CHENSUAR, a wild, half-savage forest tribe inhabiting the Eastern Ghats of the Peninsula of India. They are known to their settled neigh bours as the Chenchu kulam, Chenchwar, and Chensuar. They seem to be the people whom Wilson names Chenchu-vadu (vadu, TEL., a man). They are about 1200 in number, and dwell in the tract of jungle covering the westernmost range of the Eastern Ghat line, between the Pennar river and the Kiatna, and known locally as the and the Lankamulla ; occupy the Pahcondali hills to the west of the Nellore district. but chiefly in the Nandikandah pass, on the road between Ctunbum and Gliooty, where they serve as watchmen and guides. They inhabit clearings in the forest, live in beehive-shaped huts like the African, Nicobarian, and many of the ruder Asianenian tribes. These are of wicker-work, with walls about three feet high, and it conical straw roof, with a screen for a door. The women dress likethewanderingfemale basketmakers, whom they resemble in features. They speak Telugu with a harsh and peculiar pronunciation. They look on weaving and other manufacturing arts with con tempt. Some of them occasionally visit Nellore, living in patchwork tents, from which they are named Bonta Chenchu. They bring for sale bamboo seed and bamboo flutes. They never engage in cul tivation, but live by hunting deer, wild hog, hares, using darts which they throw by hand. They also collect forest products, wax and honey ; and a few rear sheep, goats, and cattle. Their food consists of all kinds of flesh, with bamboo seed, wild roots, and ragi, when obtainable. A few firearms are in their possession. They build small
round huts of stone and grass, in clusters of ten or fifteen. The men are almost nude ; they wear piece cloths, sometimes a cloth round the waist. The more savage members of this race are said to wear leaf-aprons, and never to leave the forests. Their colour varies from dark brown to black. The men are shorter than the neighbour ing Hindus, slightly but well made, except about the knee, which is large, and the leg. The features of the men are small and animated ; cheek-bones higher and more prominent than in the Hindu in general; nose flatter, and nostrils more expanded; eyes black and piercing. Their hair is more shaggy and less straight than that of the Hindu, and they wear it very long, and rolled up at the back or near the crown like that of a woman. They bury their dead, but sometimes burn ; and the Nandial Chenchwar, like the Tartar, carry the deceased's weapons to the grave. They use the spear, axe, or matchlock, or bamboo bow and reed arrow tipped with iron. They are patient and docile. It is suggested by Mr. Logan that the Chensuar are a continuation of the wild forest Sarah of the mountainous tracts further north in the line of the Eastern Ghats. They have large dogs ; and a few are employed as hill police in the pass from the Kuman to Badwail. Vocabularies of six of the non-Aryan tongues—the Komi, Savara, Gadaba, Yerukala, and Cheutsu — are given in Beng. As. Soc. Journal for 1856.—New bold in R. As. Soc. Journ. 1845 ; Logan in Journ. Ind. Arch.