la
5
V-
'
K*,
<3
MISOEE
ANT)
COOltG
\
tljc
obemment
of Intiia*
BY
LEWIS
RICE,
i'oor/y.
VOL. Ill
COORG.
NGAL 3E
&
187S.
6-
L4
CORNELL
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
49
A
v ,3
1924 071
131
605
The
original of this
book
is in
restrictions in
text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924071131605
S
AtfD
E E
COORGL
%
obernmmt
tfje
of Enota.
BY
LEWIS RICE,
Director of Public Instruction, Mysore and Coorg.
VOL.
III.
COORG.
BANGALORE:
MYSORE GOVERNMENT PRESS,
1878.
v
(:*UUhr l If." U KM V
I
Ki-n
CONTENTS.
Page.
Physical Geogbaphv
Physical Features
Rivers, 7
;
1
Situation. Area, Boundaries, 1; Scenery and
;
Mountains, 3; Geology,
5;
Meteorology -.Seasons,
Climate, 14.
1 1
Temperature,
12
Rainfall,
13
Floba
Forests : Male
Kidn, 15; Kanive K4du, 18
j
1549
Ferns,
26; Vegetable
29-,
Cardamoms, 32;
41
;
Coffee,
;
exports of coffee, 41
coffee estates,
Chinchona, 43
Sugar
cane,
46;
48.
Chocolate, 48;
Nutmeg,
49.
Fruit
trees,
48.
Vegetables,
Dry
Grains,
Fauna
Mammals, 50
;
5084
Birds,
63
Reptiles,
69
Fishe3,
72
Insects, 73.
History
.85201
Legendary Period: Kve>i
Devakanta, 92.
Purina, 85; Chandra
Varmma,89;
Coorg Rajas, 99
Haidar
Ali,
109', Tippu
149;
flight of
173;
deposi-
Col. Fraser,
Rebellion,
190
Victoria
Gauramma 193
the Fretsnder,
195
197;
Page.
IHHABITANTS
...
...
...
202256
Aboriginal tribes,
202; Numbers
;
Population, 203;
;
205
Vaisyai,
205
206;
Jaini,
Wild
Tribes,
214.
Muhammadans,
Christians,
Dress,
217.
218;
or
219;
Do-
arrangements, 221;
Takkas
council
of elders,
226;
Amma
Kodagas, 227
the
Coorg
inheritance, 231.
231;
Song,
;
241. Coorg
Festivals
; Kaveri
feast,
242;
253.
Huttari
feast,
245 Bhagavati
;
feast,
251
Kailmurta
festival,
Dwellings, 255
Occupations. 255.
of castes
...
...
...
...
256
Religion
Coorg
...
...
...
...
257
;
279
deities,
Demon
worship, 260
;
Serpent
Grama devata, 264 Pilgrimages, 266 Hinduism, 269; Muhammadaniam, 271; Christianity, 271; Roman Catholics, 271 Protestants, 273.
and Tree worship, 263
;
Lahgttagh
...
...
...
...
279296
Huttari
KodagU,
279
;
279;
its
Relationship,
;
279
Grammar, 279
Orthography,
Etymology; 281
Syntax,
290. Literature,
;
291
or Harvest Song,
293
Proverbs, 396.
...
...
...
...
297
311
Kolle-kallu,
Mausoleums, S04.
Industrial Arts,
309;
Prices, 311.
306.
Trade
309,
Fairs,
Administration
...
...
...
312
;
409
System,
;
312
Revenue,
Panniyas, 318
royal authority,
319
subordinate authorities,
Pge-
342
House
tax,
343
Ghee
tat,
343
Accounts, 344
Jama
Slaves,
347
British Administration.
.Early
tice,
System: Revenue,
357
;
S51
Civil Justice,
Police, 359.
Existing System
Civil
Departments
Revenue, 363
Jamma
369;
tenure,
358
Jodi
tax,
;
tenure, 368;
Ghee
tax,
368
House
tax,
369
Dhuli paddy
Waste
Land
Rules,
371;
Coffee,
Cardamoms, 379
Forests,
384; Post
Municipal
Funds, 385
Legislation,
State Expenditure,
386.
Law
and Justice, :
391
;
387; Courts,
Justice,
388;
Civil Justice,
Registration,
392; Criminal
Police,
396.Public
Works,
GAZETTEER
...
...
410
427
Appendices.
I. Names of
II.The
places in
letters.
...
Ikkeri, Keladi, or
Bedum- dynasty.
...
(15) (15)
HI. Glossary
Addenda
(16)
et Corrigenda.
Index.
...
...
(1 H)
Illustrations.
Map
of Coorg
...
...
...
frontiespiece.
...
P"
7*
75
Ovipositor of
do
magnified
...
...
SealofViraRajendra
...
102
''" 21
A A
Coorg armed
...
Coorg with
his sons
and grandsons
...
COORG.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
What Wales
is
to
England, Coorg
is to
Mysore, in miniature
its
western side.
is
But though
and
British territory,
Its
name,
mean
alpine land.
The country
woody
is
declivities
of
which separate
it
On
the
north
it is
partially
it
Malnad
the
of
Manjarabad,
of which
is
naturally a continuation, by
rivers
Eastwards
it
distance being
marked by the
is
river Kaveri.
The greater
sea.
part of
the
western frontier
Geographically speaking,
and embraces
an area computed at 1,580 square miles* Its Hemavati in the north to Davasi betta in the
miles
;
extends over 60
Fraserpet
and
its
40
miles.
Its
shape on the
map
an
toe south-east.
east.
Standing on a bright
of the
Brahma-giri near Tale Kaveri, the head or source of that river, the observer
is filled
am indebted to Captain R. M. Clerk, in charge of the Revenue Survey Jn the Census Report and subsequent official documents, the area has been assumed as 2,000 square miles, on what ground is not known. Lieutenant Connor's Survey of 18 17 gave an area for Coorg at that time of 2,165 square miles, or 1,585 above the ghats and 580 below,; but the latter\listricts, on the conquest of the country in 1834, were annexed to South Canara,
this estimate I
* For
now
in progress.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
As
now
gently sloping
down
in
wavy
lines,
air.
the far seen landmark of the mariner, bursts into view from Canara
the
hills in
Mysore, the
Wynad mountains
of
Malabar, and even the range of the distant Nilagiris are clearly visible
while in the west, at a distance of about 30 miles below the steep precipices of the
covered with forest, save here and there where the clearing of a coffee
glades (bane) with their
and varied
foliage, afford
landscape.
in nooks
trees,
and and
fields.
The want
prominent
rivers,
may
fancy
monsoon,
may
spersed with clumps of forest trees, resembling the finest park scenery
in
Europe.
hills
more ab-
rupt,
are neither
grassy
downs
from
The eastern
between
Lakshmantirtha
rivers, exhibits
MOUNTAINS.
3
in Coorg, as
ridge of mountains
and
exteDt, is that
Western Ghats.
the north-west
It stretches in'its
main
outline,
from Subrahmanya
in
south,
the abrupt
in the south,
Marenad
The
Davasi
above a beautiful
Pemmaiya
and
beyond
it
Wynad.
rise the
to
ridged
hills,
now ascending
Ambate-
the Siddesvara hill and Maukal-betta, now subsiding into the undulating
slopes of the
most eastern
elevations,
and
enclosing innumerable
paddy-fields,
some
From
in
main chain
of the
a north-westerly
direction,
30 miles
in
length.
falls
part of
which
is
particularly steep.
highest mountain of this range, raises its gracefully shaped head over its
majestic neighbours.
Its height is 5,729 feet
The ascent
is
easy
two-thirds of
is
it
may be
when
rather
difficult,
the persevering
the cool
climber
air
richly rewarded
for his
exertion
in
bracing
be
over the
This Mid other heights which follow are taken from the charts of the Great Trigonometricftl Surrey.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
rises
the
Joma
sacred to Maletambiran
Two
still
The
is
nearing
Mercara,
it
to the north-west,
latter the Sampaji valley, which leads by a gradual slope into the low
country of Canara.
valley,
the
most remarkable
of which
Kallur-betta,
Nalknad
is 1
From
Benga-nad range,
in-
is
3,809
feet
above sea
level at
feet,
and
may be
still
26 miles, but
is
on the east
slopes
at an elevation of 2,720
above
the sea.
in all directions by
minor
hills
and
ridges, is
Subrahmanya or Pushpagiri
is
hill,
5,626
feet
level.
This
a remarkable two-pointed
hill
of precipitous height
The
GEOLOGY.
face of the
hill,
5
is
more
diffi-
the Pushpagiri,
it
trated,
severe
hill
nu-
merous
Hindu memorials
Within an
enclosure there are two rude stone structures, with the customary imprint of two feet (pdda) said to be of celestial origin.
Subrahmanya
its
greateleva-
miles
north of Mercara.
Its
tion
Its
is
5,375
feet,
and
its
summit, which
is
the
Harangal-betta
flat table
cultivated
which
spacious platform,
Siva.
This
hill,
on account of their
;
and even
Scotland,
in
hills.
is
From
lel
with
it,
a bluff
hill
with
al-
most a precipitous
declivity
on
western face
The
last
frontier of
hills,
The former
distin-
guished by its beautifully conical shape, which strikes the eye in every
part of Coorg.
Its altitude is
4,488
feet.
is
indicated by the
The constant
action of the
stormy monsoon
rains,
how-
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
by scorching east winds and a burning sun, has greatly
ever, followed
and a perpetual process of disintegration of the uppermost portions has imparted to them a somewhat
rounded appearance,
which does not occur
where
the
atmospheric
less
and the
alternation
of temperature
sud-
The
several
class of rocks, of
which
may
be found in
almost every
mountain
They are
syenite,
substituted
mica
and mica-schist, a
slaty rock
imbedded garnets.
iron, magnesia,
Amorphous limestone
is
near
Fraserpet, and supplies nearly all the requirements for building purposes
in Coorg.
Among
this limestone,
which
is
in
is
W.
Provinces,
and which
met
with.
iron, appears sporadically in almost every part of Coorg. ore in the shape of cylindrical, rootlike lumps.
Likewise iron
The
ingredients of
all
to
an un-
ceasing process of decomposition, constitute the nature of the soil all over
fertility or sterility of
Felspar
is
very
common, and
yields
rich soil.
Veins of
places
it
are
re-
In
many
it is
duced
able
market-
chunam
adulterated.
its
Mica
is
here and
shining scales.
of the decomposed
Common
amorphous
pieces.
The
considerable
in the
RIVERS.
ashes of the matti (terminalia coriacea), a tree largely distributed all over the eastern parts of Coorg, proves the presence of limestone in the soil of that region.
in Coorg,
and
it
would appear
that,
except
it is
evident
that
in
while the mountain torrents of the western Ghats flow into the Indian Ocean.
The Coorg
their
water supply
As
up
in
the mountains,
and
for naviga-
any kind, and owing to the height of their banks and the unevenfew of them allow of
artificial
irrigation,
but the
in size, which
They
swell
with the freshes in the early part of June, and flow with violent and boisterous rapidity
till
October,
their
normal
dimensions.
Of the
is
the
most
considerable.
same plateau
it
height, and forms a beautiful cascade near the Kudial coffee estate,
Near
the Malayalam frontier, the Bara-pole leaps into a deep chasm, and forms
is
remarkably
frontier,
Then
for
up
The Bara-pole
is
16 miles
off
of the Ghats.
On
the
road to Cannanore
it
is
spanned by
several bridges.
of importance
is
PHYSICAL FEAIORES.
the Sampaji valley, and follows the main road as far as Sulya,
turns to the west, receives
slopes of the Todikana pass
when
it
a tributary
under the
name
The Kumdradhuri
but
little
Subrahmanya
it
hill,
and
carries off
Bisilu-pass.
A number
of tributaries
from north
its
waters,
own name
to
which near
for purposes
of considerable commercial
safely carried
and smaller
The
is
the Kaveri
of nearly 400
miles through
and Coirnbatore,
may
the Peninsula.
It
rises
Kanake, starts close by, and after a short run joins the Kaveri at
the foot of the
hill,
At both
places,
among
the Hindus,
by thouaccording
The Kaveri
is,
dess
Ganga
resorts
underground
the
e.,
all-purifying
of the
to wash
October
November,
is
away
the pollution
contracted
The course
below
of this
fine
river
Bhagamandala
it
its current,
where
luxuriant
tropical
vegetation.
it
RIVERS.
9
it is
is
predominant.
fordable
its
source.
it rises
to an
wide channel,
trees from its a few days the adjoining country. During these freshes the river rises to a height of 20 to 30 feet near Fraserpet, where it is spanned
for
feet in length.
to the north,
its
and flows
course by
being swollen in
receives the
Kakabe
In Beppunad
is
joined by the
and
in
Yedenalknad,
by the Kumnia-hole.
The Muttaremutta
the Mercara ridge, and
collects the
nurokkal-nad.
Somawarpet, the Choran-hole from Santhalli, the Mattapur and Hattehole from Kote-betta, drain the whole northern plateau of Coorg, and add
to the Kaveri.
its
streams forms, in
beauty.
(so
is
called in
honour of a
daughter of the
chaplain of
Mercara),
much
admired,
and
Some
The
are the
rivers of
Coorg which
fall into
The former
rises
near
and
the
village
of Tippur.
its
Kiggatnad.
Muni-kadu
its
forest,
sin-cleansing virtue,
and
is
consequently
2*
10
visited at the Irpu jatre
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
The
banks of this river, like those of the Raven, are of clay or mould, steep,
with sandy bottom, and shaded by dense forest or bamboo clumps. Lakes, Tanks, Wells. Throughout Coorg there is not a lake or
tank of any
size
worth mentioning.
called
all
kolli,
natural reservoirs,
containing water
the
its
year
A tank
miles north of
Som-
warpet
is
notable for
it,
nected with
which does not however accord with the inscription writthe western outlet of the tank.
this
The
latter runs
thus
month Phalguna,
Peva
Malla
is
A merchant named
But when
sacrifices
vowed to build
this tank.
it
was
were suggested
the
of the Shetti.
Unwilling
make
this sacrifice,
life
in-law,
an
and parents,
who were
intentions,
and amidst great solemnities she stepped into the tank, when
appearance in
rushing water.
Akkoni's
parents,
sacrifice,
but she refused to leave the tank, uttered a curse upon her father and
sank
in
She then
appeared
his
child in his
it,
arms rushed
to the tank,
when both
that
it
everywhere
appears
yield,
if
but
with the
muddy
though from their own experience they assert that most of their diseases are owing to the bad quality of their drinking water.
METEOBOLOGT.
11
Meteorology.
Though Coorg
and narrow
greatly
is
its
Still
the
may
mean
present as constant a
climate as the moist hilly tract along the Ghats or the Mercara plateau.
We have
to
From
the end
December
rain indeed
is
scarce,
but in the
mornings and evenings the valleys are seldom free from fogs or dews.
During these months the dry east wiad prevails, which has long ceased
to carry remains of north-east
monsoon clouds
to the
Western Ghats.
to
collect
of
March
towards
more
regularity
May
the
and occasional
monsoon,
the
atmosphere, which
is
warm and
moist.
The thunderstorms
in the low country.
float
against
is
each
The sound as
of
heavy cannon
heard
from a distance
the gloom.
solitary
through
Now
peals of thunder
are heard at brief intervals, and the eye shuts involuntarily against the
Then the
conflict
seems
to sub-
flashes
of
and
fearful glare,
in torrents.
position in the
western
prevails,
of
Coorg
is fully
established.
Rain
descending at times
softly,
violence
of wind.
monsoon reaches
its
greatest vehemence.
of the wind
to be inexhaustible,
the blasts
irresistible.
As much as 74
for several
is
days
in succession 5, 6
and 7
life
The sun
and
12
in the Province would
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
be as dull and gloomy as the clouds overhead,
make
in the
light of the
incessant downpour.
But
it
is
pardonable
all
if
ODe
is
favoured few
who bask
the while
Kaveri
clouds,
river,
of
the
monsoon
considerably
all
less,
November, however,
it
often
upon the east and south-east of Coorg. The greater part of Decemend of the month the weather becomes dethermometer
in
ber
is
lightfully
clear
and
fresh, the
falling to
a minimum of 50.
From Mr.
may be deduced
meteorological condi-
maximum
and
its
when
it
reaches 26
15'.
60',
minimum during
when
it
has fallen to 26
The thermometer
inclusive,
May inclusive,
temperature
is 70",
temperature
is
most
and a
mean temperature of 65 for these months. The prevailing winds are west wind just
:
monsoon
north-east wind
directly after
the monsoon
and east
to
in
his
RAINFALL.
13
"Report on the ravages of the Borer", varies between 48 and 87, the
minimum
tember
;
maximum
1
at
increases
cents in
May, 5 cents
in
it
decrease of 5
cents in August,
reaches the
ber,
maximum
of
87 cents in September,
in
falls
it
10 cents in Octo-
10
in
November and 22
December, when
attains its
minimum.
to
fell
The mean
1875
during
the hot season, 103-75 inches during the monsoon, and 10-49 inches during
the cold season.
According to the
scientific
theory of the
south-west
monsoon, the
rainfall in
which
is
also corroborated
for
by the
from
to the
pluvimetrical
table,
that
the
rainfall
was
some
is
years,
1866
attributed
extensive
denudation of forest-clad
contem-
The
from
same amount
carried
the sea over the Ghats, but the local power of attracting the rain clouds
partially
can have
failed to
forests,
upon the
the clouds
unimpeded
velocity.
The
rains
tinuous as they used to be, and since there was less rain sinking into
Were
and
the increasing difficulty of rice cultivation in some parts of the country, the change might have been hailed as a most welcome improvement
the Coorg
less loaded
in
still
with moisture.
Since 1871
may
of the formerly
;
denuded
hill
trees
but on the other hand the year 1875 was the dryest on
14
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
On
year,
its
average
temperature of 66
salubrious.
European children
rosy cheeks form
in the
particular enjoy
health,
and their
fat
low country.
rarined, often cold
The
and damp,
does
the usually
and
is
The
suffer
new
arrivals
much from
year of
in time
even
The climate
are mixed,
months pre-
ceding the monsoon, when, as the natives say, the old and
is far
new waters
Fevers,
and protracted.
climate to be excellent,
the monsoon.
apof
pears in
its
worst form,
to
Europeans, in
the. vicinity
Hattur
in south-east Coorg,
small-pox has laid a fearful hold upon the natives, though vaccination
much
pet,
in
vogue.
Cholera
is
almost unknown
in
Coorg.
peculiar
ulcer-disease on the limbs has latterly been rather prevalent about Viraj-
which
diet.
is
mal
of
not favourable.
whom Tippu sent from Mysore to replace the ancient inhabitants, or who during the various wars were carried off by the Coorg Rajas from the neighbouring
countries to cultivate their lands, but few survived
the change.
In our
to
work
much
FLORA.
In Coorg, extensive forests clothe every mountain range almost up
to the
districts,
The
flora
of the country
is
Looking upon Coorg with the eye of the forester rather than that
of the general botanist, the
most
to dis-
is,
there are
nevertheless
and
passes.
Botanically they
forests,
may
per-
the
former
Male Mdu.
it is
upwards of 100
is
wood
is clean,
elastic,
and there
supplying ships'
and masts.
By
its side
may
dammer
height,
tree or
dupa-mara (canarium
striatum),
of
its foliage.
The
resin obtained
to the
from
this tree
lustre
when adhering
it is
ash-coloured
bark, but
when held up
of
it
to
the light
of a rich brownish-yellow
tint.
Large lumps
are
tree.
is
the white
dammer
tree
(vaferia
When
it,
an
incision is
made
into
and
fire
applied to
resin.
The calqphyllum
first collection of
The
Coorg plants appears to have been made by Captains Munroe and Gough,
who probably placed their collections at the disposal of the famous botanist Dr. Wight. Mr. Metz, a German Missionary on the Nilagiris, also collected a good many plants about Mercara, which were
afterwards distributed in Germany by Hohenacker aui? named by Miguel. In Major Heber Drury's book on Useful Plants, and Dr. Bidie's Timber Trees of India much information is given about the principal timber trees in Coorg.
16
fragrant resin, and from the seeds
oil
FLORA.
is
Pinnay
of commerce.
The
least
is
also
frequently represented by a
two species.
