KADER, a race occupying the Animallay Hills r in Coimbatore, it not higher than 4000 to 5000 feet. They are the lords of the hills, and exercise some influence over the Puliar and :11alai Arasar races. They carry a gun, and even loads as a favour, but they do not perform menial labour, and are deeply offended if called coolies. They are expert at stalking game. They are a truthful, trustworthy, and obliging tribe. They are small in stature, and their features resemble the African. They have curly hair, tied in a knot behind, and file the four front teeth of the upper jaw to a point, as a marriage ceremony. The Kader, as also the Puliar, Malai Arasar, and Maravar, who also inhabit these hills, all gather the forest pro ducts,—cardamoms, honey, wax, ginger, turmeric, resins, millets, soap-nuts, gall-nuts,—and exchange them in return for rice and tobacco. The Kader formerly located near Toomacadana in the AM mallay, entirely left the British portion of the forest, and went over to the Cochin territory, as the hill produce on the British side became exhausted ; they paid the Cochin Government Rs. 100 per
annum for the privilege of collecting cardamoms, ginger, etc. ; they paid no seigniorage for the bill produce collected in British forests. They were useful as guides, but otherwise they were of no use in the forest, refusing to undertake any labour whatever.
The Malai Arasar cultivate a little.
The Puliar, about 200, live among the lower plateaux. They worship demons, and are omni vorous.
The Maravar are timid and nomadic, have no fixed habitations, but wander over the mountains with their cattle, seldom staying above a year in a place. They worship the idols of the Puliar. They all are keen hunters.