notgive them upadefa^nor chakrantikam. At births, marriages, and funerals, the pan-changa, or aftrologer, attends as purohita, or prieft. Some of them are taughtto read and write accompts ; but they never acquire any farther learning.

The potmakers and dyers form one call, and are all properly called Cumbharu ;but thofe who dye are, on account of their trade, galled Nilgaru. The two tradesare followed indifferently by perfons of the fame family; but the call is divided intotwo nations, the Telliga and Karnata, that.do not intermarry. Thofe here are of theformer nation, and give the following account of themfelves.

They retain the Telinga language, being a tribe of that nation. They can eat inthe houfe of a Karnataca potter, but he will not return the compliment; as they are

allowed