The
The gamboge is
obtain-
ed from the
very cominers),
mon
bark of commerce
The
other
beautiful
following
useful
qualities
champaca) with
its
the
Coorg bard
the ebony
Can.
kari-mara)
the
(dillenia pentagijna)
Can. hdla-
sina-mara)
flowers
the Indian
;
mahogany
toona
wood
{chick;
mahogany
the wild
tals
;
nutmeg
Can. geru-mara)
the
(isonandm acuminata), a
;
oil-yielding nuts
drawn,
may be
mangifera
lepurandra
It flowers
in
mon
mulberry.
The
fruit
is
in
size
and shape
like
a small
fig,
branch
cut
corresponding
little,
It is
soaked a
down
used
close to the
extremity,
cut
off,
leaving a thin
piece to
Mysore Musuem.
MALE EADU.
Very
tree, is
17
the sack
may be found
near
it.
The wood of
this tree is
its
glossy
is
of the siza of
an orange, and in
seeds,
its
embedded
is
many round
obtained.
flat
On
nicotiam folia,
a stout
annual plant,
brambles Eubus
ent prickly
a scand-
The
much resembling
forests in the
The
maz-
rills
amongst which
is
the
more
slen-
humid banks
der
flagelli,
of streams.
and
were intruders at a
distance,
climb in
all directions
and surmount with their feathery leaves the highatmosphere, the stems of
est trees.
many
of the trees are speckled with lichens, or covered with rare orchids,
mosses,
and other
parasites,
Festoons of
wild pepper and gigantic creepers, which again support the more slender
stretch
from
most fantastic
interlacings,
the grand timber trees verdant with their foliage and many-hued flowers.
The
soil,
cardamom.
they are clothed with
Wherever
As the western
districts
approached,
3*
18
FLORA.
of the trees just enumerated are
many
still
are others
more open country, there are found upon the grassy glades (bane) that the smaller trees and shrubs, disposed with an artless grace landscape gardener in vain seeks to imitate. Here spring and summer,
in sweet embrace,
fresh,
hold perpetual
life
air,
so cool
and
and health.
its
The
in
its rustic
gloriosa superba,
its
the melastoma
malabaricwn with
and splendid
mauve coloured
its
flowers,
{caUicarpa
waRicUana) with
milis,
with translucent
they had
these and
many
here.
of orange,
vulgaris),
guava
(psidium
pyriferum),
rose
apple
all
(jambosa
trees,
markably
the areca
well.
is
much esteemed
it
and
company,
and
foliage,
forms
Kanive
liddu.
district of
indicated by
full
vigour
of growth,
who
in
1813 entered
impression of a pure
bamboo
jungle.
"It
seemed
as
if
sides
as smooth and
flat
the whole
rose on
From
immense
symmetrical clusters of
KANIVE KADU.
ment.
ters or
19
clus-
For about 8 or 10
columns preserved
feet
a form nearly
after
which they
for
itself
some of 80 and
horiin
of the feathers
the
and being
totally
free
in every direction
forming, under
This
is
a remarkable
In the north-east
west in
1866 and
'67, so
bamboos
are
still alive
and
in vigorous health.
following
Canarese proverb
which
may be
translated as meaning
Once in 60 years the bamboos will decay, Once in 70 years a famine may hold sway.
states
it
as a curious fact,
Wynad
there
was scarcely
a bamboo clump
to be
dying or in blossom.
Clumps of all
well as in Coorg, during the last few years, which occurrence would
prove couclusively, that the bamboos growing from seed and multiplying
,
their reeds
50
years, when the whole clump, with old and young reeds, produces flowers, and seeds and dies off the same year. From the seed a new progeny
been supposed, to
its
This
is
20
from the main clump
after
it
FLORA.
a growth
of
2 years.
a sharp smooth hornlike cone, and without any lateral branches, force
their
intricate
mass
and contribute
which may
and
contain from 50 to
200
reeds.
The
several reeds
are
from 5 to 8
where thorny
tripartite
attached,
sticks.
of which the middle ones are strongest and make, good walking
The branches
appearance.
ties are
are repeatedly
When in
is leafless,
The seed
is
in size
and appearance
It
is
eaten by the
rats,
poorer classes,
The
into
birds
and
how-
The water
a
is
The
bas.
cutting of
bamboo
is
difficult
task that
is
by any other than those expert jungle people, the Yeravas and KurumFor the purpose of cutting a single reed, they manage
to climb
over the lower thorny mass to where the reeds branch out freely, about
height.
To
below and above his head, removing each piece from the thorny embrace
of the rest
;
clump
un-
at the slightest
is,
however)
The reeds of another kind are much smaller but solid, and are known by the name of male bamboos. One of the handsomest trees in the eastern jungles is the black-
wood
India,
feet in
diameter and
60 to 80
height.
if
It is
all,
and
it
at
inferior to the
South American
rosewood,
which
closely
resembles in
many
particulars.
Near neighbours of
(ierminalia coriacea) is
The matti
is
remarkable for
its
excellent timber
and
easily recognized
by
its
thick
KANIVE KADU.
ash-coloured bark, cracked into small
crocodile.
21
the
scales
tablets
like
of a
swellings
of the bark of
and
The hony
or kino tree
fit
(pterocarpus marsupium)
yields
an excellent
kino,
yellowish timber,
for exposure;
Chunam brought
in contact
Teak
of
size
The
large
bunches on the high and many branched trunk, mark the beauty and
strength of the tree.
for
is
the best
owing to
its oily
nature.
Coorg teak
It is
1
is
oily,
and
free of heart-shake.
and elevated
slopes,
and on cultivated
but
land.
its
It
is
rather a
small
tree,
spreading branches,
small flowers
in the land-
scape.
The wood
is
especially the
its
duramen or
is
agreeable scent
highly
and employed
for
Canara.
Sandal-wood
collected
where grown,
4 or 5 feet
are cut
long.
down
The wood
vernment at the
Mis
or wood stores,
22
of 550 pounds avoirdupois and
,
FLORA.
is
generally exported to
:
Bombay.
(sri
Natives
ganda)
;
which
is
the yellow
least prized.
The
The
amount of the
are
chiefly
used for
production.
It is heavier
excellent perfume.
The sandal
tree is propagated
A
above
stately
is
of the
far
country,
lofty
crown
is
its
humbler neighbours.
the
ajini or
is
most
useful for
lentealo
The
rosy-tinted smooth-barked
is
or nandi
Qagerstroemia parviflora)
reputed for
its
excellent
timber.
A
the
when
in flower in February
Its
and March,
is
red
(botribax
malalaricwm).
flowers are
large
and of a deep red colour, and the many seeded capsules contain a silky
cotton, which is employed for stuffing pillows and mattresses.
is
The
staple
so short as to render
is soft
this so-called
The wood
little value.
tree,
of smaller size and with a prickly trunk, is the salmalia malabarica (Can.
mvEu
tree,
yelava).
The dindul
or
conocarpus latifdivs
is
a fine
timber
The
heart- wood is of
it
for
When
burning,
it
The
Its
Jiedde-
mara or
nauclea
;
cordifdlia
it
yields
sembling box
yellow flowers
toria
but
small
tinc-
The
rottleria
furnishes
an orange dye
is
the
Jcapila
ranga.
The soap-nut
tree
(sapindus) which
the pulp
of which
is
For
marking
the
the shell of
marking-nut
used
it is
the semecarpas
anacardium.
chiefly manufactured.
KANIVB
KADTT.
23
This tree>
The
mixed with
also
They are
On
soft
the outskirts of
bamboo
may
be frequently found
its
its
much used for toys. On account of branches make good fences, and v/here the betel
wood
is
vine
cultivated this
In Java
it is
purpose.
berry-like seeds,
fruit
the nclli-toi-mara
or
eniblica
officinalis.
The
though hard
it is
welcome to many
Sometimes
preserved in sugar.
is
(buiea frondosa),
Its scarlet
though common,
cut, the
is
gum palasfurnished
Mno
by
is
obtained.
Ttundricum
tall tree
the
gugula-mara
an erect
covered with
On the
its
(cathartocarpus fistula)
particularly
May by
is
On
with
is
americam)
carried on.
The plant
making fences
only.
It
perseded, however,
aculeata),
Its
which
square stem
prickly, its
are more or less smell of black currants, and its orange-coloured flowers shrub when kept within proper in blossom throughout the year, and the makes an excellent fence. But this plant, whose vitality is most
bounds
obstinate,
threatens to overrun
many a
tract of land in
Coorg and
else-
On
The recognized
necessity of shad*
24
ing exposed coffee
distinguished for
(sponea wightii)
.
FLOEA.
plantations
chiefly
its
shady crown
the
new
charcoal tree
clearing after
wood produces a
and
its
bark an excellent
fibre.
its
secured the planters' favour, on account of ant growth of branches, the lopping
off of
and expense.
mara {xanthocliymus
Its
covered with
elongated
dark green glossy leaves, form, as they ascend, a gently inclined cone.
The
but
fruit,
it is
and
beautifully yellow,
is
rather acid,
A
of tiny
presented to
with
its
a graceful
jungle ornament.
The wood
Near banks of
streams
and watercourses
is
the coldera
(pandanus odoratissimus)
making
In
many
made
into
is
hillock
of date
palms before the hot season in January presents the appearance of what we hope may be a thing o[ the past, a bored coffee estate.
trees
It
shumach
tree
(caesalpinia coriaria).
for coffee-shading
contain about 50 per cent of tannin, the price of which varies in Europe
8 to
13 a ton, so that
its
cultivation
cial enterprise.
trees.
Here
may be added
well in
a few trees, growing in the open, but thriving remarkably Coorg, viz the several representatives of the Ficus tribe,
;
(ficus indica), of
KANIVE
It
KADtT.
25
was a goodly sight to see That venerable tree. For o'er the lawn irregularly spread, Fifty straight columns propt itslolty head And many a long depending shoot,
Seeking to strike
its
root,
Straight like a plummet, grew towards the ground; boughs, which crost their way, Fixing their bearded fibres, round and round ; Some to the passing wind at times, with sway Of gentle motion swang.
Others of younger growth, unmoved, were hung Like stone drops from the cavern's fretted height. Beneath was smooth and fair to sight, Nor weeds nor briars deformed the natural floor. And through the leaf-cope which bower'd it o'er Came gleams of checkered light. So like a temple did it seem, that there A pious heart's first impulse would be prayer.
The pippal
tree proves
in crevices,
(ficus religiosa) is
This
most destructive
progress.
(ficus
the atti-mara'
much
like the
common
tree.
which
is
The Indian
caoutchouc tree
occurs
juice
and
is
highly ornamental
The milky
air,
the bark
is
exposed to the
whey-coloured liquid.
in several
is
places
the tamarind
made
over
Ramaswami Kanave,
tree
a stately
and
yields a
many
and
many
shrubs, herbs
jungles.
Suffice
it
to say that
there are
many and
These
rush madly in
their
is
onward career
to the very
and beautiful
Coorg
is rich in ferns,
26
attract the lover of nature,
list
it
FLORA.
may
Mr.
Names.
Where
to he found.
Aeropliorus immersus
Do. pulcher
On
Falls,
trees
&c
common.
;
On trees and rocks near Ball-practice ground almost anywhere. In a wall close to the Fort.
Near flamaswarm KanawS. Near Ball-practice ground; 3rd
Boad.
milestone,
abundant
hispidulum
Suntikoppa
Common
Eoad Road Road
(common
tree fern).
common
in all
moist places.
Aspidium polymorphum
Do.
contractum
Same
abundant in a deep kadanga. place as former one, also in a lane near 3rd milestone
Suntikoppa Road. On trees, between 1st and 2nd milestone, Mangalore Ghat. On trees, Sapper Lines, Road to Falls. On trees, in a deep ditch near Race-course. On trees, near Ball-practice ground ; common. In a kadanga on Road to Falls, in moist shady ravines. Very common, on trees. Near 3rd milestone, Suntikoppa Road in a ravine, also on
in a ravine near
trapedforme
Abundant on
BotrycMum
Do.
virginicum.
Common On trees,
all banks during the monsoon. everywhere. at the foot of Prospect Point Hill on Road to
subcarnosum
Ceratopterii thaliclroides
Kadle-kadu. Road connecting Cannanore and Mangalore at Louden Valley Estate. In a swamp in Muctoom Sahib's Estate, Nalknid Road, 3 miles from Mercara.
Cheilanthes farinosa
Very common
(silver fern).
Do.
tenuifolia
DavaUia
lullata
tenuifolia
lasiopteris
Three miles out on Nalkanaxl Road, also Rajah's Seat, generally in dry places. Five miles out on Nalkanad Road, on road connecting Cannanore and Mangalore Ghats, grows on trees, pretty common. Common everywhere.
Diplazium dilatum
polypodioides
quite a
sylvaticum
quereifolia
On Road
Drymaria
Road on
trees.
Gymnogramma
leptopJiylla
On
;
a bank on Road
trees.
on rocks,
sparsa
Very common on Suntikoppa Road. on Road to Falls. One of (he commonest ferns. Very common. Near Nalknid palace. Muctoom Sahib's Estate, Nalknad Road. Very common. Near Ball-practice ground ; on Road to Falls.
Common
VEGETABLE PRODUCTS.
27
Names.
Where to be
found.
Lygodium scandens
Nephrodium abruptum
Bo. Bo.
Bo.
molle
miles
down
In a ravine near 3rd milestone Mangalore Ghat. Muctoom Sahib's Estate, Nalknad Koad.
propingtmm
terminans
Estate
also
Anandapur,
Kempu
Kolli
Bo.
unitum
Muctoom
Sahib's Estate.
Neplirolepis exaltata
A common
Ophioglossum retieulatum
Bo.
previpes
regalia Pleocnemia aristata
Osmunda
phymatodes wightiana Paecilopteris am'aminans Bo. terminans Polyoo'rya appendiadata Bo. asplmiifolia Polypodium ornatum Bo. regulosum
Pleris aquilina Bo. cretwa
oxyldba
Near Rajah's seat common. Nalknad Road on trees rather common. On Nalknad Road ; on Road connecting Cannanore and Manga lore Ghats ; on trees. On Ball-practice ground and in the Fort. Near Kauen-kadu on banks of Fish river. AbunJant on banks of Fish river. Two miles beyond Murnad bungalow. On trees and in bamboo clumps, Nalknad Road. abundant in moist Third milestone, Mangalore Ghat shady places, on trees. Abundant on trees.
On
trees.
Very common.
Falls.
Falls.
also
Somawarpet Road.
; ;
fern in Coorg.
Bo.
geraniifolia
Bo. longifolia Bo. pellucens Bo. pellucida Bo. quadriaurita Bo. argentea and mbronema Sagenia coadunala Schizoloma ensifoUum Bo. heterophyllum Bo. nitens
Near Nalkn4d
Estate.
also
near May-male
Estate,
Beltamale
Common
Very common.
Varieties, both
latter.
Trichomanes Micula
Bo.
rigidwn,
Very common. At the top of the Falls very abundant and handsome. On Read to Falls, near Sapper lines. has not been met with anyMuctoom Sahib's Estate where else as yet. On trees near 3rd milestone, Suntikoppa Ghat Nalknad
; ;
Road.
Vitlaria elmgata
On the Bank of the stream that forms the Falls. On trees, Nalknad Road about 4 miles out on the
hand
side.
right
To
trees
facilitate reference
to
and
plants,
a.
Gums
(soluble in water)
cashew-
occidentdle), the
memgifera), the
atti-mara
gambali-mara,
wood-apple tree
28
t.
FLORA.
Caoutclwic
or
elastic
gum
is
supplied
by
ficus
dastica
and
isonandra acuminata.
c.
is
gum
of odina toodier, and others of the neem tree and bombax mcdabaricum.
d.
Oleo-resins
Are obtained
strictum), the
wood-oil tree
(dipterocarpus
Icevis),
the calopliyllum
terminalia coriacea.
e.
tree,
the Alexand-
rian laurel,
f.
MItorate tree.
antupurle, and
fig
bende-mara,
the Indian
pippal,
the
variegated
American
the
long
aloe
the
Indian
ca),
hemp
hemp
the
(sanseviera zeilani-
iexlilis),
paddy straw
(orisa
sativa), the
mat-rush
cyperus
textilis),
the
broom grass
(aristida setacea),
the cotton plant (gossypium herbaceum), the silk-cotton tree (bombax pentandruni), the conocephalus nivens, the charcoal tree (sponia wightii), the
corylifolia).
Tannin
lalifolia,
(caesalpinia coriaria),
and of
DyesBed,
tincloria,
the Indian
madder
mulberry (morinda
Yellow,
citrifolia)
and
and the
Coorg,
as elsewhere in India,
is still
carried
on as
it
was
centuries ago.
not likely to be
EICE.
29
Rice.This
is
the staple
product of Coorg.
throughout the land have, from ancient times, yielded an unfailing supply every year for home consumption and for exportation to the Malabar
Coast.
The
rice-valleys
Kiggatnad
where
some
fields,
are of
hills,
which yield
terraced at
considerable
pains,
enough
of a valley,
ning through them, are called bailu-gadde, and those terraced up along
and
chiefly
depending on the
rice cultivation
rainfall, are
named
malti-gadde.
The
total area
under
may
The
rice
cultivated
is
the
large grained
dodda-latla,
is
which
is
also exported.
liner
and more
;
palatable kind
there
is
but
its
return
is
may
satisfied,
and allow
and their
fields
to
fallow, or to
and also
is
in
some parts
25
of North-Coorg,
in
the
from 10
fold,
to
fold, that
most parts of
Coorg proper
tility
is
from 40
to
60
and
in seasons
of extraordinary fer-
fold.
The
plough,
kind.
The
sampige-wood
is
to the
field
on his shoulders.
Its value
The
The
tion,
tawe,
generally a simple
it
fastened to connect
efficiency of
be
it for
Mudu-shime or eastern
district, or
fields.
strong sickle
To
30
cultivate
FLORA.
100
butties at 8 seers by measure of paddy or rice in the husk, a farmer requires either a pair of bullocks, or a pair of buffaloes, one plough and
two labourers.
On Monday he
Monday
and deposited
and the
showers
ashes subsequently
in April
With the
first
On a propitious
is
day, before
plays
sunrise, the
which
their
a conspicuous role on
dah
and Kaveri
parents
Amma for
and
elders,
a blessing
and then
drive
his
Nad, and
up
his
hands
a blessing.
The oxen are yoked and three furrows ploughed, when the
Of the turned up earth they take a
to the
work
clod
is
home
This
them
a hundred-fold increase.
recognition of the source of material well-being is
success.
followed
From
6 to 10 in the
continued,
till all
and the
little
By the end
May one
commands a
per-
is
heaped up on
covered up
watered for
till it
then
begins to sprout.
The nursery
just
run
off,
when sown
imbedded
a.
the soft
mud.
After
RICE.
31
height of about one foot, and the seedlings are ready for transplanting.
there
is
no
The eye is
and
rest on the
them
in small bundles,
fields
in
one spot.
are
as
soil is soft
all the
men
of the
muddy
takes
women
left,
The bundles are conveniently deposited over the a handful of plants at a time
presses with
into his
each
man
great rapidity
mud
ground, and offers right good sport which greatly exhilarates their
monotonous
task.
1
All the
reckoned for a
prize.
00
butties of
men engaged in the work and 15 are land may run, but 4 or 5 only obtain a
they are eager for the
is
,
Wearing merely a
run, for which their powerful legs well qualify them. The signal
given,
and away they scramble and plunge and stagger in the deep mud roars of
laughter greeting the unfortunate wight who sinks
in.
Having reached
is
the opposite bank, they return the same way, and hard
as they near the winning post.
their struggle
The
first
comer
is
of cloth, the second with a bunch of plantains, the third with a jack-fruit,
fifth
with parched
rice.
When
all
the fields are planted, a feast for the people is given by the
landlord.
As a
eye,
It is
of each
field,
up
holes
to,
made by
and any
attended
At
32
the end of October,
FLOiu.
out,
huts
for every
00
watchman
a
beasts,
occasionally
firing off
after
fields,
may be
reaped.
The water
is
down with
5 or 6 days
in
after
is
a heap,
spread round
a stone
and
or
buffaloes,
home consumption
seers.
from 2 to 4 Ks.
a butty of 80
,
for
find
greater
Cardamoms.
cardamom jungle
The
number
of
sell their
from
2 to
Now
the jungles
are
which expires
in
March
1878.
Any jungles
Government.
(eletlaria
cardamomum Kan.
yehlti)
grows
spurs,
at
feet.
