IRULAR. At the foot of the Neilgherry moun tains, and for a short distance within the forests extending from their base into the plains, live a race commonly known by the name of Irular. They are in two classes,—one called Urali, the other Kurutalei. Iruli means unenlightened or barbarous, from the Tamil word Irul, darkness, and is a term applied to them by their neighbours. Urali signifies the rulers of the people, and Kurutalci the common people. Captain Hark IICSA met with ti group of Irulars all but naked, —men, women, and children dancing, jumping, and amusing themselves. The hair of the men, as well as of the women and children, was bound up in a fantastic manner with wreaths of plaited straw • their necks, ears, wrists, and ankles decorated with ornaments formed of the 1 same material ; and carrying little dried gourds, in which nuts or small stones had been placed, they rattled them as they danced, and, with the rustling of their rural ornaments, gave a sort of rhythm to their motion. His unexpected visit disconcerted them at first, but this was soon got over, and the dance again resumed, in front of a little thatched shed, which was their temple.
' When it was concluded, they sacrificed to their deities a he-goat and three cocks. This was done by cutting the throats of the victims, and throwing theta down at the feet of the idol, the whole assembly at the same time prostrating themselves. Within the temple there was a winnow or fan, which they called Mahri, and in front of the temple two rude stones, which they called, the one Moshani, the other Konadi Mahri, but which are subordinate to the mahri or fan occupying the interior of the temple. No great distance
from this, he passed their places of sepulchre, there being one for the Urali and another for the Kurutalei. These sepulchres are pits, about thirty or forty feet square, and of considerable depth, over which are placed large planks ; above is erected a shed, covering in the whole, and pro tecting it from the weather. In the centre of the planks is an opening about a cubit square, over which are placed other pieces of wood, and on these is raised a small mound of earth in the form of an altar, the surface being decorated with pebbles, placed there both as memorials of the departed, and as objects of future worship. When a death occurs, the mound of earth is re moved, and the body thrown in. Sonic ten or twelve days after, a mound of fresh earth is raised, in room of the one which had been removed ; the pebbles, which in the first instance had been carefully put aside, are again replaced, and another one added to them in memory of the deceased. All this is done with much ceremony, the pebbles being anointed with oil, perfumed with frank incense, and decorated with flowers. Food is also distributed to the assembly, according to the ability of the relatives of the deceased. The Irulars speak a rude Tamil.— Captain Harkness' Neilglierry Hills.