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MYSORE , CANARA, AND MALABAR.

677

hereditary chiefs, who punifh tranfgreffions againft the rules of call, and who are calledGotugaru. From this clafs of nobles were alfo appointed the feudal lords, vulgarlycalled Polygars ; but who aifumed to themfelves the Sanfkrit title of Sanfthanica.Civil differences in this tribe are made up in affemblies of the heads of families, thehereditary chiefs having become almoft extinct. No heavier punilhment was everinflifted by thefe, than the muldt of an entertainment. The Baydaru ought by birthto be foldiers, hunters of tigers, boars, deer, and other noble game, and ought tofupport themfelves by cultivating the ground. They are both farmers and hinds,and fometimes aft as talliari, a low village officer. The are permitted to eat fowls,Iheep, goats, hogs, deer, and fifh, and to drink fpirituous liquors. The men areallowed to take many wives, but can only divorce them for adultery. ' The womenare very induftrious, both at home and in the field ; and even after the age of pubertycontinue to be marriageable. Widows are not expected to facrifice themfelves to themanes of their hufbands ; but they cannot marry a fecond time. In fome families ofthe Baydaru, however, they may be received as concubines. They bury the dead.They believe, that after death wicked men become devils, and that good men are bornagain in a human form. The fpirits of men who die without having married, becomeVirika ; and to their memory have fmall temples and images erected, where offeringsof cloth, rice, and the like, are made to their manes. If this be neglected, they appearin dreams, and threaten thofe who are forgetful of their duty. Thele temples confiftof a heap or cairn of ffones, in which the roof of a fmall cavity is fupported by two orthree flags ; and the image is a rude fhapelefs ftone, which is occaftonally oiled, as inthis country all other images are. Female chaftity is not at all honoured in this way.This fuperffition feems rather local, than as belonging to this caft ; for it is followedby all the Sudras of this part of the country, and I have not obferved it any whereelfe. The Baydaru, in confequence of vows made in ficknefs, take Daferi, that is,dedicate themfelves to the fervice of God , both perpetual and temporary. The propergod of the caft is Trimula Devaru, to whom a celebrated temple is here dedicated.It is an immenfe mafs of granite on the fummit of a low hill. Under one fide of it is anatural cavity, wffiich is painted red and white with ftreaks of reddle and lime. In thiscavity is placed a rude ftone, as the emblem of the god ; and it is attended by a prieftor pujari of the caft called Santanana. To this place all the Baydaru of the neigh-bourhood once a year refort. The pujari then drelfes fome victuals ; and havingconfecrated them, by placing them before the idol, he divides them among the people.Trimula, it rauft be obferved, is the name of the hill at Tripathi, on which the cele-brated temple of Vilhnu, under the name of Vencaty Ramana, is built. The Bay-daru never pray to any of the Saktis , except Marima, who inflicts the fmall-pox onthofe who offend her. To this terrible power they offer facrifices, and eat the flefh.Their Guru is Trimula Tata Acharya, an hereditary chief of the Sri Vaifhnavam Brah-mans, who gives them chakrantikam, upadefa, and holy water, and, when he vifitsthe place, receives from each perfon one fanam. At marriages, and at the annualcommemoration of deceafed parents, the panchanga acts as purohita.

2 2d July. — I went three coffes to Affauru, a village inhabited by cultivators, and faidto contain five hundred houfes, but which looks wretchedly poor.

23d July.—T went three coffes to Doda Bailea, a fortified village inhabited byfarmers, which contains about fifty houfes.

24th July. —I went two coffes to Madhu-giri, or Honey-hill, a ftrong durga whichis furounded on all Aides by hills. From Bailea, thefe hills appeared as a connectedchain, and are apart of that ridge which runs north from Capala-durga; but on entering

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