Still,
nature
and
this is effected
rical
holds good in
many
kept in
the ground
in a state of vitality
a long period
till
CARDAMOMS.
tic
33
its
condition
is
quent growth.
cardamom, there
white weed (ageratitm cordifolium), and the charcoal tree {sponia wightii),
all of
favourable
The cardamom
sunshine.
requires a
a bracing
hill cli-
mate, accessible to sea breezes and favoured by deep shade and partial
A western
is
The
for
following
the method
A
is
working party of
;
about 10
men
March
and the
site
a garden being
marked
to
for felling
a temporary hut
menced.
is built
The smaller
trees
is
might.
When
made
tired
At noon a cutting
is
trunk a
;
few finishing strokes being then given to the side facing the high ground,
the tree trembles, bends over, and topples
down the
in its
precipitate fall
is
a number of
of this operation.
prepared
called
a garden,
cut down
trees
the party
five
may
in
gardens.
young plants
stem and
foot, with
8 or 10 leaves,
within the
require a
first
year
in the
will
little
the
necessary work.
they are
alternately
marked with
34
white colour, and,
if
FLORA.
bruised, have a pungent
aromatic taste.
On
this
much
in use
The capsules
(God's gift).
ripen in September
first,
or October,
is
year,
and the
A full harvest, however, is collected plants may continue to yield a good crop
their decline
sive years,
when on
them.
fruit-
estimated
as a
or a full crop.
The
erect, jointed,
1 to
and from 6 to 9
leaves.
The
cardamoms
is
ship, especially
in U-males,
e.,
hills
near the
uru or village, but far away in the Gade-males, as the high and sharp-
edged
hill-grass
is
infested by
poi-
sonous snakes.
The cardamom
up a camp
is
A hut,
erected.
At night a
fire is
men
sleep
round
it.
Early in the
One party
clears
Each man
and returns
After a hearty meal, they pick the capsules from the branches,
till
an operation that keeps them up day the men set out again
for
late at night.
the plantation.
arrive
;
the picked
to
In the Gade-males the cardamoms are dried on the spot, on a bamboo mat in
the open, but near a sheltering hut in case of rain.
spread and
require but 4 days' hot sun to dry
is
;
home
They are
thinly
avoided.
and
all
impurities
When
COFFER.
35
away
in closed
Mopla
Nads
a stock of bright
handkerchiefs and other attractive finery for the Coorg women, and
make many a good bargain. Some Coorgs gather from 30 to 50 maunds in weight of dry cardamoms, one maund (equal to 1 100 rupees in weight) being worth from 50 to
6 5 rupees in Coorg.
acre in extent
of
an
may be estimated
is
The
and
contingent expenditure
tion
is insignificant.
cultiva-
for
cardamom
easily
seedlings
irrigation,
them on a longer
The
make such
by
all
extra
fluctu-
expenditure remunerative.
Asia-
facilities
;
of transport, the
demand
steadily
area
brought under cultivation, and the prices Lave again fallen considerably;
is
demand
Europe and
Asia,
go up
again.
Mr. Forsyth in
depot of
in the
Coorg.
depressed,
to
Government
a reduction or
Coffee.
As
of
so has
12 years.
now
the appearance
one who
left
Coorg
10 years ago. The capabilities country have long been known to the natives, and
surprise
late
Province as a coffee-growing
it is
a matter of
till
that European
It
is
so
a date,
Coorg Rajas,
36
FLORA.
some Moplas, to whom they had given land near Nalknad, introduced the
shrub from seed which was brought from Mocha, or perhaps second-
Its
successful
shrewd enough to
conse-
the produce.
British Superintendent,
the material prosperity of the country, the cultivation of the coffee plant
natives,
is
hardly a
on a coffee-garden
may
be, only
acres.
The
native
mode
The
plants,
reared from seed in a nursery, were in the monsoon put out on a shady
hill-slope,
cleared away.
husk
to the
of
When
the
first
coffee cultivation
was taken
in
hand by European
skill
and
Mr. Fowler,
;
European Planter, opened up theMercara estate in 1854 MrH. Mann became the pioneer on the Sampaji Ghat in 1855 Dr. Maxwell opened up the Perambadi Ghat estates in 1856 and in 1857 Mr. Kaundinya founded Anandapur village with a most promising plantation
; ;
in the
Bamboo
district.
Round
these
first
Every one who beheld a hill-side covered with the rich luxuriant coffee shrub was bewitched by its golden promises. Here seemed to have been discovered the Eldorado of honest industry, in a delightful climate and home-like
Natives too, enriched by the sale of forest land, followed the example of the European planter, and opened up large estates
! ;
country
private
to
embark
in
the lucrative
specula-
forest land
was
to be
had
either
from Government
for the
mere
asking, or by purchase
plentifully.
under
the
COWEE.
planter's axe.
lot
37
fellow,
Every new
settler
whose
was
cast
in pleasant places.
for the
fixed its
in need
at that time.
year
and scarcely
destroy the
had
it left,
when the
to
calamities,
and
their success
makes the
for despair.
more
There
is
however no cause
emiaently
suit-
The
soil
cultivation.
may
yet
succeed in Coorg,
if
and the
carefully
adopted, and
especially
may
are
planting
be
If
on open ground
and an
locality,
which method
to
adopt
shade-
between
paid to
natural
full light
and
shade,
and
is
and
is
native
For
shade-planting
which seems to
be
piled
to rot,
especially
the
sjponia wighiii
More perma-
down
after 5 or 6
Coffee
grown
after this
method
thrives
remarkably well in
the
Bambu
district,
exist.
Coffee trees on open but not too steep and exposed ground, that
congenial
habitat
38
FLOBA.
treea under shade.
Some
of the Sampaji
Ghat
pearance
very promising.
The
soil
and
cardamoms
is
the desire
to secure
cardamom
The
coffee plant
is
loses
a nursery
is
rapidly
made
in
December and
daily watered,
when
after a
month
or six weeks
make
their
the surface
tlie first
With
seedlings of 3 or 4 pairs of
leaves are removed from the nursery, with a ball of earth attached to the
roots,
This
is
the
surest
Weeding
to.
But
is
danger
and
breaking up of the
soil
to turn
the weeds
down.
and
at the
same time
to be the
means
commands
With
by the
March or
situated.
the third year the estate comes into flower and bearing.
April the
In
slightly relieved
dark green
purity,
delights the
eyes with
its
an agreeable aroma.
growth.
It
is
4 feet high,
with alternately
the lowest 3 feet long, and these again are subdivided by secondaries
and
tertiarles.
The
flowers, in
stalks, in clusters
round the branches. They last but two days. The tree
COFFEE.
39
under examination numbers 20 pairs of branches, and 3 inches from the stem the clusters of flowers begin the lowest branch contains 22, the
;
clusters, with
an average of 12 blossoms
berries,
These do not
all set
of spring rains.
The
leaves are
oblong,
side,
lanceolate,
and form a
and ripen
open one.
into
a deep red.
The
berries
now resemble
We
sweet aromatic succulent pulp encloses two beans, which are surrounded by a parchment-like skin, which, when dry, easily drops
off.
thin
"silver-skin,"
is long,
is
of good quality,
of a peculiar aroma.
which
fills
up the whole
it
fancy assigns to
a higher price in
The separation
estate,
on the
The pulper
is
an iron cylinder,
is
made
is
This cylinder
on a
shaft,
and
keeps at an adjustable
curves that
lead to so
many
and
entirely of iron.
perpendicular on either
disk or disks.
The cherry
power.
from
The beans
fall
The beans
are
still
in their
parchment
covering,
gummy
saccharine
matter,
washed
off,
ment
coffee is spread
When
40
floeA.
The
bushel,
is
well dried coffee, which should not be over 35 lbs. per imperial
Coast, or to
Hunsur
necesIt is
On
arrival at the
if
then fed by coolies into a large circular iron trough, and crushed, yet so
gently that the
bean
is
not injured,
in this
This
machine
it is
is
called
The
coffee
then
falls into
receptacle whence
taken by
ment from
the beans.
The chaff
is
The
of different sizes, which whilst slowly revolving sort the beans into three
classes.
The
largest
price,
berries.
The
who separate
the triage.
all
The charges
coffee resembles
for
it
on boardship are
to 5 through the
Suez canal.
hills.
Coorg
Of the
coffee
grown in the
it
Bambu
district
whereas
make up
the
same weight.
out of the
soil, it is
it
clear that
be given to
ing to the
generally acknowledged, that accordchemical analysis of the coffee bean, the Coorg soil wants
it is
in return, and
or stable-manure,
chunam or carbonate
it.
of
Jime and
ashes
may be the
is
nearest approach to
Experiments with
different proportions
of these materials on a
number of trees of equal the most effectual mixture for each locality.
trees,
Of almost equal importance with manuring is the pruning of the whereby the extravagant elaboration of the sap is checked and
the
soil
the
fertility of
economised.
It is
this
operation which
makes
the planter most familiar with his trees, and which impresses upon the appearance of an estate as decided a stamp as the system of training
COFFEE.
characterizes a school.
41
call one's
It is
at-
tention to this
round by pruning"
plantation and
men who do
justice to
who eventually
The export
42
FLORA.
cli-
mate, being equally exposed to the sweeping monsoon rains and to the
drying east winds.
With an average
rainfall of
is
ample.
less
The
granitic soil
more or
ferruginous stones,
The
lay of the
it is
carried on with
due precaution
against the
soil",
by terracing,
soil
and
valleys are
here
covered with
the most
The Ghat
valley on
jendrapet, and over the eastern and western declivities of the range of the
Western Ghats.
The
tracts occupied
by
this
ori-
ginally covered with primeval evergreen forest, possess a splendid soil for
cultivation, its fertility being heightened
by a heavier
fall
of rain than
The
extensive
felling of forest,
convert-
humus
system of cultivation
planters vying with each other in mamoty weeding to shew a clean surface have added to the impoverishment of the
soil.
The exposed
enemy to
trees,
seasons of drought
coffee,
fell
the Bug, the leaf- rot, and the leaf disease severely affectleft in this
group, which,
prove by their present yield the high capabilities of this range of land.
The Bambu
extending
all
district is
comprised in
along the
eastern ranges of
feet
;
The nature
of the land
hills.
The
soil
vegetation, which
annually decays or
consumed by jungle
CHINCHONA.
without being disturbed by heavy floods.
seasonable,
43
rain-fall is gentle
district
The
and
most
and the
luxuriant
and productive.
anywhere
in
Coorg, the
it
Bambu
and had
Borer
pest,
which committed
its
The Borer
is,
however,
the insidious
himself.
Its destructive
progress has
not only
keep
it
down
to a
minimum.
On these
is
deemed
necessary.
Chinchona. The
scale
by Government
in
863, in
a favourable
east of Mercara.
and
for rearing
new plants
in the hot-house
Taluk cutcherries
in the
likely to grow,
officials
But the
though there
is
little
which belongs
its
to
the
Will
of Chinchonacese
is
There
success as
all
over
Of the many
which grows to a
quinine.
the chinchona
tree
and
is
rich
though
less so in
Kilgiris,
late
T04
&19
6-23
Total Alkaloids
...
.,.
,..
44
FLORA.
Crystallised Sulphates of Quinine obtained
...
0.63
Do.
Chinchonine
...
...
5 ll 5 '74
...
He
amount
considered this
analysis
satisfactory.
It
yielded
its
large
grown at a low
Like nearly
all
Garden
130 from 4
to 5 years,
is to
Tea
cultivation
little attention.
To judge
grow
in Coorg,
its cultivation.
Sugar cane.The
prise,
and
chiefly in the
it
hands of
settlers
raw
consumption or use
sugar.
It is
for the
It requires
a moist rich
soil
that can
be brought under
their
irrigation.
Some
coffee planters
;
swampy
it
enough,
Cotton.
Cotton
of a fair description
the fibre
cies
is
New
spe-
the Sea-Island,
New
were
well,
but the
The seed
is
soil,
which
is
feet apart.
The
seedlings are
sufficiently
strong to withstand the heavy monsoon rains, and the pods ripen in October
or November,
perennial
crop
is
of course
lost.
PLANTAIN.
45
conclusion that the Sea-Island and Berar-Hybrid would yield the most
satisfactory results.
Bombay Chamber
market.
Plantain.
of
Commerce
Bombay
The plantain
is
a wild
kind in the
hill-jungles, is
common
to 12 feet high,
a number of fibrous
may be
The
leaves,
and 2
feet broad.
It is
When
broken across,
shews bundles of
this cylinder
The continuation of
it 13
therefore
which
it is
cut
down and
chiefly propagated.
a new shoot springs up from the root, by which means the plantain is The closely packed conical flower-head is not unlike
in appearance,
a red cabbage
and by
its
own weight
inclines
downward
in
a graceful curve.
Each
of the
With
and
falls off,
and the
fruit
is
In
its spiral
it
forms
a large bunch, numbering from 200 to 300 plantains. The fruit, when divested of its skin, may be eaten raw, roasted or baked or when sliced
;
and dried
in the sun, it
may be reduced to a
is consi-
The
fruit is
There
is
a great variety of
and the
and very
The plant
plenty and
highly esteemed
fertility,
and as such
is
46
moba.
age and other festivals for ornamenting the entrances of houses and
temples.
Stumps of
to cut
one
textilis)
Numbers of
sake of
is
The
can
common
hardly be eaten.
Rheea. Along
riu nivsa)
it
Assam Nettle
(Boelime-
was
also introduced,
in
who
find
it
owing to the
is
difficulty
and expense
in preparing
is
the
fibre.
The plant
known
in
China as
Ma or
Chuma, and
Assam
as Rheea.
It is
an herbaceous
from which
roots,
nettle,
and situated on
From data
for 1854,
December number
of the
Calcutta Review
the
Rheea
plant
cuttings.
The
any
grown
to
perfection, the
land must
be well manured
and capable of
irrigation.
In planting
a piece of
ground, the roots or cuttings should be placed out in rows a foot or a foot
and a half apart each way, so that the plants do not throw out too many
lateral shoots, which
When
once the
especi'the
roots have
more
The
first
from
especially
off
cuttings,
root.
It is essential
EHEEA.
with hard or woody bark, which
47
is
commencing
at the stem.
little
fibre,
too
much imposes
little
experience to
There
is
may be known, by
;
down
it
from the
bottom
if
it is
may
be
thinned
out.
If
stem of the
fibre.
When
all
stalks, cutting
attended to
should be avoided.
When
to bottom, after
:
women
one to take
off
and a wooden
versa,
which
is easily
accomplished
scraping in
if
she
uses
one direction,
when
the
After removing
it
the
in
who breaks
separated and
which enables
entire
fibre.
him
to lay hold of
it
and
to strip off
still
blunt wooden knife, and the clean fibre hung up in the sun for a day to
dry,
when
it is
the sun, exposing them to the dews for several days, and then beating
out the brittle herbaceous part with a wooden apparatus, as they treat
hemp
in
separating the
As
to the return,
88
for
one crop,
lbs. or
264
which would be 80
rupees at
yield, at
would
70
175 rupees
all
expsnditure excluded in
both cases.
48
Chocolate
fully reared
FLOBA.
The chocolate
The
also
tree
when Devan
cultivation
for coffee,
of this
most useful
to
tree,
which requires a
promises
prove a most
exotics, as it
little
care or labour.
seed,
obtained in
after 1 5 months,
by shade.
Nutmeg.
in the
Coorg
forests,
of the nutmeg of
commerce
may
to offer
no great
difficulties.
Fruit trees.
the plaintain.
celebrated,
and as common as
is
varieties,
the
sweet
is
fine
orange
most suitable
localities
been neglected.
is in
abundance.
mon-
they should not grow in warmer and more sheltered localities as well as
in Bangalore.
Loquats, peaches,
figs
and the guava, which makes a most excellent jelly, would be the Coorg
pear, if
flavor,
it
little
peculiar
which
Strawberries
and pine-apples
grow to a large
sheltered places in
is
The
Brazil cherry
is
very
into
is
made
Vegetables.
English
still
vegetables
are
satisfactorily
grown by
more
so
by some Planters on
:
their estates.
also peas,
beans,
knoll
quality.
The
natives are
making attempts to
DRY. GRAINS.
49
of paddy
fields
Native vegetables
harvest time,
are
reared on
patches
after
villages
about Fraserpet.
coriander,
from Fraserpet.
Dry grains.
Dry grains
such as
ragi, avare,
tavare, hurali
and
bacco
tic
is
is
of the
grown
home consumption.
of
But the
Coorg tobacco
of an indifferent
its
description,
bestowed upon
cultivation
the
introduction
new
seed would
grown
near native houses, but more for the use of smoking the intoxicating
leaves than for the sake of the fibre.
As in other
of cultivation
of natives, the of the Ghats.
it
hilly parts of
a primitive mode
called
kumari, which
practised
Kurumbas and Kudias, chiefly on the western slopes They cut down and burn a patch of jungle, and plant
hill-rice,
slightly
dug up
to
The former
yields a
the latter a
200
300
Such
they are abandoned in favour of a new piece of jungle, and not resumed
till
stop to by
limits.
it
were ungrateful to
flowers
European
residents,
and leave
it
the
many
other garden
FAUNA.
It
may be
easily
life.
the sportman's
rifle
brief grouping of
the
more promin-
Quadrumana.
it is
the
monkey
for
tribe that
three
species
inspection:
the
grey
monkey.
is
(silenus veter
Male-kadu or Ghat
It
and
it
is
of small size.
Its intelli-
it is
an unsavoury
and
its
capricious
and
old, renders it
(Semnojoitliecus entellus,
Kg.
Jcode)
very fond.
may sometimes
be seen on an
little
ones
their
This monkey
tail,
is
is
which
is
on slender branches.
docile than the black
ous.
Its face
more
and danger-
where one
of
these
monkeys
attacked a baby in
cradle,
is
who
and
is
in curry,
considering
sick
it
a great delicacy.
people.
A
full
soup
made
of its flesh
is
given to
and weakly
WheD
about two
QTTADBUMANA,
feet
51
tail,
it
has a long
and
the
chest.
natives.
Of the skin of
three
named
A little
-The Coorgs
animal of the
make their torn toms or drums. Lemur kind is the slender loris (Joris gracilis),
and northern plateau of Coorg.
its closely set
call it
all
which grows
silent
and slow
thin limbs,
covered with a light brown woolly fur, whitish beneath, and lives chiefly
on
fruits,
but
is
When
unobserved,
it
moves
about the tree in a lively manner, but quickly escapes on being noticed.
Cheiroptera.
tilio),
There
Their flesh
give cod
a delicate
Carnivora.
Of these
the large
there are
many
representatives,
and foremost
(felis tigris),
merous
attacks
all
over Coorg.
it
seldom
man,
game
He was
fond of these
is told
by Captain Basil
On
seat and
made me come
little
my
right hand.
dark
circle,
him a strange
and on his cheeks, brow and chin were placed small black
'
marks
or
'
beauty spots,
note in music.
52
FAUNA.
This
formidable instrument,
of the
'
known
in Indian
name
Coorg knife,'
On a signal
held
confess I
fessional anxiety.
of
tigers
passed
easily
have
broken
loose.
I
know
of his
guest,
directed
the
men
to let
There we
sat, in
tigers in our
us
all
up
The
well fed
and
about,
however, detect
me
trick.
men were
recalled
and the
dragged
off.
pair of lionesses
more innocent
or
more respectful to
Like
Falstaff,
Yet
for
all this,
caught
my
chair
back a
little bit
court,
escape, as the monsters stalked up and down the and once or twice actually touched the edge of our carpet with
their feet.
On
these
circle of
guards which
and
to
On
and
CAENIVOEA.
other beasts
53
which the guards again
protection
;
moved a
little
further
this
off,
after
Still
at
had
my
same
class
at
Mysore, that
could discover
nothing which need have prevented the lionesses from whipping off the
all events,
that of their
who having no
particular claims to
play before us on
the
for-
ward and
thing
pitted against
Any-
more
;
disproportionate
than this
match
would
each
not, although
thumped and
brilliant
;
forced against
At length a
Tie
them
together
'
was hitched
The
tiger
hands
courtiers
joined in the mirth, and the whole quadrangle rang with mixed shouts
of the soldiers, the growl of the bear
of the tiger.
Of
all
discomposed.
his tail
to flank in
I thought at
laughing matter
for, if
the
made
a vacancy
an
officer in his
made a
flying leap
right
windows
of
ing room.
to pieces
The glass and framework of the window were of course dashed in a moment, and the pianos, pictures and book cases must have
fate,
tiger's
progress been
checked
by the weight
of the
ween the window-sill and the ground, somewhat after the fashion of the golden fleece over a mercer's door. The tiger we could no longer gee.
54
FAUNA.
He was
fixed
now
and
for
but the
unmutilated skin
of the
The height
feet, to
is
from 3
to
feet,
and
his length
from 6 to 7
which 3
feet to
may be added
lbs.
for
tail.
His weight
the
from 250
the
400
The age
of a tiger is ascertained,
natives say, by
!
number
green.
and carry the carcase with the band of torn toms to the mandu or village The heroes of the day are the man who shot the beast and he
first
who
touched
its tail,
silver bangle.
The carcase
is
then raised on a
wooden frame, and carried to the yard of the lucky sportsman's house,
where a ceremony takes place which in many particulars resembles a Coorg
wedding. the hero
Thenceforth
may wear
Mr.
Richter
ceremony in Mercara
in
May
thus describes
it
: "Under a
flower
wedding
Coorg
warrior
his armour-bearers.
In
lamp on a heap of
of his house,
men, women
and
children,
then
all
vessel
and
in
silver coin
This money
is
expenditure on a sumptuous
whole company.
away with
claws
This
charm
is
supposed to keep
The cheeta
or panther (Iciruba) is
tiger.
The
skin
is
roundish
The animal
is
2^ or
CARNIVORA.
tail.
55
In
It is
its
depredations
a coward,
fleeing
man
if
unmolested.
Upon
the same festivities as on the tiger hunt take place, but there
less
A female
was savage.
was very
swiftness
till
much
meal times
whom
she
compound, climbed
to the
of a squirrel,
and walked
red squirrel, and when nine months old attempted to run after children.
After having parted with her, she recognized
me
me
The
tiger-cat (huli-leMu) is
it
;
its
sleek
about 3
and
5 inches high
destructive to fowls.
The Holeyas
eat
it.
The black
wild fig tree
very
common
it
lives chiefly
on the
fruit of
the
its flesh.
Similar
The hyaena
there
it
is,
Qtatte
Mruba)
is
Of the dog-family
In resemblance
remarkable for
Its
colour
is
it
united they will attack any beast of the forest, even the
swift,
They are
and never
their
fail in
On coming
front,
up with
their hold
till
it
and piercing
moonlight nights
56
is
FAtTNA.
the jackal,
so
common
poultry,
Besides feeding on
small
game and
is
he
The
jackal
sidered all the better for their transmission through his body
is,
The
fact
that as the jackal eats only the ripest berries, the beans are naturally
of a good quality.
The mungoose
is
or ichneumon
mungos
it is
(viverra
mungo
Can.
Era)
to another.
thick long
rapid
movements give
a pretty appearance.
it
But
for its
wanton depredations
it
might become
a useful pet, as
The
its
has recourse to the ndgaddle (Ruta, rue), the leaves of which act as an
antidote.
Black bears
(Icaradi)
are found
in
Master Bruin
is
His flesh
is
of his skin are attached to the necks of horses and cows to keep off the
evil eye.
On
call
the
The animal
;
is
deep reddish
in artificial
skill.
it lives
fish,
It is
There are
rats in
by
its
piercing
a safeguard against
pursuing ene-
mies.
bamboo-rat (golunda
which
is
food often attacks in great numbers the coffee shrub, selecting the tender
near
is
of
any kind,
this destructive
animal
deal with.
The
field-rat (Md-ili) is of
a brownish colour
in its provident care against the rainy season it to the ripening paddy-fields,
EODENTIA.
in its subterraneous burrows, to the great satisfaction, however,
57
of the
lynx-eyed
carries
Woddar (tank
digger),
who
little
granary and
own meal.
A
is
grows to the
size
and
lives
near houses.
To
against these enemies, the Coorgs store their grain in enclosures called
pattdya, which are raised 2 feet from the ground, with an open space all
round.
It
Its
flesh is eaten
Of
The
first
species (tamias
slriatus) is
common
and warmer
districts
European bungalows
is
and amuses
ture,
inmates with
its tail
its little
squeak. It
Its
a pretty
is
tiny crea-
measuring with
about 9 inches.
body
of a greyish
colour, whitish
3 brown and 2
animal
is
white
on
Hindu fable
this little
Rama
it
his
:
back he said
indelible streaks
The grey
stripes,
squirrel is
and
lives
on
trees.
The red
squirrel (sciurus
maximus, Can.
its
Jcmjari) is a
remarkably
lively
native liberty.
which
its
bushy
tail
measures
European cousin
is
in size
and beauty.
be seen of
its
its
back and
tail,
are of a pale
yellowish brown.
pet,
its
When
young,
is easily
tamed, and
proves an amusing
that
its
but
it tries its
come within
when
ruffling
temper,
may
suffer
harm.
trees of the
forest as familiarly as
a policeman the
means of
The grey
known
harmless
many
forests,
crepuscular in
its
8*
58
habits,
FAUNA.
seen.
Its
home
is in
the holes
of trees and
lives entirely
on
fruit, especially
it is
very fond
of too.
speaking
it
cannot be said to
fly,
but
is
to take
it
In
it
The
flying
membrane
of
but
is
The
squirrel
its
is
down
it
its face,
which, with
bites
severely.
Its
fur
is
very soft
The
4 species of squir-
found
chiefly in the
The
is
pursued on
by
man and
beast.
It is
There
like the
flesh
is
mungoose
is
it.
hunted for
its
by smoking
for
it
out of
holes or by
shooting
if
The
quills are
thrown away,
presence
kept in
On
the Ghats
and
its
scales are
used as
and harp
strings,
Herbivora. Homebred horses there are none in Coorg, except the wretched tats which are kept by Mussalman residents for carrying loads
but "Young Coorg"
har
horses.
is
new
The Pegu pony is best suited both to the climate and the hilly counThe washerman's donkey and the hybrid goat stand the climate
but sheep do not thrive, except in the eastern
districts.
equally well,
CATTLE.
59
rains,
Coorg
cattle
care,
any, seems to be
;
beasts
of
every description and age run promiscuously in the herd, and as there
is
no check by separating
deteriorate.
inferior bulls or
geny must
cription
In the Kanawe
districts, cattle of
principles.
As
it
is,
the
east,
The
num-
not therefore to
is
dodda roga, or
;
the great disease, the cattle refusing food and being frequently purged
ganth-Ttattu or throat swelling disease
;
disease.
The
pasturage,
and the
cause of
much
vexation and loss both to planters and ryots. hold the cow sacred, a sort of sentifields
The
and mother-
usage, neglect
and
starvation.
The slaughter
was
distinctly prohibited
of
the administration
in the fol-
To
Lieutenant C. F. La
HARDY,
Superintendent of Coorg.
Sir,
it is
highly offensive to
jngs of the people of Coorg, that cows or bullocks should be killed for
60
FAUNA.
will
J.
S.
FRASER,
Lt.-Col.
and Commissioner.
Mercara, 16th January 1835.
of the
to
this
time, regarded
it
the prejudice,
coffee planoffers.
however,
ters,
is
gradually wearing
away
who do not
killed
when opportunity
;
Not venerated
which
is
is
cow
is
Can.
Icadi)
by the Coorgs
without hesitation
It lives in
hills,
its
flesh,
however,
thickest forests
and
in the
highest
especially
Marenad and
Hormalnad.
C feet
nose to root of
rather small.
tail
The hump
is
When
of a dark reddish
hue, which
and
of a dirty whitish
especially the
dewlap,
is
covered with
are short
long
The horns
and
thick at the base, but gradually become thinner, leaving the tips small
for the
symmetry of
their
curvature,
may
be proud of the
shields.
The
hide,
which
is
very thick,
is
preferring shady
woods to open
when alarmed
Bi-
mad
never turning to bay as long as he has moving space before him. son
shooting
is
The domesticated
very well
ever,
Tcona
female
is
yemme) thrives
one
;
in Coorg,
an
inferior
how-
lately introduced a
much
EUMINANTM.
larger
stock.
61
more numerous
is
woody
districts, especially in
is
most congenial
day
to their amphibious habits, as they delight during the hot hours of the
in seeking
flies
in stagnant
pools,
where they
Buffaloes
wallow with supreme gusto with only their noses above water.
are a treasure to the farmer
for the threshing floor
;
them
and
burdens
With such a
list
on the back of
with
its
its
thick-set neck
its stupid,
motionless look,
combined
it
gurgling bellow,
render
its
has
Of the
samber,
aristotelis
size,
several
representatives in Coorg
the
spotted deer
;
and jungle-sheep.
is
The samber or
more frequent
elk,
(rusa
Can. Joadave)
the great
mountain
spring.
It is
not gregarious,
its
horns in
haunts thick
domesti-
rather mischievous
with age, as
within reach.
is
male,
The
In almost
every Coorg house one finds some horns of the spotted deer, fixed to the
walls for hanging clothes on.
The most
(kuringi)
delicate
is
the jungle-sheep
It is
about 18 inches
and
the
Its
in hair.
fawn,
lighter towards
very thin,
but in speed
make it an interesting
The
flesh of all the
but
is
it
deer-tribe
highly esteemed by the natives. pig and the wild hog abound, and their flesh
is
The common
prefer-
62
red by the Coorgs to
the former
is
FAUNA.
other meat.
all
well,
but
recommend
its
European consumption.
is
What
the goat
is to
to the
Coorg
The
well
Mammalia
is
it is
so
known
that
it
They are
movements.
As they are
excellent
is
no barrier
to their depredations.
traveller
;
When met
but
it is
Such
and
in
pits,
framework to conceal
animals frequent.
It is
it
them
into subjection.
There are now no tame elephants kept in Coorg, but the Rajas used to
maintain many.
also
periodical elephant
alive.
There
on which
is
is
a granite slab
may
ment
of
modern Nimrods.
The
simply these.
of their fields
of elephants,
when
the Raja,
his
alive
birds:
63
elephants alive as
if
men caught
they
with
were mice, and killed herds of them by using their seveu weapons
the destructive force of roaring thunder ?"
Birds
a fruitful
plentiful
The
Coorg
yet hardly does the sun break through the rainy clouds than
there
is life
around
antici-
tribe.
They seem
to
pate that happy time, when after the monsoon, in sunny October and
November, dressed
spouses,
in their
finest
singing, are
busy
all
utility as public
it
assisted
by the
may be
fine
whilst on
a mountain slope he was struggling on the ground with a large horned This eagle was a fine bird, in sitting posowl, both were caught alive.
ture 15 inches high
;
the upper
part of the head and neck light buff, of a fight brown and grey down the
and dark brown, nearly black, on the The brilliant eye, with with brighter spots.
chest,
brownish yellow
its
iris
and
formidable curved
and pointed
bill
inquisitive at
a respectful
He managed to free himself from his chain and escaped. distance. The Garuda or Brahmani kite (lialiastur Indus) is more frequently
seen.
Its
plumage
is
white,
brown.
In Hindu my-
thology
the natives.
times
it
a useful bird, as
it
devours noxious
chicken.
reptiles,
but somekite
also
carries
is
away an unguarded
easily
The pariah
by
its
(milms govinda)
recognised
greyish
shrill
domain
in small' circles.
It
is
64
from the cookroom, but preys
a swoop, and devours
FAUNA.
chiefly
on
reptiles,
which
it
flying.
The Eajas
kind of falcon,
the
The
sky,
swiftness and
In the
we have
yuma)
;
Can.
but there
is
nightly
solitude
often disturbs
its
whom
the owl
pet
with grave apprehension, and afterwards when he was laid up with jungle
fever the cause
was ascribed
The
rive tribes.
Amongst the
Fissirostres there
is
several species
in its
in Coorg.
modest greyish-
black plumage
ed buildings.
Trogonidae
and
noiseless.
there
is
the
soli-
tary bird of splendid plumage, that delights in the stillness of the forest,
where
it
seizes the
flitting insects
on the
wing.
is
Remarkable
for the
gaudy
plumage
It is frequently seen
it
may
be
seen
all
Nearly
allied to
Of these
which
:
are rather
paddy-fields,
we have three
species
common
Indian kingfisher
are
bengalensis
live
Kg. min-gotti
fishcatcher).
Their habits
similar; they
on
Perched immovably
fish,
for
a passing
upon which
BIRDS.
65
bill,
and
kill
and eat
it.
Their
They lay
climbers,
They
their
powerful
voice
;
bill,
and
their
The
large green
torgatus
There
and
interrupted by the
species.
" tap, tap, tap" of the woodpeckers, of which there are several
is
gularis),
;
more
scarce
is
(mulleripicus liodgsoni
Kg. marakotta-paMi)
is
found in
nad.
in the
of a lively red.
it
pursuit
or in holes of trees,
and its
which
it
The female
flight of
old trees.
The
the woodpecker
tree to tree.
is
coromandus)
Of the
tribe
Temtiroslres
or suctorial birds
there
is
the purple
the flowers,
whose nectar
ceyhnensis)
sucks with
its
thin long
bird,
is
an active elegant
The Indian hoopoe (upupa with an arched crest upon the head
terminating in black.
When
its
in search of food
name.
During the
monsoon
drier district.
The
tribe Deniiroslres
has also
its
representatives in the
Malabar
9*
66
FAUNA.
the
Kg. nukare-ldla=ribbon
Its
which
is
most
is
ornamented with a
greenish black crest on the head and two pure white lateral tail feathers,
flies
along in wavy
delight
is
both
with
their sweet
song
cyanotus).
The
native
Nilgiri
goes
name
of
Bhima
An
plumage,
is
the
may
be found
When
pursued,
away from
nest by
its
es.
pretty.
The
(orthotomus)
in imitation of its sharp cutting cry, which is like the noise of sawfiling
and by
its
It is
common
con-
artificial
of its
nest.
Three leaves
together,
of the
stitches skilfully
drawn
cover to the nest, the full upper half of one leaf forms a curved roof,
completely protecting the entrance.
whilst hopping about, jerks
It leaves
It is
a very active
little bird,
and
up
its
tail,
beating time to
its
piercing cry.
is
Of
similar habits
the
wren {prima
Kg.
chirulichita)
tit
of which there
wagtails (motacilla), which are often seen along reaped paddy-fields, feed-
ing
among
cattle
on various
insects.
The Coorgs
call
them bdldtimoni
their peculiar
habit of wagging
Among
place
is
BIRDS.
67
impudent of birds, the common crow (corvus spJendens ; Can. 7cdgi). In Coorg it is less abundant than in the low country. Less frequent is the
pretty rufous tree crow, or
common
which
cry
is
found in jungles.
banyan and
its
is like
maldbaricus) which
well
The
known mynahs,
less so the
They
numerous
flocks
of various kinds.
They
also keep
To Europeans a
pleasing
acquaint;
Kg.
mane-pakU=h.ouse-hird) which
here as numerous,
clamorous and
amorous as at home
vicollis)
The weaver-bird or
bottle-nested
after
(ploceus haya) is
more nuwhieh
the monsoon,
when
Its
may
nest,
shaped
which
is
;
is
is
woven of long
The entrance
retort,
compressed, and
lower one
white
little
is
eggs.
They
have much the same plumage and habits as our European warbling lark,
natives.
One
of the
largest birds
here
is
the hornbill
It
(buceros
is
cavatus
forest resounding).
belly,
is
upwards of 4
black on the
chin,
across the
tail,
and parts of
the wing.
The curved
male bird
is
sides,
is
On
68
FAUNA.
long, terminating behind in a black curvature,
8i inches
to
front uniting its dip with the ridge of the beak, so that the
a narrow ledge 2
bill,
2
is
bill,
hollow
bill
and the
quills
The Coorgs make powder flasks of the they use for writing. The noise of its wings,
and
its
when
flying, is
it.
very
loud,
it is
progress
is
so slow that
man can
follow
In
its
prey
omnivorous.
Of the
third
Coorg can
and the
ring-dove
;
not
scarce in the
its shrill
forests.
call,
its
The
peacock
(pavo cristatus
jungle
morning
fowl {gallus
Kg.
Md goli)
Both
(
with
bamboo
seeding.
the
perdix cinerea
Kg. ganjalaliki)
and the
quail
brought to Mercara for sale by a class of jungle people who are most
expert in catching these birds,
imitate.
killed,
very
cleverly
In the
may
not be
as they are believed to be the vehicles of the god residing there. of the jungle cock
The hackles
each being
yellow.
scalp.
are
much
marked by roundish
hornlike
plates of various
as trophies,
The
to fishes
the
most attractive
for
bait,
The crow-pheasant
its
or
common
is
very frequently
where
it
slowly
flies
away
A few
or waders
Grallatores
are
the
egret
{egretta
flavirostris
Kg. lalya-pSe^gve&t
monsoon
is
REPTILES.
69
It is white
bill.
as snow,
It
about 3
keeps
;
in small flocks.
The
little
green
jamnicus
Kg.
imitating
its
cry)
;
are found in
whose
flesh
is in
great
estimation
may
occasionally be seen.
As there are no large tanks in Coorg, few of the flatatores or swimming birds are to be found. There is only the wild duck or teal,
of a larger
and smaller
species,
call Jcoku
and yerande-
paMi
suspect danger,
domesticated, but the cold and wet monsoon weather does not agree with
turkeys.
Reptiles.
The
by two kinds of
tortoises,
The
of one
The
shell
common
lizards,
bloodsuckers
and
chameleons,
all
of
them
insect-feeders,
agriculturist.
RamaswaBeppu-nad
mi Kanawe.
feet in length
was caught
in
stomach.
Classifying
them as poisonous
serve to lead the
native
at least
capella or
more frequent
the
Bamboo than
the Male
district,
and often
kept
and worshipped
guard treasure.
in
demon
temples,
and sometimes
in private
rooms to
is
which
formed
by the expanded skin of the neck when the snake is excited, measured 7 It is whitish in front and black on inches in length and i\ in breadth.
the lower part of the back, shading
off into
70
flattened head
FAUNA.
in the middle of the
hood there
is
its
coiled
and swaying
its
to
and
fro,
its bifid
the while,
keeps
till it
darts forward
and hissing
deadly wound.
remedy has
the boasted
the cobra,
and
all
The number
snakes
is
and
all
other venomous
and they
It
lie
flat
sometimes
side,
loose and ready to drop, the fangs being renewed from time to time like
the skin.
The
fangs,
is
In biting,
the
same muscular
and by the
action
venom
is
glands,
injected
venom
by which
in
poisoned and
greyish
is
foot long,
dark brown
their bite
less poisonous.
The
throat, is
8 or 10 feet long,
forests
in its
movements.
found in dense
Its bite
and
is
The
late
Raja
is said
to
have ascerbuffa-
The
;
body
as a
the Coorgs string tbe bones of this snake together and wear
sores or swelling of the glands.
them
grey
charm against
of snakes
prevalent in the
cardamom
jungles,
REPTILES.
in
71
They
cardamom
second the
a certain charm
The
and
first
is
the
called
He pohnga.
The Mdii-bah
when the snakes are irritated They are from 4 to 6 feet The pachi-baUi-murga is dangerous to cattle whilst grazing.
Amongst the innocuous snakes, the
(big snake) or rock-snake,
in length.
and
after
the
monsoon
in
size
is
Next
is
frequently lives in
the
its flesh is
Eemarkable
for
its
commonly seen
in shrubs.
In native
it
skin
is
shadow of man
falling
is
upon
said
An
the
!
Mnam-pdmlu, which
The
iru-tale or
to
head
like
a cock
is
two-headed
snake (silybura
elliotia),
considered as
capable of pro-
gressing equally well forwards or backwards, being gifted with a head at either end of
thin, of
its
body.
The
flying
snake or pdram-pdmbu
is
very
18 inches long.
Equally
is
thin,
but
shorter
black with
white spots.
the
billulli,
the niru-Jcuduma,
The
fiatracliians,
or the
family of frogs,
fill
There
makes
infests
heard at night
the
;
common brown
which
chiefly
paddy-fields
trees
verly.
;
and tanks
on shrubs and
but
all of
them
is
damp
ground.
72
Pishes
FAUNA.
The
river Kiiveri
and
its affluents,
rills
methods of
fishing.
The
following
Colonel Puckle's
Memorandum
chelcra),
fishes,
and
on account of
inside of the
size
:
resemblance in
whiteness
and smoothness
to the
plantain-tree-bark.
They
the
patna-bdle,
of its flesh
Next
;
in size
and excellence
magur
Kg.
it is
spawns in the
mud, and
is full
of eggs in April,
May and
June.
Similar in appearance
slriaius
till
;
and
murl (ophiocephalus
young
Kg.
bare-minu).
It lives in
muddy
It
may be
seen swim-
ming
and
two
lines
grows to
darker
2 feet in length,
on the
sides,
whitish beneath.
ribare ?
) is
(ophioceplialus marulius
fish of
Kg. Kdve;
upon the
hence
its
darkish grey
flowers,
name
of flower murl.
It
of other rivers.
commonly found
tanks.
Its
colour
is
greyish
colour.
The anal
light
and dorsal
dull orange
and strongly
the former
bars.
is like
and
and 9 or
distinct
blotched
is
marked on each
side by
4 black
dots.
;
(nemacheilus striatus
Kg, pdlavari?)
lies
is
found in
bottoms, where
it
INSECTS.
73
or rising for
returns.
It
air, is
when
it
a small
its
silvery
sides
There
caudal
fin,
first
glance the
appearance of
the
little fish
(slimy fish)
is
a kind of
eel
it
flesh is
The Indian
be found in
its all
(garra jerdoni
Kg. jtandi-minu,
;
pig-fish)
may
Its
the
mountain nullahs
like
it
is
those of
It
pig,
hence
its
name.
colour
chin,
by which
can attach
itself to rocks.
all
The
grey-
banded goldfin
(barilius
cocsa) is
an exceedingly pretty
fish,
about 5 inis
The back
blue reflections and fading to white below. The silver-fish (chella culluUus)
is
of about the
same
From August
to
till
November the
numerous
is
little fishes,
The
smallest
the bitter
Icaipe,
the ponahmi
and the
atari.
natives,
who
are very
The
ing:
shells
in
genus Melania, the genus Paludina, the cyrena raalaccensis and the
cyclo-
pharus
excellens.
The
by
the natives.
Insects
its
With
air,
on the reinvigorated vegetation, the placid waters and the warm ground.
Then
is
the time for the entomologist to enrich his collection with fresh
offers
a rich
German
entomologist,
and beauty
of its species.
10*
74
FAUNA.
all,
were it
of the
Passing over the beautiful family of the Cicinddidce or sand-runners, the still more brilliant Buprestidee and Elaieridce, and the powerful family
of the Scarulatidce with the giant stag-beetle
(lucanus maldbaricus)
amongst
this family
we find
enemy
the contemptible
and yet
terrible little
in
Coorg and
Southern
{clyius
India
generally
the Coffee-Borer
The offee-Borer beetle {Xyhtrechus quadrupes)
of
Which our
WOodcut gives a
very
is
good
about
representation.
The
full
grown beetle
is
considerably smaller
both sexes have an elongated cylindrical body and are equally marked.
The head
is
which are of
tip,
moderate length,
the
first
The mandibles
oval, nearly
The prothorax
middle
is slightly
spots, the
sides.
The
y-
The
last
pair of legs are particularly long, and indicate by their strong light brown
The
beetles
most numerous
monsoon, but
in
their
many
habits,
They are
but the
warm
The female
THE BORER.
ful,
75
side of
ovi-
a telescopic tube,
is
in constant
place
but
it is difficult
how many
beetle
The
does
The
naked
eye,
and
Ovipositor, highly
magnified.
in groups of 3 to
whitish, elongated
top,
that they become visible only on removing part of the corky layers of
the bark.
enlarge,
till
after
membrane
size of
a maggot, begins to
way
and gradually
into the
It
is in this
state of the
longest existence
commits such
fearful havoc.
is
The
full
grown larva
appearance.
The body
consists of eleven
segments)
has no
legs,
The head
is
hard,
flattened above, of a brown colour and armed with powerful mandibles, with which it reduces the wood to a fine powder for its food, and having
passed
it
through
its
is
accumulated behind,
filled
and so
closely
completely
up and
in-
The
first
in
and under
defined
wounded bark,
which sometimes
With
larva the
and
its
progress
is in
down the
there
tree
But though
may be
many
as
20 or 30 larva at a time
in
its surface.
When
near
transformation into the pupa state, the larva turns towards the bark,
76
FADKA.
and often makes a clear horizontal sweep round the alburnum, so that
the tree must die, and snaps off at the least touch.
of the borer accounts for the
a tree seeming
the March and April showers, succeeding a period of very dry weather.
The
reinvigorated tree
for,
may
most
wood and
In
its last
cell,
prepared by the
covering
membrane.
In this
two months in
its
it
emerges from
pupa covering,
eats
its
matures
its
beetle
and with
its
powerful jaws
way
where
departure
work on an extended
scale
by a numerous progeny.
The whole
to the death
2 months.
Its
sickly look
The
formed
coffee berries
fall off
and the
tree dries
up or
lingers in
The
destructive
particular
localities,
but
spread almost
all
an immediately
and
reliable remedy.
The
insect,
which
is
various
and
an enormous extent, so as
to render
presence a pest to coffee cultivation since the year 1865, a pest which
all
;
the
FIREFLIES.
77
:
proper cultivation
A
useful,
beetle
particularly
it
phenomenon
affords
when swarming
and May
Kg.
mmambulu,
glittering insect).
peculiar to
in such astonishing
tion of
true.
abundance and
brilliancy.
is
The
following descripit is
as beautiful as
graphic and
sultry day.
set unobserved.
is
overhung
with clouds.
moon
rises slowly.
;
The
air
perfectly pellucid
not
a breath of
risiDg
wind
all
still.
You
lit
moon
them
to the massive
banks of clouds,
of the moon,
up here by
wonder at the
beauties of the world above, where, on the dark blue depths of heaven,
light
seems
dome
built
eye can
air,
teem with
lustre, every
seems
to
hills
have
its
own
fairy
lamp.
The valley
at
your
feet,
the
lit
wooded
left,
are
up and gleam
ever varying
splendour,
every
star
had
sent a representative
dark
is
earth.
Whence
all
No sound
heard, silently
confusion.
Look
Myriads of
Now
if
time.
You
sit
and
look,
sit all
fairy scene".
Among
the
plentiful
and of an excellent
78
FAUNA.
build their
Some bees
(liedje'nu),
hives in hollow
(Jcolujenu).
trees
(tudejetiu),
some in rocks
others on
shrubs
They
in
Surlabi-muttu-nad, in
Yedava-ndd, Gaddi-nad,
Madikeri-nad and
Kiggat-nad,
where
may
200
to
be found.
trees,
the
A
up
month
of June.
tie
Having
hit
tree,
to the latter
and
at-
tached to a long rope they climb up with a strongly smoking torch, which
The alarmed and half stunned bees fly away, and their honeycombs are removed and let down in the basket. Whilst thus engaged, the Kurubas sing a peculiar song, made for the occasion,
they hold near the
hive.
and expressing
their feigned
The Kurubas
sell
con-
Government agent,
is
alone entitled
The
is
nests,
bage heads, are frequently met with in jungles, and are better
their inmates attack
stings.
ants, of black
and red
community and
in the cleansing
their
own
made,
With
the
close of the
of which
and
brilliant colouring.
:
Three
and shape,
one
with black velvety upper wings of about 6 inches in width, and light blue
under wings
one with
MOTHS.
wings ornamented with a pale yellow satin-like spot
however,
all
is
79
the most beautiful,
the third, the black upper and lower wings of which are dotted
little
dots, in addition to
which the
marked
is
death's-head-moth, the
stsia,
the
sphinx
the
found
in
great numbers on
that
all
chinchona trees
and
wings
many
others.
Amongst those
amongst
come
forth at
is
the moths,
the
wings.
warm
lines, dividing
a similar
encircled by
The upper
fine
black wavy
line,
by yellowish bands.
The male
is
of
a darker
antennae, of the
row.
the green-
upper
lunular ocelli or spots of black and crimson shading off into a pale rose
colour
;
tails,
are
marked
The
Bm nbycid(S,
r
moths
There are
some moths of a
light
to the
careya arlorea.
They are
chiefly
80
cocoons.
PAtJNA.
The thread
of this silk
is
so interwoven
The
It
larva
of
commonly
called
Eed
Borer on account of
trees.
burrows
an open
globular
through which
woody excrements are discharged, and which betray the active enemy
within.
hole, or
means
for destroying
its
apt to
take a
horizontal turn in
Its
progress and
thereby cut
of the tree.
in a tree.
In
its chrysalis
state it is enveloped
cocoon.
and spotted
large
with
black
The body
marked with a
colour.
The antenna? of
More
of the
destructive to
young
coffee
plants
is
the
Ringer the
At times
coffee
it
larva
moth
by Dr. Bidie.
multi-
plies to
such
would be
rapidly destroyed by
unless
checked
in its
devastating course.
the ground,
The
stops
Ringer gnaws
off
a circle of the
The grub
Its
when
its
birds,
&c,
are at roost.
Vegetable gardens,
equally subject
close to the
especially
when planted
up
the ground.
a clouded brown, and the lower pair of a greyish or bluish white colour.
The charcoal
family
liepialidce.
tree (sponia
It is
ivighlii) is infested
detected
by the protruding bag-like cover over the entrance, consisting of a texture of threads
repose, bends
in
down
greyish brown
wings, which
measure nearly 4
inches across.
MOTHS.
81
brilliant but
disagreeably odori-
the
by their attacking
is
the
more dreaded
is
innocuous
hundreds of eggs
the
and
fall off.
The bug
leaving
generally appears
first in
some
sheltered
damp
Still,
it
ravine,
but
rapidly spreads over an estate, and after two or three seasons disappears,
the
trees
in
an
exhausted
;
condition.
is
not
so
much dreaded
for the
creates
on a sunny
three
It is nearly
largely represented
man
The
blue-bottle,
like
the vulture,
makes
its
mysterious
The common
seem
to seek
make themselves
scarce.
flies,
Among
our attention
is
They
are not so numerous in Coorg as on the coast, but buildings in the Province are not free from their attacks,
in the light-
excluding
mud
galleries
mud nests,
in the
name
of ant hills
Kanawe
dis-
11*
82
FAUNA.
cockroach, the
the leaf-insects,
found in
Coorg.
The walking-sticks or
When
and
inches at
least.
It is
The
in
leaf-insect
(phyllhtm siccifolium)
is
and
the middle
2 inches broad
its
it
leaf
and on
back-seams
side-ribs
a natural
branch
regular intervals.
The
6 legs are likewise green, and expanded like the petiolary stipules of the
lime tree
is
;
the
last joint
is
The head
and the
and
yellow,
on which
other,
it
feeds.
When
most extraordinary
which seems to be a
has the forelegs of
compound of the three above-mentioned insects. the mantis, the thorax and posterior legs of the
with
large
It
own.
The head,
elyptical
protruding
eyes,
its
hornlike
appendage and
is
filiform antennae,
its erect position
heightened by
The thorax
is
like
and the wings, which overlap each other and are bent downwards,
The long
legs
insect,
which
light
brown.
insects
the scolopendra, the bite of which causes severe pain, and the jtdusi
ABACHNIM.
which
ia
83
coiled
up
like a
watch
spring.
which are co-extensive with man's habitation, are not wanting in Coorg,
especially
among the uncleanly low-caste people. The Arachnidce or spiders and scorpions have
The Coorg
spider
also their
numerous
representatives.
vince.
abounds in
is
all
parts
of the Pro-
body
inches long,
which give
it
a ghastly appearance.
damp
places,
disturbed, disen-
The yellow-banded
as
it
spider is an interesting
spans
its
and rushing
along the
The
largest spider
Its
perhaps in existence
is
is
body
two inches and a half in length and one inch broad, and the longest leg
over 3 inches.
in
It is of
The creature
is
covered with
grey
bristles,
legs.
Their sting
of the
very painful,
swelling
The
smaller greyish-yellow
damp
live
;
rooms, and
its
The
crabs
:
class
Crustacea has
representatives
;
in
several kinds
;
of
naltt,
which
fields
under stones
Icdlcdli,
found in streams
hullalli,
found in paddy
eagerly eaten by
the natives,
to
cultivation,
especially to
damp
ravines.
84
FAUNA.
Of the
the
on
memory
of every one
who ventures
mon-
soon.
to beep watch right and left for the approaching wanderer walking along
make up
progress,
to
up way of
mercifully,
he
feels
them
leech
The medicinal
(atte) is also
found
in tanks,
in the Hospital.
HISTORY.
Legendary
Period.
The
Kaveri
But
in a
for the
it
tive
literature,
had
in their
any
interests.
policy,
as gods
Parasu Bama, after his defeat of the Kshattriyas and destruction of their
eighteen tribes, presented the conquered earth to their patriarch
Kasyapa
as a sacrificial
gift.
The
demons with
celebrated rishis or hermits, and the mightiest and most fertilizing rivers
deities.
and Kaveri
to Vishnu.
fell
or Kaveri
Mahatmya
(glorification of
Kaveri)
describes the sacred river from its source to its union with the sea,
the holy bathing places and the temples on its banks.
to treat also of Coorg,
it
and
The
and
This
ilj
rises,
would best
suit
Brahmanical
interests.
The tough
;
untamable
and thorough
contempt
for,
the
sanctities
compliment.
The
the late
* A translation of this work into Kannada by Sriniyas Aiyangar, made at the Head Sheristadar, Biddianda Nanjappa, was published by him in 1864,
and expense of
86
very skilful
for anticipating
HISTORY.
no serious
criticism,
The
Kanake
seems
and Kaveri,
not
lost,
as
it
But
here,
is
visible
stream Sujyoti
an
idle
only to complete a
rivers.
with
singularly
The
Coorgs,
would appear,
never
troubled themselves
much about
was designed
to
make it
whose divine
ori-
Vindhya mountain range, the great son of both Mitra and Varuna), and
its
course
a character
of surpassing sanctity.
The
of the amrita or
nectar of immortality
among the hosts of the gods. They invoked great Vishnu, the lord of He had compassion on them. From him emanated the enchanting Mohini, while Lakshmi at the same time sent forth Lopamudre (a form of
all.
Parvati).*
transcendent beauty,
After this
Kaveri,
to
act,
rescued the drink of immortality and restored she retired to Brahmagiri, the
hill
to the gods.
and
was
changed
into
rocky cave.
Lopamudre
was
given
first
his daughter.
in the heavens.
retires to
The second
magiri,
Kavera muni
Brah-
there to give
Brahma.
He
asks
Brahma for
II,
children.
* Of, Vol.
243,
LEGENDS.
his
8?
for
devout
rishi ?
gives
Kaveri.
him Lopamudre
obtained the
father, she
earth,
name
new
resolves
all
on becoming a
and
goodness
are to be appropriated
Kavera muni.
For
this
the
when turned
into
river, of
may have
Now
who
is to
control the
While Kaveri
is still
absorbed
wife.
Thou jh longing
vow, she consents to live with Agastya, under the condition, however,
that she shall be at liberty to forsake
is
left alone.
to
own holy
it
tank,
guarded by his
disciples.
Thus deserted by
to stay her course.
Agastya against
forth
from
a beautiful
The
disciples tried
again, and
When
Agastya,
river,
the
plained to the river half which road to take to the eastern sea, enumerating
all
new
stream.
Previous to this
Kaveri
river,
a Brahman named
Suyajna
asked the god to give him mukti (beatitude in the Hindu sense, involving
loss of consciousness, even of
self,
individuality
to render
him a
Vishnu gave
him Sujydti for a daughter, saying, " She shall be a benefactress to the
world,
shall be thine.
Go
to the Agni
hill.
Kanake, a
Into
the
command
of Vishnu.
Kanake
in
her meditations.
After
a while Devendra
88
HISTORY.
visit,
came on a
what
a
wife.
She promised
told
to obey, but
Kanake and
her
grief she
river.
Both of them
Sujyoti.
Devendra
finding
himself cheated,
saying
Whereupon
:
"
When
Kanake
ingly,
and
in
Accord-
fulfilled.
it
remembered
the
Kaveri and
Kanake
which unite at
for
Bhagamandala
(see p. 8).
under ground
some
ask Suta puranika about the country in which the sources of the Kaveri are.
river
it?
they inquire
and what
is
the
origin of the
its tribes?
name? What
To
by repeating the
rishi
Dalbhya.
The country
in the
lies to
the west of
Ramanathpura*
who destroyed
the bard
;
be seen says
to the north of
rishi's
Rama
kshetra (Malabar)
;
Western Ocean
it
to the south of
Kanva
habita-
From
east to west
three names
the
first,
Brahma
The
TcsMlra; the
Krdda
desha.
origin
of
these
thus described.
When Brahma A
nelli tree
performed
i.
e.
India,
sight.
CHANDRA VARMMA.
hundred boughs. As he looked at the
with conch, discus and club.
tree,
89
eye
upon
it,
Upon
this,
Brahma
of his
worship-
holy vessel
(This river is
geography
it
On
river
Kaveri springs,
There
is
a mountain
is
called Half-moon (arddha chandra) says the bard,f near which there
it
Vishnu took the form of a hsh and worshipped Sivaimmortality, and Vishnu gave the country
name
The account of
this
They were
The
first
of
them longed
to
to pleasure,
and
philosophy.
The
but he
His
father and
his fortune.
He was accompanied by
goodly army.
Tirupati,
He
visited in turn
many
At Sriranga he worship-
ped Ranganatba.
of the shastras.
and Cochin),
at last to
Brahmadri (Brahmagiri).
to the worship of Parvati.
Here he dismissed
bis
f The
% Matsya was the name of king Virita's capital, at which the Pandus in disguise spent thsir last From Vol. I, ]85, it will be exile, as described in the Virata parvaoiihe Mah& Bharata. seen that there is reason to identify the city with Hanagd in Dharwar, just beyond the north western of the Mysore, where also the Kadambas ruled lor a considerable period after their subjection frontier bytheChalukyas. (See Vol. I, 197).
year of
12*
90
HISTOBY.
"
desire a
caste,
my
father's.
a wife of
my own
mother of children.
Siva's
mine enemies.
heaven
ex-
On account
in another
life,
own
caste.
life it
may be
fulfilled.
own
and be enabled
Saying
this,
to
Chandra Varmma.
He
"
hand
of Parvati.
what
be the use to
me
of Sudra children?
What
then
I
a kingdom
to
me?
What
:
is to
me enjoyment
up thy sorrow,
in this life
What
!"
then shall
do with this
girl ?
Parvati
Chandra
Varmma.
life
Through
to come.
will not
thou shalt
!
be happy
and
in the
thee.
They
will
be called Ugra
(fierce
men).
They
will
be
and
and
faith-
fit
to rule,
Kshattriyas in every respect but the possession of the four vedas and six
angas.
They
I
will
life
and
in the next.
In this holy
country will
ter of
From
in the
month of Tula,
and from
dear to
many
Mlen-
This country
it,
is
me
as mine eye,
By my
Become the king of this land, uphold the laws and establish holy Brahmans." With this command Parvati gave him a victorious sword, a
white horse fleet as the wind the Mlenchas, disappeared.
,
CHANDRA, VAEMMA.
91
blessing,
brated his marriage with a bride of his own caste, according to the
shastras.
Both the king and the queen were crowned by the holy men, and Chandra Varmma, giving houses and lands to the Brahmans, invited
people of other tribes also to settle in his kingdom.
As
king
of
called
Matsya-
The
account
is
third
name
is
Kroda desha.
The
following
Chandra
Varmma was
His Kshattriya queen was barren, but his Siidra wife bore him eleven
sons.
The
first-born of
He and
all
his
brothers
due ceremonies.
to obtain
When
for
Varmma
He
was anxious
princes.
to
Chandra Varmma.
Varmma,
sixth
received twenty
Bixteen,
;
of Vidarbha Raya's
and
each eight
the
seventh and eighth princes received each seven of the princesses, and to
daughters
Raya were
given.
When
to his
all
Vidarbha
Raya returned
own
of his people stayed with his daughters in the country of their adoption.
greatly.
When
and
Varmma, he grew
of his kingdom.
Devakanta's head, exhorted his sons to love and union, and retired with
his
exercises.
Kaveri
" and
you
will
be happy," he
92
HISTORY.
of
Siva
and of Parvati."
Devakinta was now king.
sons abounded in children.
All the
of
Each
They were
nails
all
mighty
men
of valour,
arm and
did not
foot.
-
Their
enough
them.
The produce
of their
suffice to
feed
to prepare
feet,
new
fields for
With the
hands and
hills
with the
Then they
settled themselves
anew
of their
own arms. Around them they planted houses and families of Brahmans and other castes. Because this renovation of the country resembled the
which
name
of the country.
his sons
From
of the
departure of Chandra
Varmma,
and
Two
the sun's entering the sign of Libra) Parvati appeared in a dream to king
Devakanta, and ordered him to assemble his whole people in the place
call-
ed Valamburi.
The
river
The
violence of the
stream twisted the knots of the women's cloths round to their backs,
membrance
in the
(says
the
Purana) of the
bathing of
the
Coorgs
of the
cried.
Valamburi.
"
In the
middle
stream,
fecundity,
;
Parvati
answered
" It is well
has worshipped
* 'Three
me
who
lives' does not mean father, son and grandson, but three actual lives of the same person worshipped Parvati untilhis death, anJ when he was born again according to Hjndu theorv spent his second life, and after that his third life, in the service of the goddess.
KADAMBAS.
the Kaveri and there found him.
93
He
which they spent there, how to prepare food form other holy
in the
rites.
and per-
month
of Tula (Oct.
Nov.)
tribe in
honour of Kaveri.
Historical PeriodKadamtaas.
of the
Ugra
the
Kadamba kingdom
the first colonists of
is
whence
Coorg migrated, a
known
of the early
Kadamba
history as corroborated by the modern annals of Coorg and the fact that
every dynasty of
its
A
name
that
of
Kadambas
* will
princes of
line,
embraced
all
the countries
dominions
lay.
The
the
Kadamba
kings.'
There are other traditions which lend support to the same view,
contained in the tales of the adventures of Chitrasekhara and
sekhara. f
Soma-
identified with
Kadur
Baba
Budan mountains,
the
The following
by professor
summary
of their
adventures,
nearly
'a
as
given
of
number
amusing
inci-
* See Vol.
193ff.
f See Vol. II. p. 499.They form the subject of the Chora Kathe or Bobbers' Tales, written about A. D. 1100, by Mallikarjuna, the father of Kesava ,author of the Kannada Grammar called Sabda Mani Darpana. (See Vol. I p. 401.)
% McK. Coll. Indent. Ill, 264.
II,
51, For
see
Nirgunda, Vol.
II p.
499.
Also
94
to that capital in disguise,
for
HISTORY.
one of them.
thousand giants, who had baffled and destroyed the emissaries employed by Indra to bring him a description of the charms of the princess, they
effected their entrance.
by night, and in
and princess
of their jewels,
and
all the
consented to give
if
he withheld
to yield to
The
king, compelled
the
demand
of the
unknown
suitors,
issued a
first kill
The
the lion (who turned out to be a prince metamorphosed), and carried off
the
tail
as a trophy.
The washerman
of the
palace,
its
on going out in
Preparations
when
death.
The
alone
princess
Suvarna Devi.
The
to
princess
was kept
captive
Somasekbara undertook
and departed
alone,
would indicate his falling into some calamity, when his brother Chitrasekhara might come to aid or revenge him.
On
arriving
at
Hemavati
On one
voir,
it
to a
shopkeeper, by
whom
it
The
prince, on seeing the beauty of the slipper, fell in love with the wearer,
find
KADAMBAS.
to him.
95
An
old
the shoe to
agreeable.
nity
its
owner, to
the task,
and succeeded
in tracing
made
steal
it
herself
Finding out that Somasekhara owed his personal immuear-ring, she contrived to
it
from
him
asleep,
fire,
defaced
bore,
and
threw
into the
who
to console her,
Ugra-bahu,
and
by the widow.
She
shutting up
and
leaving with
it
chanced,
month
for
his arrival, at the end of which term she would put an end to her
life.
The
decease,
was apprised
of the event
flower.
As On
soon as this was known to her husband, he set off for Hemavati.
his
in his
gambols plunged
into
a pool
pool
Some
On
charmed
arriving
and reading
Somasekhara had
as soon as
was restored
to its
The
brothers, after
communicating
monkey
with some of the water of the pool that produced this metamorphosis.
The
the
king, to
whom
bride
of
Suvarna Devi
to
become
his
Having then made himself known to Suvarna Devi, and without delay. restored his brother to the human form, they devised the plan to be adopted,
to be
married to Ugra-bahu.
96
HISTOET.
the purpose, to which Ugra-bahu re-
for
the
Chitrasekhara, going
The
Vikrama,
to
come to
their aid
which he complied, and their authority was thus established over the
in his
to
a beggar,
After settling
their wives
new
acquisitions,
paid their
own
much
to their
After a due
period of power and prosperity, the different princes were admitted to the
heaven of
Siva.
The known
and of Nilavati
(Kadur
District)
District),
together with the mention of Hemavati as the scene of one of the principal exploits, and of
Ugra
ba.hu as the
neighbouring king
who became
especially
enamoured of
me
Ugra king
kings of
may be intended.* This view is strengthened by finding that the Hombucha (Humcha, near Nagarf) in inscriptions dated S. S.
styled udilogra
'
thererace,
Hombucha and
is
of Coorg were of a
common
and
'
this
very strong',
may
the
same
signification in
Kannada, applied
in
to the
principality
Manjarabad.J
of which
we are
* The reference to Cashmir may be credibly explained as meaning Sringeri whose connection with Cashmir, see Vol. I, 378, & II, 444.
in
District, for
f See
It,
Vol. II,
353
&
373.
whose progenitor was Jinadatta Kaya, a prince of the sola race (see Vol. 353, 373), also claim to be uilara Madhurddhisiara, lords of the northern Madhura (now Muttra) and therefore of common origin with the Pandyas of Madhura in the south (see Vol. II, 297). If the Ugra kings of Coorg nad similar pretensioos, it may account for some traditions of their descent from the Fundus, which are supported by reference to the custom of polyandry.
kings,
t The Humcha
CfiERAS.
'
of the
palyam of Balam.
It carries us
back
to near the
period
when
the Kadambas, being subdued by the Chalukyas, which occurred in the 6th century, had been deprived of their
fined to the
territory
in
districts in
The
the
southern parts, being perhaps too remote for direct control, were settled
upon Jinadatta
Humcha
first to
frontier,
all
20 miles north
overrunning
Cheras.
What portion
of the
Kadamba
kings,
Humcha
was
one
in
Baliur,
and one
in
Kotur*
The
first is
Maharajadhiraja, whose
He
that
also
titles
specially
it
city,
S. S.
wherever
is
dated
(A. D. 887),
titles,
and
also
made
to
same
manadi.
He came
him
D. 869.
and
to enable
to
seems
to
have
" See Ind. Ant. VI, 99 II. 155. A much earlier inscription of this line, on copper plates, dated A. D. 466, was found in the Mercara Treasury, but does not relate to Coorg. Ind. Ant 1.360.
;
f Sripura
as
if
is also mentioned as if a royal residence in the time of Kongani III, A. D. 777, and connected with the Nirgunda kingdom. See Nagamangala plates, Ind. Ant. II., 161.
Word of Truth.
as
The tenure
is
called
13*
98
HISTORY.
Hoysala Ballalas.
sore, the
in
My-
the
founder of the line killed the tiger which was adopted as their crest, and
Their dynasty
first
When
the Ballala
in
1310,
the ravages of the conquerors, for the Ballala king retired to Tondanur
later,
when Mubarak
to the
Khilji
made
Yadava dy-
conquer Malabar, which the latter effected in the course of a year and
In this conquest
it
is
supposed that
Vijayanagar.
city of Vijayanagar,
whose
Balam, and
298).
efforts to colonize
described (Vol.
II.
by
its
own
and
it
divided into a
number
Kombus, ruled by
chiefs
styled Nayaks, who, like the Palegars of Mysore, were doubtless tributary
to the
their
own domains
gave abund-
ant opportunities
Kombus
by the
and 35 nads.
existing,! but
finally
were
succumb-
inscription above mentioned it is evident that these Jcadangas not only existed as far back as a thousand years ago, but bore particular names, as the one therein called
the
Fmne
VIJAYANAGAB.
99
is
The number
known, there
ancestral
not
may have
The
Jcaimatta or
monument
taluk
is still in
Achu Nayaka of Anjigeri-nad in Kiggatnad preservation. The family was exterminated about good
of the
chiefs, the
Of the Beppu-nad
is still
name
of Utta
Nayaka
of the
in popular
remembrance.
In Padinalknad the
is
name
There may have been others, but the names of their houses are no
longer known.
Among
the Palegars
who on the
decline of the
The founder
of the line
Nayaka.
years,
He and
his
It
Ikkeri prince
came
to
At
first
he assu-
med
Jangam
a considerable influence
"When
instead of
of the threshing
annum.
Having
by his
adherents
as
ruler
of Haleri and of
also
surrounding
nads,
submitted,
But
his increasing
power soon threatened the safety of the Coorg Nayaks, who at last were
put to death, and the whole country brought under the Haleri government-
100
HISTORY.
The
of tli9 line of
:
established, so far as
Period A. D.
Vira Eaja
Appaji Raja
MndduEaja
Dodda Vfrappa
Chikka Virappa
...
... ...
...
... ...
1633-1687
16371736
1736-1766
Muddu
Eaja
>
17661770
...
...
Muddaya
DevappaEaja
Linga Eaja
5
...
17701774 17751780
1780-1809 18091820 18201834
(died
...
...
Eaja
...
Vira Eaia
deposed
1862)
is
evident
from
own
crude form of
Sivachdris.
who spoke
medium,
latter
Kannada
official
may have
Malayalam
who dreaded
their supposed
supernatural powers,
it
still
Coorgs are in
the Coorgs.
unintelligible
Thus
it
was
left to
mould, or rather to disfigure the Coorg mind, into the character in which
the English found
it
in
1834-
That
to adduce.
it
Linga Raja, and the picture applies equally well to the times of his
predecessor
and of the
late Raja:
"The chief of
He
;
Codagu
exercises
shares in
common
with the
gods the homage of the people, and a more than ordinary portion of
eastern humiliation
is
he
is
approached with a
all
the servility
or despotism claim
in his presence, in
which no subject
dare be seated or indeed within the precincts of his fort, the subject clasps
THE COOEG
his
RAJAS.
101
sign of
slavish vassalage
hands as
is
;
the
last
and he
attitude
to
his mandates, which, received with veneration, are executed with singular
precision,
and
commands
or actions.
will,
this instantaneous
is
however capricious
that,
and obedience
maintained
by an exemplary severity
cannot create affection.
however
it
The
rigorous
exercise of
and
of the people
is
complete slavery.
Under so
political
of an
;
desirable
it
should
but
little
in
his despatch
:
to the
entire
to
know
little
and permanent
abolition
present
Again,
"Their
minds are so abject and enslaved that they (the Coorgs) dare not
speak against their late Raja, or they have not a motive
Again, in a letter dated 14th July 1834
dispelling the
:
and
that I
am
happy to
district of
Coorg
be found, in
its
possess
many advantages
The
102
HISTOBY.
A
archives
original
was found
in the
atMercara
from
obtained
the
records of
the
Chief
Commissioner's Office
at
and
printed
in the
for
the Madras
Government
Mangalore Mis-
The subjoined
The names
of the
are
written
with
red
It
ink
gives
The
chronicle is
account of the
Company,
in simple
thoroughly
retains
its
Canarese character
Purana.
to
The English
translation
and very
likely
untouched by
the
Raja's
successors,
the
English language.
after the
But
the
Kannada
prepara-
Mercara archives.
which
name
of
Channa
probably an interpolation
made by the
translation,
late
The two
last
Kannada.
Dodda Vira Rajendra, the suppression of which The translator, who could have had no motive to
the translation almost a year before
from his
original, finished
the death of Vira Raja. Vira Raja's guilty successors have tampered with
EAJENDEANAME.
other documents, forged some and destroyed others.
jecture seems, therefore, to be legitimate enough.
103
The above con-
As
is
no reason
but
it is
to doubt the
veracity
of its statements,
so far
as they go,
By commencing the
escapes the disagreeable necessity of disclosing two circumstances without a knowledge of which Coorg affairs contain much that is unintelligible,
family,
and the
fact that
they
belonged,
systems of India.
dom
how to
is
indicated, indeed,
to the
north of
Coorg, pillaged without mercy the unfortunate towns, villages and farm-
houses which
countries
families
fell
Remnants
of
may
yet
of Coorg.
Coorg
banditti
name without
all
which
most
terror by which
iittle
he ruled
his country.
sight.
Human
life
He had
Vira Raja's nearest relatives had died in prison at Periyapatna, the victims
of hunger
and disease
at Kurchi, his
off
a Brah-
man.
He had
studiously silent
104
on these
patrons.
topics.
flISTORY.
for
and
For
this
at the
Hindustani
officers
translations
in
the
Com-
pany's service.
Sirkar.
He seems
object of
to
that to his
and that he had no friend on earth but the English Government, whose
gratitude he had indeed fully deserved.
We may
now proceed
to
give a
summary
is
of the
contents of this
Coorg history, the English translation of which where more detailed information is required.
The
chronicle
of
Muddu
Raja,
who
is in-
troduced as the son of Appaji Raja, and the grandson of Vira Raja.
reigned at
He
Haleri
in
established himself at
He had
eldest son
Haleri,
three
sons
Muddu Raja
him.
died in
1687,
and
his
settled at
and the
was succeeded by
son Appaji
The
this
latter
had a
son,
him
The
succession thus
first
by the
Horamale branch,
it
continued
till
sons, of
whom
three
died in early
;
life.
Of the
Muddu
the
at
the full
moon
whom was
whose
it is
DODDA VIRAPPA.
105
The
more
clearly
table, in
which
is
also indi-
who came
to the throne.
Vira Raja.
Appaji Raja
i.
Muddu
Raja.
ii.
Dodda Virappa,
at
Appaji Raja,
at Haleri,
born 1670.
(?),
Nanda Raja
at Horamdle,
died about 1738.
Mercara
died 1737.
iv.
Muddaya
d.
1770.
Appaii Raja,
6.
iv,
b.
Muddu
I
Raja
vi.
b.
Linga Haja
1710
(?), d.
M allaya
v.
1680
(?),
I
d. 1729.
1700, d. 1770.
1780.
iii.
Devappa Raja
d.
1774.
d.
1766.
vii.
Vira Rajendra,
b.
viii.
Linga Raja,
d.
Appaji,
d. 1808.
1763, d. 1809.
1820.
I
ix.
Vira Raja,
At the time when Chikka Deva Wodeyar was ruling in Mysore Dodda Channammaji, the mother of Somasekara Nayak in Ikkeri or
;
Bednur
is,
in Sode; Venkatadri
Nayak
in Belur, that
Balam
:
Varmma
in the original) in
Chira-
kal
The
frontier of
Dodda Virappa.
of Periyapatna.
Wodeyar
of Mysore,
whom
they
implore
the assistance of his relative, who, espousing his cause, marched immediately to support him.
fication to learn
* Kattemalalviii
is
But on reaching Siddapur, he had the mortiPeriyapatna had fallen, and that Vira Raja, the
river,
that
on the Lakshmantirtha
near Hunsur.
106
son
of Nanjunda,
HISTOHY.
of the
having previously, in compliance with the sanguinary dictates put to death his wives and
children to preserve
honour,
way beyond
they were
encamped on the
Before daybreak
when
men
with
77
officers
Immediately after this event, the Coorg Raja marched to Tomara, who with an to oppose an invasion of the Raja of Kotangadi,
in a fortified
Dodda Virappa
body of
fifteen
victory gained
force.
He made a spirited attack, forced the entrenched camp Varmma, and destroyed the Raja and his army at one blow.
After some time, Chikka Deva
in
Balam, the
a share of
spoil for
district.
Yelusavira
country,
demanded that
Virappa
a part of
its territory.
But
little
Deva, Dodda
ensued.
Coorg
it.
On
this
name
two parties.
Dodda Virappa had enjoyed but a short repose, when the Raja
of Chirakal implored
his aid against the
of Ikkeri or Bednur,
towards the
to
The Coorg
war
in
At
last
1
to
Varmma
Dodda Virappa
is
became
security
In
returning
to
his
* This
Feriyapatria
in the History of
265.)
CHIKKA VIRAPPA.
107
owa
country,
Vira
Varmma
unhesitatingly paid
when
the second deputation from Coorg came and demanded the balance, he treated them most insolently. Dodda Virappa forthwith despatched a
force of 5,000 Coorgs, under his general Jogi Muttana, to ensure
strict
a more
layalam debtor formed a scheme to destroy the whole force which had
come
to
dun him so
disagreeably.
who opposed
his passage,
to have
taken no re-
venge on the treacherous Vira Varinma, but paid the remaining. nine lakhs
to
villages in the
to supply
(amrita)".
Dodda Virappa
same
lar supply of cocoanuts for the tutelary goddess, took this opportunity
purchasing the Sulya district with money taken from the treasury of the
The whole
district
his long
have relaxed
old.
his courage or
damped
his enterprise.
He
died in 1736,
78 years
Two
of his wives ascended the funeral pile with the dead body of the Raja.
successor
in 1 730,
assumed
authority.
His father, Appaji Raja, the only son of the late Raja, had incurred
the suspicion of causing the destruction of his wife at the instigation
of a favourite mistress, and been thrown into prison, where he languished
for twelve years until his death.
like
many
But
oriental despots,
quitted a prison
seat
himself on a
;
throne.
clouded by
misfortune
and subject
to
nervous complaints.
reign,
108
HISTORY.
The
restless ambition
the
Hindu
Ali,
and Mysore, now under the vigorous government of Haidar Haidar threatened destruction to the smaller States in its vicinity.
prince,
When
he took
territory,
he considered
he succeeded
a state of vassalage.
district,
Chikka Virappa,
But
fertile in
expedients, soon
found a pretext
for
Many
battles
were fought
last the
frontier.
At
My-
soreans were defeated, and Haidar offered to the Raja of Coorg eternal
district,
the proposal.
He had
sum and
died.
sent hostages
Muhammadan commander
no children,
its
were as
Having
the family of
extinguished, and in
stead
negotiations,
menced
hostilities.
Muddu
Raja, at*
Khan near
Attempting
to
retire
Coorg
army.
treasure,
guns
ammunition
fell
into the
lieu of the
Uchingi country, gave up the districts of Panje and Bellare in return for
the
sum
for
to
his
general,
boundary
between
river
Sarve.
Thus peace
was
LINGA EAJA.
109
died.
Devappa Bdja.
Ling/i
In
Raja of Haleri wished to see his nephew, on the throne, while on the part of the Horamale
Muddu
Raja's sen,
son of Muddaya, proposed his own son Devappa Raja as successor to the
throne of Coorg.
subjection. Linga Raja, being unable to enforce his claims, fled with his son
Vira Raja and his nephew Appaji Raja, to seek the powerful aid of Haidar,
who was
at
supreme control
in
Mysore.
Wolf Haidar
of Coorg,
assistance to
his
new
clients,
whom he
Seringapatam.
The
irruption
of
Triyambaka
to the Srimant
full
Peshwa
employment
arms,
Coorg,
his advice,
and
1773 marched
his
army
into Coorg by
in
way
of Arkalgudu
and Betti
Yedava-nad.
Intrigue, however,
The seed
prince,
of
of the ruling
and
the Mysore
nad,
again
of
my
ancestor Vira
Varmma
Tomara.
a round sum."
1,666,
all
shall now atone, unless you redeem yourself with The hapless refugee paid to his treacherous friend Rs.
;
but feeling
still
attendants.
At Harihar he
fell
was
carried to
of the Coorg royal family cut off by the sword of Haidar Ali.
Linga Raja.
Raja,
if
The
Nawab now
Linga
10
HISTORY.
of Rs. 24,000.
a part of
period
;
He also sanctioned the Coorg Raja's taking possession of Wyndd said to have been wrested from them at some remote
apparently repenting of his
but,
months demanded and obtained, though with constrained assent, the Meanwhile, cession of Amara-Sulya, Panje, Bellare and Yelusavira.
Linga Raja, with a force of 3,000 Coorgs, invaded Wynad, and erected a wooden fort at Kalpavati, by means of which, and a force of 2,000 men, he kept the
Appi'.ji
Raja died
in
his cause, being himself seated on the throne, set aside the claims of
two
whom, however, he brought up together with his own son Yira Raja Wodeyar. In 1779 the Wynad garrison was obliged to retire, Upon being short of provision and closely pressed by the Raja of Koto.
other nephews,
this disagreeable news,
amongst the
slain
princes,
and the other, being taken prisoner, was soon after put to death.
lira Bajendra. Linga Raja died in the beginning of 1 780.
Vira Rajendra
His sons,
Haidar,
conceiving
it
a favourable moment to
assumed
entire
come
of age.
in the fort
of Goriiru *
A Brahman named
IcarniJca or trea-
of Coorg,
Mercara
fort,
which
their
princes from
their country,
and
Brahmans lording
it
broke
for the
had marched
The death
Tippu
of Haidar prevented an
immediate retribution
but
was
fully
He
first
Mathews and
Nagar,
in 1784,
VIRA RAJENDRA.
Ill
account,
On
this
occasion,
according to Col.
Wilks'
Tippu
is
said to
political
words "If six brothers dwell together in one house, and the elder brother marries, his wife becomes equally the wife of
the
other
five,
far
is
not a
man
in the country
knows
your
common
From
the period of
my
;
father's
conquest
of the country
I forgive
but
if
rebellion be
of the
to
God
to
I will
make you
aliens of your
home and
establish
you
in
of husbands,
and
initiate
But
scarcely
had Tippu
left,
stirred by the
apprehen-
hills in
To suppress
this revolt,
who
after
loss
them
The
ill
command
effected
in
person,
and having
little loss,
where he
an amicable
conciliatory
most
of
the Coorgs to
Tale Kaveri,
aud
when they
former
felt
most
them with
their families,
sent
them
to
had them
forcibly
On
the
auspicious
cruel proscription.
instructions,
The country
it
is
" improve
and be happy.
The extermination
of those
and
to slay all
] ]
HISTORY.
A Brahman their wives and children will become your slaves." Nagappaya, a nephew of Subbarasaya, was charged with the gonamed vernment of Coorg ; but was soon convicted of embezzlement and
ance
;
condemned
or Vira
to the gallows,
when he
affairs,
fled to
when
in
Rajendra Wodeyar, accompanied by his wife and his two brothers Linga Raja and Appaji, the principal survivors of the Coorg six family, effected bis escape from Periyapatna after a confinement of
years.
Leaving
Ms family
in a secure retreat
at Kurchi in Kiggatnad,
fell
into
Varmma,
who
after
somedetention
cede, as
an atonement
site of
slain at
Tomara, the
and
to give
up
for ever
Complying un-
der the pressure of circumstances, Vira Raja thus purchased his freedom
and returned
to Coorg.
fortnight after,
Vira
districts.
With a number
the
of Coorgs,
of
who had
rallied
he
surrounded
camp
return the document extorted at Arala, but to renounce also on his part
every claim to the
Wynad
country.
Vira Raja now sallied forth at the head of his Coorgs to fight the
Mussalmans.
In a short time he
same
time,
of cattle
and grain carried away into Coorg, where they were divided
of the Eaja.
full of
daring
once, on his
return from
patched upon this errand of treachery and blood by the fiendish foe of
the Coorg Rajas, the Kote Arasu.
Tippu Sultan,
irritated
territories,
determined on retribution.
the
He
command
of Golam Ali,
VIRA RAJENDKA.
Viraraja
113
superiority in
to the
numbers and
discipline
Mysoreans,
had
Malayalam
to the
Golam
army
West-
He was
not, however,
On
his
March he was
severe losses.
them a Frenchman.
and dispersed
them
at
the Mysoreans,
who
left
800
men dead
fell
into the
destroyed,
This
into Mysore.
Coorg by
On
his
way
to
one half
Buran-u-
At the head
of
1789 against
it
sally
from
checked his
advance guard, but coming up to their support with the main body, after
enemy as they
'
escape
by swimming the
of
700 were
killed.
The
Beppunad.
The
The
fort
was destroyed.
By
dint of extra-
army
and had to
fall
back on
Seringapatam.
The capture
of the
fort,
speedily followed.
of
Mumbaratu,
fort,
fell.
Three copper
the roof
15*
114
of the temple at
balls,
HISTORY.
of silver.
was cut
prisoner.
off
from
all
time
may
prove of interest.
As the Jamma
able
bodied
men
of this active
force, which,
though irregular
was kept
in constant
ryots,
Under the
chief
command
of
the
Raja,
the
force,
numbering at
As the Coorg
force
it
received no pay.
Rajas in the
spoil.
Without
chiefly
open
field
they rarely
About
the Coorgs
this period
the
first
and
so
took
place.
Desirous
gaining
the
friendship
of
able a partizan, and foreseeing the strategical value of Coorg in the im-
from
whom
115
On
the British Government, an offensive and defensive alliance with the Raja
of Coorg, Robert Taylor, the English Chief at Tellicherry, invited the
Raja to a conference.
to conduct
him
to the
faith of the
contracting
2.
allies
are to
be treated as
common
enemies.
The Raja
Tippu.
3.
will
do
all in his
power to
assist the
English to injure
The Raja
try affords,
(vis
4.
:
payment all the supplies his counand have no connection with other " topiwalas "
the French).
of Coorg,
and the
5.
An asylum and
every hospitality
is
offered to the
When
officer
Sir Robert
was invited
Ha on
this
Cannanore
and her son. She had made an attempt to decoy the English detachment at Tellicherry to Cannanore and betray it into the hands of the Mussal-
man army
Sir
Abercromby had
and sending
reconciliation,
Vira Rajendra
effected
Bibi's ancestor,
116
Ali,
HISTORY.
had rendered
to his
ancestor,
the harelip, by
Tippu,
afraid of losing
desits
it,
On
men on
Encamped upon
Coorgs
little hill
near the battle ground, with the provision bags piled up for
new
Recognising in Khadar
honour of his
sister,
life,
quently informed by
object he
was sure
by
ordered his
Ali
men
to
Mercara and to
Jaffar
Beg to
capitulate,
sumed.
to raise
a sus-
mind
of General Abercromby,
explained his motives, and however the General might disapprove of his
acts,
sincerity, as struck
generosity.
On
guns,
ammunition and treasure were delivered to the Coorgs, and the Raja,
wants of the
He was now
patrimony,
theatre, left
for the
first
time undisturbed
had
been the
No
Vira Raja,
on
retaliating,
long experienced.
grain soon evinced the success with which he had replenished his resources.
to encounter the
117
Bombay
army.
The route
a great quantity
Scringapatam.
when
the'severity of the
monsoon
of 1 79
fall
suspend-
back, Lord
stores
Bombay.
The
artillery,
left in
charge of
the grain he could from his own people and from the Pindari contractors
of Tippu.
Aware
of the great
tincture,
an auto-
graph
letter
and
friendship,
and
devankote,
Periyapatna, Bettadapur,
to
extend his western boundary by the addition of certain districts dependent on Cannanore.
who
at the end of the monsoon had returned, and after consulting with him,
replied to the Sultan's overtures in these
words
"
By
es
and ruined
Coorg.
God
the
has given
English.
me
I
with which
have pledged
fidelity to
Mussalman
violence and
treachery had
now
their reward.
not immediately required, at Heggola, in charge of a regiment commanded by Colonel Finch, who was to draw his supplies from the Coorgs,
Sir Robert
marched with the main body of the Bombay troops to Siddahe received large supplies of grain which had been stored
pur, where
up
in Kiggatnad.
first
under the
118
walls of
HISTORY.
Seringapatam, about 5,000 Conrgs who had been carried away
souls,
made
their escape
in the confusion
that ensued
native country.
better
was desired
to
Seringapatam
limits of his commission, gave a wide license to the predatory his followers.
distributed
their
ed exiles,
whom
hereditary possessions
them and
provisions
Lord Cornwallis made peace with Tippu under the walls of Seringapatam,
oii
severe but
still
Company
and to
its allies
and
sacrificed.
It
of
Sir
Robert
cession of Coorg,
terri-
tory, in order to
keep faith with Vira Raja and to save him from the fangs
first
of Tippu,
whose
move
upon
The rage
of
Tippu
was unbounded.
Coorg adjacent
?
cried, "is
Why
in danger of being
remained
firm.
English guns, which had already been sent away, prepare for defence.
At the
moment he gave an
whereupon peace
him
to givo
back the
districts
to
119
Sir Robert
his
who had
served
him
so
Raja's
alized.
dream
by promising him an
English engineer to rectify the boundaries, which proved the more desirable since
The two
latter the
At
as
his last
up
his
appointment
Commander-in-Chief of Bengal,
and
to bind
him
Company.
The terms
of the
document
were these
1
The Raja
struggle.
pality
in
in this
When
commenced, the Raja, of his own accord, attached himself to the Company, and concluded a treaty, the documents of which are preserved in
The Raja
freely
to the
Bombay
forces
which marched from Tellicherry to Mysore, and was most zealous in providing the Company's troops with every thing he could procure for
in
them
Without
great
his frieadly
difficulties.
assistance, the
Bombay
Of
his
own
accord, the
to receive
payment
but
In
March
last,
when
Lord
Cornwallis, in
from the
power of Tippu, desired to take him under the special protection of the
Company.
on that he
vain.
Up-
paid him a
yearly tribute of
would transfer
Company.
120
he has never paid such a tribute
HISTORY.
but he
is
own
sum
of
8,000 pagodas
to
give no molesta-
with the
government of
Coorg
for the
Raja
own
affairs
Ca " t,an re
O
1
'
1
/
Signed,
Robert Abercromby.
S u iM3#rCll 1
uDt
P. S.
1
3 rupees being
an equivalent for
From
trusty
this time to
the
end of
his
life,
Vira Raja
remained the
friend of fie
Company,
and
his
affairs
prospered.
his
On
the
to
place where he
had
in
first
march
Seringapatam
pet.
1791, the Raja had founded the town of VirarajendraIn April 1795 he took up his residence in the
new palace
built at Nalknad.
who
and
his fears
his
power
arms,
resolved on
destruction by the
basest means.
He
Rajendra, to undertake
with some Coorg3 the foul plot of shooting the Raja at a favourable spot
in the jungle on his
little
way
to Mercara.
The
first
attempt failed
but Tippu,
controlled
effective
by
more
men were
to
lie
ambush
in
some
place
new palace
Nalknad
to attend
The
conspiracy, however,
was betray-
Virarajendrapet as
manifest
off to
but each
had one
leg cut
Letters of congratulation
on his providential escape were received by the Raja from Sir John
Shore,
the Governor General, and from
Bombay.
Vira Raja having no sons, he resolved
time.
in
1796
to
marry a second
may
still
be
THE
seen,
BAJA'S WARNINGS.
121
The ceremony was honoured by a deputation from the English Commissioner at Malabar and a company of
for the occasion.
was erected
sepoys,
of people from
Coorg and
Mahadevamma was
the
tenor of his intercourse with the British Officials, the following letters of
in 1798, are here given, in which he apprises
movements
of his arch-enemy
since
Tippu,
whom
he con-
watched,
the hurried
treaty of
Lord
the Company.
To
Christian Pbile, Esq.
Commissioner of Mulular.
From
Vira Rajendba
of Haleri in Coorg.
Salam
Until
well-being.
now
am
well,
to
to
you
5,000
men
is
;
at Mangalore
to
and
in the fort of
Bellare.
leave
his
army
march upon
my
country
at least so
he
gives out.
It is
said he
that as the
For
purpose,
the
funeral rites,
proceed to Tiranelli
Wynad) and
has never
made such
16*
122
at once.
If
HISTORY.
I shall
give
him a warm
reception.
may turn out a more serious matter. I must think To send of protecting women and children as well as of fighting him. them to Tellieherry during hostilities may be attended with difficulties,
But
this
time
since
Of
this I
wish to inform
I will
you
but I
may
oppose him.
try
my
family with
my
friends in
purpose I should
sepoys, to
You
I shall
will thus
have the
my
family.
Then
approbation.
me
and
know whether
child
may
my utmost, and
"What
the extreme
case
life is
kill
wife
and perish
in the fight.
I desire in this
the mercy of
I
the great
God and
Besides this
seek
The Company
is
my
mother, her
This
is
officers
my brothers ;
the cause
of Tippu's hatred.
Pray send
it
me
a speedy reply.
All
news
I will
send
without delay, be
the French
by day or by night.
One
thing more.
Report says
came
to Mangalora."
On
Peile
I
:
"
am
On
the 14th
officials
strength.
I
My
it
how could
into the
keep
from
my
I sent
a thousand Kanarese.
of
Measures are
first to
Kumbla (20 miles to the south of Mangalore), who from Bombay shewed a rebellious spirit. There are
in Bekal (36
lore.
also
some troops
in
Manga-
are to be
My
troops, that
he had
left
Wallagulla and
was then encamped at Pallammurikad, where the Kote Raja had met
at
a review
that
Tippu presented
horses, after
which he returned
Wynad
with 60 Nairs.
WAE WITH
called the
'
TIPPU,
123
Kote Raja'
memher
arrived also
it
from Cannanore.
On
the
Nanjanapura,
to secure for
;
him Wynad.
that he will
will return to
;
Seringapatam
others,
others,
two
letters is
announced, but
decision of the
Commissioner
support.
his
own
friendship
and
The
To
James Stevens, Esq.
It is
my
confidential
agent
is
at
Mahe
to
As Captain Mahoney
shall
now with
us,
may be some
that you are
friendly
settle the
me
now
first
Magistrate in Tellicherry.
as Mr. Taylor was,
term with
yours.
me
woe as upon
Tippu,
control,
whom
ties of faith or
morality
professions, to violate
respect.
those treaties
much
to
The English
Government, apprised
a confederacy.
Actuated by a
still
all
the
warmth of
the
124
His
first
HISTORY.
large portion of the baggage,
foot of the pass.
exploit
was
in
saving a
which
Tippu, and
incited
by the
prospect
of plunder,
eastward.
To
such an attack,
rear,
especially the hospital which was erected at Virarajendrapet for the sick
of the
left in
Coorg when he
marched against Seringapatam, Vira Eaja, who had offered to accompany the English army into Mysore, was
regular army, as bad as the Mahrattas,
politely
not worse.
Captain Mahoney,
who had been appointed Resident with Vira Raja a short time previous to the commencement of the last war with Tippu, communicated to the
Raja the Earl of Mornington's proclamation George the 22nd February 1799, and asked him
of war,
in the
dated
Fort
St.
name
of the
Comhe
his power, as
if
Tippu were
victo-
force towards
Bombay army.
He encamped
near
The
battle of
army
of Tippu from 9
a. m., until
p. m.,
when
tjie
two
broke
Tippu's line within half an hour and obtained a complete victory with a
comparatively small
loss.
severe,
numbering amongst
the
slain the
generals.
The Raja
of an enemy.
personally accompanied
General Stuart,
and
extraordinary man,
his
Governor
General giving an account of the operations of this day are tinged with
his peculiar character.
" General
Stuart," he writes,
regiments of
to attack the
enemy.
125
was
present.
To
the
the
courain this
geous
world.
attack
surpasses
all
example
battles fought
by Allaret and
exceeds
my
your Lordship."
in
Coorg
style.
Bas-
wanpatna, Arkalgudu and other smaller towns were captured, and the Coorgs indulged themselves in the full gratification of every military
appetite.
On
in-Chief,
the 4th of
May
On
Commanderhowdas.
of one of Tippu's
own
and one
of his
Purnaiya, the
Brahman
was placed
new order
of things,
differ-
Company any
ence that might arise between himself and the Mysore Government.
Vira Rajendra had a mean opinion of the new Raja of Mysore who was " a mere orphan child ", and thought that names only had been
changed.
they held
The Brahmans,
it
an<J
fail to
He had
to
Mysore the
dis-
but for
recently
established
to
of the
p.
320, 321,
126
HISTORY.
deserve
remuneration.
It ap-
by Capt.
war against
on the whole
Government
for this
sum
of money,
bearing interest at 12 per cent, per annum, in the beginning of the year
1799, and in this manner could have added nearly two lakhs of rupees to
the
It
may
therefore be
fairly
is
concluded, that by
richer at this
if
moment
no
less
than
it
he had taken
for the
nature
I
but
have
particularly
if
the Company
intend
to
recommend
to
When
were made in the year 1799, the Raja of Coorg was desirous to have
the districts of Panje and Bellare, to which he conceived he had a right,
as they
same province.
The
districts in
It will
and
recommend
to your
Lordship, that others of equal value, connected with Panje, Bellare and
Under
this
arrangement he
is
will
sum which
Canara
to
the
of
demand payment
districts in the
money due
to
him
he
will
have two
districts in
which
same
COOEG PLUNDER.
province
127
river, of the
connecting
same value
Vira Raja did not consider himself well treated and was mortified by
the withdrawal of the Resident, Capt. Mahoney, and the request address-
with Col. Close, the Resident at Seringapatam, who does not seem to have ingratiated bimself with the Raja, as may be seen from the following letters
:
From
Colonel Barrx Close.
To
THE RAJA OP
COORG.
to
Seringapatam as Commis-
may
be aware.
report reaches
fall of
me
frontier,
Seringa-
the
Maharaja-
and plundered 17
silver, rice
villages, of
women and
children, cows
the. spoil
From
the day of the capture of the capital, Mysore belongs to the Company,
there
is
therefore no difference
ally
of the
Com-
You
contained in the
I
am
told
you wish
to see
Seringapatam
as the
army
will return
to this
resolution.
67 women, 34 men, 11
calves;
buffa-
ornaments,
36
silver bracelets,
27 coral necklaces, 63
girdles,
54 pairs of
67 guns, 6 horses
sickles,
72 bundles of clothes."
* The word usedfor"you" in the original is the uncourteous Canarese form, in which no person This was very likely intentionally done by the Brahman writer, but unknown is addressed.
of rank
to Col. Close.
128
HISTOET.
friends
To
James Sievens, Esq.
Since the
assisted the
English commenced war with Tippu, I have twice Bombay army, first under General Sir R. Abercromby, and
my utmost
to carry
Company with
I did -with
my own
"What
have accomplished,
no view to
honour excepted.
is
As to Purnaiya, he
dislike
each other.
my name and
distri-
now he
is
and
relations,
calumniates
me
officers
and other
caste-fellows with
the English Government, and even submits a complaint against me, with
list
of booty which
my
away
in
the north.
Upon
this Col.
list,
and de-
manding that
I should
This Col. Close has never seen me, and does not
nor does he understand Canarese.
know my
letter
history,
Thus he wrote me a
through
a Brahman
as
if
addressed to a slave.
list
of booty.
Upon
understand
all.
Convinced in
my mind
of the
to be treated honourably.
According to
my
Iras
greatthis
But
me
I
Company.
You know
my
acts.
I write to
my
services have been requited with such dishonour from the Company.
the
The
eaja's remonstrance.
129
Oa
when Tippu
upon Tippu's
people.'
Mahoney told me 'Peace is at an end now fall Ten days after the fall of Seringapatam, on the
;
me 'Now
:
What
my
ted damages,
'
I will give
compensation.
Upon
enquiry,
my
people said
when according
we took
little,
to
From
those
who
fell,
their
there
was
When
is
to the
camp
this
you know.
I
As many
sheep as
my men
could
gave them to
the Company.
sions,
my
I
clothes,
and cared
for the
wounded and
The
territory
it
to
Is
it
me honourably
of booty
!
the reward for what I have done amiss towards the Government
If I
am desired to pay, the question is whence to take the money? What my ancestors and myself accumulated, was spent when I twice faithfully supported the Bombay army. What after the peace of 1792 I obtained from my country, I annually made over to the Company. If
anything remained, I expended
it
But
in case I should
must earnestly
request,
that as a
intact.
my
services, at least
my
honour
I
remains
However,
am
In
Bombay
officers
have
this
money
I will send
and pay.
If it
does not
suffice,
of the
Bombay army
give
to
be
my
brothers.
My
all
honor
yours.
If
matters reach
extremities I will
come
to you,
and
me
sum and
leave to
me
only
my
honour.
What you
17*
130
do for me, I
HISTORY.
will certainly repay.
If
elsewhere to save
my
honour.
into
let ine
know
have
to do."
on
his death in
1809 he
the
left in
English Government.
He was
in the
habit of
sum
of money,
his plund-
promised the
Raja on parting to send him from Europe a sword with the arms of the
Soon
after,
he received a
letter
the British
last
and
in
same, the tribute which the Raja had hitherto paid was remitted.
Mr.
Duncan, the Governor of Bombay, was to inform the Raja what annual
present in lieu
of the
tribute
vernment.
Before Capt.
Mahoney
was
Raja of
to the
Company
effect
in
lieu of the
paper to this
Capt. Mahoney.
1.
was as follows
to the
the Company.
2.
He has
to
He has
furnished
for the
remuneration.
4.
He has
For
furnished the
bul-
locks, 5 elephants,
5.
all this
payment
or reward.
131
The
men
and
officers of the
of
whom have
experienced his
friendship."
first
who
resided in the
Goa
territories.
nor General to apprize him of the intended marriage, and to procure for
the Sode Raja three months
leave
He
him
in
Bombay Government
in
paper,
as Rajammaji's portion.
December 1801 at
province
him by Mr. Ravenshaw, the Collector the supplies he had furnished, and the serGovernment during the
late
vices he
had rendered
thus
to the British
wars.
The
districts
added to Coorg
24,897 pagodas.
In the same year,
at the suggestion of Major
Mark
Wilks, then
Acting Resident at the Mysore Darbar, the boundary between Coorg and
side
was
finally adjusted
Major Mackenzie,
satisfaction
ordered to be erected,
mark on
that of
other.
was
delivered
pality
he lived on the most friendly terms with the Mysore Residents, William Bentinck,
whom
first
he re-
his
grandson
was born
to
him
new
wife
Maha-
deva Rani, who had borne him two daughters, and might have lived and
died a happy man,
if
heir, if
132
HISTORY.
He
lived in constant
dread of poison,
and
it is
difficult to
seize
him
in spite of
all
his caution.
The Bdjendrandme,
Tbe English
nations of hope and fear which agitated the poor Raja's heart.
translatioa
Kannada
original in
room
Kannada
words are
" On
month Pushya,
the year
it
Magha
Mahoney,
for
marriage,
when he
he had determined
That his wife
would be the
heir.
But
if it
God
month Jeshta, 4909, the year Prabhava (May 1807). As by her death the Raja's hopes of having a son by her were blighted, and he was afraid, lest if the succession devolved on the sons
would create trouble to the four daughters of his lawful queen, the Raja determined that of the four daughters who
of another mother, they
are
and
Mahadevam-
he should be named Vira Rajendra, receive the Raja's seal and the sword which was presented to him by Marquis Wellesley, and be the successor to
the throne.
If she should, however,
younger
sisters,
have no son, the son of either of her according to seniority, should be the successor, and so long
named daughters
continued, none of
;
but, upon
133
of the above
sensible
should succeed.
Tbe Raja,
of
the instability of
human
life
and
this
all
other things,
now
to determine
;
and record
may
hereafter occur
be the
may
be acquainted
of
last act,
life.
full of
With her
it
He had
loved her,
appears
passionately.
the wild
Border Chief.
his grief
Her
loss
When
the
paroxysm of
the world.
There
was no one
to love him,
whom
four
he could confide.
daughters, the
eldest of
him
whom
died.
human
affection
and sympathy
breast of the
woe-stricken father.
He had
Now
One
of
him.
old,
The eldest
of them,
The
Raja,
das in gold and jewels, and costly shawls and dresses in profusion.
Nevertheless, the death of his favourite wife had not only rendered
he could scarcely avoid the cruel suspicion that some traitors had conspired against the
life
of
and incantations.
He
No
doubt but he had such, for he detested Hindus in general and Coorgs
in particular.
He had
killed
idle
gust
of passion.
and higher.
At
came
to
crisis.
134
HISTORY.
the military
officers,
No
life.
longer able to bear the iron yoke, they conspired against the Raja's
fixed.
who held
be certain.
signal
was
He was
roused
of
mind he imitated
by placing a
Haidar
Ali,
who had
in and cut in pieces the form which they mistook for the sleeping Raja.
fled, that
The
fort gates
mean time had run out and summoned his Africans. Some three hundred Coorgs had assembled in
to cut
them down
to a man.
sheep.
who waded
An
old
dreadful scene, said that the blood ran out of the palace yard as the rain
in a
fell
that
morning
Coorg
tradition
many
the
men
to be killed
and
distributing the
women among
the slaves.
fashion.
his suppression of
It
known.
their
partly from
On
to,
the
kaja's madness.
135
of the death of of his will re-
He informed him
who had
left
him
garding the succession after his death, as already stated. appears to have expected, perhaps longed
loss of his beloved
wife.
for, his
Vira Rajendra
after the
own death,
which he was only roused from time to time by rumours of conspiracies and
dreams of
like
rebellion
among
lair,
when he would
first
start
and
met
his
fury, until
Dr.
Ingledew,
who was
sent early in
the
Raja,
bances," that
is,
Vira Rajendra had long to wait for an answer from the Governor
General to his petition of October
1
807.
He had
requested
that the
an amulet.
During the year 1808
fits
of
uncontrollable fury
executioners.
seized with
of
his African
Some time
forebodings of his
fears for
daughters in case of his decease before the Governor General had concurred in his plan of securing to Devammaji the throne of Coorg, and
before his sanction insured her succession and,
it
vation of her
death.
life.
And
if
he were carried
? Appaji, his
loved him, and who had long kept sullenly at a distance, or even the
dull mean-spirited Linga
Raja,
the throne, murder the helpless children and seize the great prize.
But no
He was
is
yet alive
and omnipotent
sisters.
in
The
party
They prostrate
is left
their
dark errand.
Vira Raja
alone.
136
BISTOEY.
at last the dear children will be safe.
Now
There
will
be none alive to
will of
molest them.
will
the
Devammaji
She
on the throne of
will
name and
floated
inherit
prince
wrath to
slay
his brothers.
however,
the
excitement subsided,
messengers of
to
They
were bid
run as for
were to
The decree
of death
was revoked.
to
The brothers
Appagalla,
were met by
The
friendly warning.
arrival,
He had
first
and before he
was discovered,
his
command
mind.
of the
Raja,
though they
What was done could not be undone. But Vira Raja would do what he could to make amends. Linga Raja was ordered
be restored to
life.
The
Still
jaghir
of Appaji, worth 600 Kanthirayi pagodas, was added to the Haleri jaghir
of
Linga
he had been
spiritless
farmer.
and
harmlessness that
In the beginning of the year 1809, Mr. Cole, the Resident of Mysore,
received a message
Ingledew
was despatched without a moment's delay. He found the Raja in a dangerous state. His madness came upon him in fits, which were succeeded by the darkest melancholy.
The presence
of an English gentle-
man was
relief to
him.
man now
near him
whom he
informa-
could trust.
On
Ingledew might learn the true state of the country, and receive
ASSASSINATIONS.
tion of
If he
137
reported the
He took
all poss-
But towards
around him
;
again gathered
the
He
The
them.
third,
He
was dead,
fourth.
it
was reported.
He
and the
and the
He
bit his
arm
gushed out, and went into his chamber, where he shut himself up, refusing
to see any one or to taste food.
He was
not
fit
to live.
He would
die.
had
dislocated by a fall
The mind
these.
of the
man was
officers
Yet even now, the Coorg did not forget his cunning.
The mur-
He
would surely report to Mr. Cole, and Mr. Cole would report to the Governor General
(
),
Company.
There
escape.
If
in
moments of
insanity, if
on
recovering
intolerable,
his consciousness
life
feel inclined
rather
stings
As
and the
He
felt
as wretched as
man
could
satisfy the
Company.
He
convince
resolved therefore to
Dr. Ingledew
suicide
sufficient to
Accordingly
he
enough
to endanger
life.
He
stayed the
On
had no
fit
The murder of
his trusty
servants, ordered in a
of
18*
138
insanity
HISTORY.
He
English friends.
dew
acts
tried to reassure
him
after-
Shortly after,
Dr.
The Raja
in
had swallowed a
water,
eldest
He had
called his
to give
The poor
girl
what she
However, to his
Cole, with
astonish-
to
report to Mr.
whom
he was in
state.
The
slightest
He found
improving in health.
He
him
British Government.
considered
as a
misfortune
worthy of commiseration,
not as crimes
He
all
would, on his
own
responsi-
Vira
Raja recovered.
him on
his recovery.
.The
bequest of the large legacy of money to his favorite daughter was sanctioned,
treasure,
name
of
Devammaji, Vira
Rajendra's
As
was couched
in general terms,
make due
investigation
as to the consistency with Coorg law and custom of the succession in the
139
and
guilty of
deliberate cruelties
forgotten.
He
Supreme Govern-
ment
in favor of the
male
child,
which
may
hereafter be
born of one of
my
daughters by
my
my
domiyour
mode
prescribed by
me
in
my
letter to
Lordship.
now
settled
under the
is
beneficent to the
to
service of
my
children after
father.''
Under date the 16th March Mr. Cole had already reported
vernment that the Raja had despatched
to the Presidency
Go-
Treasury the
sum
of about 170,000
name
whom
Hi3
to the
Government."
the idea of obtaining a kind of adoption by the Honourable the East India
Company
for his
daughters,
name
of the
Governor General.
A
be
was given
to
daughter.
This was the state of affairs in April 1809. Mr. Cole had returned
to Mysore.
140
HISTORY.
He
believed
that
the Governor General had sanctioned, and thereby guaranteed the succession to Devamniaji
heir.
taken charge of her rich legacy, to which he had added, with the sanction of the
the
Bombay
at rest.
funds.
as
it
Company.
He might now
Alas, no.
He had
be
to
Mahade-
va Rani.
He knew himself to
had administered
slain, his
hated by the
most
faithful servants
some
The blood
of thousands
Under date the 24th May 1809, Mr. Cole reported to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Fort St. George, that the Raja of Coorg
was
again labouring under insanity, and shewed a most sanguinary disposition; that the people of Mercara were
also entertained fears for his in constant terror
safety,
;
that
Dr.
Clarke,
own personal
and that he
himself
it difficult
and hatred of Mysore and every person connected with the Government
Dr. Ingledew,
who
Mercara.
it
In the
mean time
Dr.
Clarke
to prevent, as far as
re-enactment
necessary,
succes-
question of the
When
It
does
or, if
to transact
and
whom
he desired,
was
said, to
act as
Devammaji.
On
loved daughter
to his bedside,
last.
He lies
hill
DEVAMMAJI.
141
sad spectacle
torn
drifts
from
its
into the
many
none to help.
love
and hope.
The
forlorn
wife,
Raja lived ages of anguish from the day of the death of his beloved
the 17th of May 1807, to the date of his own decease, the 9th of June
1809.
His idolized daughter was married and had four children, two
sons and
father's
and lived
in obscurity.
her
Raja (a lakh
and shortly
was murdered
to
at Mercara,
have
relative,
and
their corpses
Linga Bdja.
Dr.
Ingledew,
had to
fulfil
He acted,
it is true,
perfect honesty,
parties,
mover
in the scenes
Thus he
had
scarcely explored.
He
late Raja,
But
it
happened otherwise.
When
him as
principal Devan,
and
regency of Coorg
during the minority of Devammaji, in conjunction with an Agent of the East India Company, to be appointed by the Governor General. He bad
once given to
these wishes,
Dr.
The
Sode.
142
Raja continued
gent,
HISTORY.
to
and
all
"Owing
to the
many
acts of
commi H ed by
of the subject
is
it
Some
of the
eunuchs gave
themselves
airs,
different parties.
But
upon the complaint of Umbala Nayaka, one of the Devans, who threatened to resign unless these
tire to their villages,
to re-
The
first
serious disturbance
last
by a
farrier
in his favour.
will itself
death.
Yet, to quiet
document was
affairs
his position.
But soon
began
many
interviews
conviction of his
But
his elder
he
said,
Ingledew was quite charmed with the man, and recommended him strongly
He had asked
an increase of
for
his pension,
brother
Appaji,
who
months
ago,
good
peaceable
man.
This recommendation
The peaceable
Lmga Raja,
LINGA RAJA.
to the honest Doctor.
143
He was much
among
of a foreigner like the Sode Raja, but they seem to have had no parti-
large
knew
nothing.
was proposed
to displace
the Sode Raja by Linga Raja but the proposition was thrown out.
Linga
Raja mounted
his horse
own
residence.
Kshauryakere
way
to the
palace,
met him.
with
Why
do you
cry,
Linga Raja
"
he inquired.
All
is lost,"
I will
was the
"Come
set
bridle of
him
to the
He
client
Being a
man
of
known
integrity
and conand
their minds,
knew nothing
not a
little
astonished,
weeks
had been
Linga
reason to be
wished
to
Immediately
return
came
to
his leave to
own
country,
as he
prudent to withdraw
objected
strongly
Dr. Ingledew
for orders
He was
waiting
he wished that no
in opera-
in the
arrangements
that Linga Raja had already taken possession of the government of the
principality.
self.
similar
announcement was
that
Dr. Ingledew
now saw
from Coorg.
However, the
144
HISTORY.
to stay,
Mm
whereupon
lie
arrival of
but refused to
transact business
of report-
fool
of by the
humble,
simple-minded Coorg
but he
acquitted him-
very honestly.
He had
July, in
no other excuse
late
but
Vira Rajendra,
of character,
No wonder
if
the deep
cunning
baffling the
brother,
and
him-
He
had,
of the
approaching
fully entered
upon
Linga Raja was successor to the throne of Coorg dejure, or as Mr. Cole
expresses himself, by the doctrine of the shastras (as
if
as
if
there
in Coorg,
different
it
from the
will
right to succeed.
heir.
Female succession
in the
which the Coorg Rajas had sprung, of which circumstance Mr. Cole seems
to
He
Mercara ought
be directed to
or
to local
act.
;
"Was he
or to the
shastras,
usage
was
to
be expected from the Sode Raja, who was now the actual ruler,
On
the 15th of June Mr. Cole reported to the Chief Secretary to the
of Fort St. George, as
Government
an amendment to
his last
despatch,
in-
men among
unanimously well
LINGA BAJA.
clined to the Sode Raja, wherefore
145
On
the 16th
same authority
that
it
and
On
Linga Raja
also
of the Sode
July he reported fully on the excellent conduct of Linga Raja, the brother
of the late Raja, and recommended that a decent, yea liberal, provision
should be
made
fully
for
him
in consideration of his
meritorious exertions
Mr. Cole
most
on the
reports sent
When
reins. Dr.
lity of
Ingledew was indignant. But nothing could disturb the tranquilin possession of
Coorg,
Rani.
He
Government was
of the
sufficient to
name
Vira Rajen-
The Governor
Cole that he reprobated the conduct of Linga Raja, yet he did not see
the
why
Company
should,
he had
made
little
acknowledged.
for the
Even
if
was
not
Company's
Government
easy
way
In the course of
Rajendra,
sympathy with
of his undimin-
directed Mr.
little
Rani.
correspondence with
Linga Raja about the seizure of a British subject, Parsi Byramji, who
fictitious
Resident reported
little
the
Rani
that
19*
146
Linga Raja was not
likely to
HISTORY.
give
up the
reins
that the
Sode Raja
Bombay funds, and a claimed one lakh of rupees of the money in the according to a promise jahgir of the value of 4,000 or 5,000 pagodas,
made him by Vira Rajendra
and that Mr. Cole wished
;
to
act.
The Raja of
in specie,
of rupees
and
;
all his
claims
when the money was paid him and he retired to his own country. Linga Raja sent a deputation to Madras, consisting of Ayya
Ponnappa, Muttanna, and
Hirji,
The
and a
letter written
fully.
He was thank-
for
comm ended
of
The
letter
was addressed
to
date,
The
too late
and that he wished the daughter to keep the amulet (sic !!) of favour and protection which had been intended for her lamented father.
;
" The arrangement which has been made for the administration of the country during your minority, has my entire approbation. As your uncle
and guardian,
choice, while
Linga Rajendra Wodeya, was justly the object of your from his respectable character he possesses in a great degree and
affections
the
confidence
of the people, I
am
satisfied
is
that an
administration
and
abilities
calculated to
promotet he prosperity of your country and the happiness of your subjects, and that in his parental care and guardianship you will experience the
your respected
father."
Linga Raja was now ackuowledged guardian of the young Rani and
linga raja;
regent of Coorg.
147
his
The next
step was, to
make
helpless
ward
sign a
and loving
uncle.
to forward
The document was duly transmitted to Mr. Cole, Madras and to the it to the Governor of
This was done in the
Supreme Government,
vernment of Fort
summer
of 1810.
On
the
a despatch to
the Go-
The document of
whatever.
Being a child,
Riija.
would be time enough when the young Rani attained her majority, to
inquire
if
of Coorg.
in Council addressed
the Resident,
desiring
him
to
make
inquiry into
the
claims
Coorg.
it
have been
to be accomplished.
Bombay
and a half lakhs of rupees in the Madras funds, both sums stand-
ing in the
name
of Devammaji.
and throughout the year 1811 he was busy in smoothing the way for the
appropriation of the treasure.
Some
Madras with
to
demand
sum
The Accountant
General
first
other person but an accredited agent of the owner of the bonds, Devammaii,
the
148
Vira Raja had
left this
HISTORY.
large legacy to his daughter because he intend-
ed her to succeed
to the sovereignty.
But
since he
himself was
now
was made
to
At the same time an attempt The appropriate the three lakhs in the Bombay funds.
Credit-
Company
ceive
ors disinclined to
payment
ing the three lakhs of Vira Rajendra to Messrs. Forbes and Co.,
who
Here
References
on
that
he reserved the
neces-
It
now
When Devammaji
funds was.
the interest,
as guardian of bonds,
it
As
to
the
Bombay
to prove in
was the
when the
principal should
bonds to himself.
&
Co.
drew the
interest
after-
wards in the name of Linga Raja and his son Vira Raja themselves-
How
cannot
now be
full sa-
discovered.
He had
of his brother Vira Rajendra, Coorg was his, and he was almost formally
left
Devammaji by her
father,
pany,
daughter, permitted
who had taken charge of the money from Vira Rajendra for his him to draw the interest, although not recognizing
that there could
WELSH'S REMINISCENCES.
bequest to a private
149
property of the
of no
member
of his family,
since the
It
was, indeed,
or disallowed
felt
uneasy from
time to time.
He
though
it
was
perfectly friendly to
fault.
He had a
higher opinion of
Company
to
they had themselves of their duty to keep their word pledged to the
fulfilment of their devoted ally's last will.
It
may be
as early as 1811,
was
subject to
fits
Company should
to fortify his
in the
following
pages are
taken from
service
in the
East Indies, by
the character
of
of Coorg.
He was dependent
He
courted the
favour of English officers and invited them frequently into his country,
yet guarded with the greatest jealousy their intercourse with his people.
He
spirit
by a system of savage
cruelty.
He was
responsibilities as the
We
read
of
musnud
of Mysore, the reigning Raja of Coorg was defeated and taken prisoner
by
this
was kindly
he would send
HISTORY.
own
country,
he would prevail on
;
all
his
subjects
to
and
fastnesses,
He
such a term
forti-
be applicable to a mountain
fications
since he
of
his
kingdom,
built
whom
in his
his blindness
left
kingdom, indeed,
I blush to write
his ignorant
Such, in
Rajendra Vadeyaru, to
whom 1
carried
who was
nominal Resident
makes
several mis-statements.
officers
and
officials
such
But, as already
in a former part of
fact that
Mysore by Haidar
Coorg.
home and
and
son.
when
his brother
man
of
34 years of age.
Finally, the
Coorgs as
worshipped their Rajas as gods, as did the Romans their Caesars when they burnt incense before their images.
"On
of the sport in Coorg, and being at leisure for such a trip, I set out from
Bangalore,
in
company with
Lieut.
W.
Williamson, a young
man
of
my own
pet,
corps,
agreeable companion.
We
On
the 22nd of
March
after a hearty
we mounted two
and through
vales,
Welsh's reminiscences.
fagging,
151
accommodation of Euro-
delightfully
situated on an eminence,
difficult
mountains.
The
mountains being
strong place, for
side.
fortified
it
a very
completely
commands
own palace
side
The town
built,
about half a mile off by an excellent high road, and at the farther
is
extremity there
mud
barrier,
after
tomb,
memory
and
his
much
Mahommedan
being a wide
square with a handsome dome in the centre and four turrets at the angles.
On
all
dome
is
if,
and
made
On
this
spot,
by appointment,
we met
the
Maha Swami,
at half
He was
and a person
mediately
in
activity
and strength.
He
im-
shook hands
after a
addressed to an inter-
until
language:
yards
off,
and then
Suffice
it
to say
with
him:
me, an Arabian
to Lieu-
fine Arabian.
We
feats with
Our
the fort
all
the way.
On
we were amused by a
set
of dancing
52
HISTORY.
girls,
General Wellesley,
&c.
He
and double
rifles,
pistols,
p.
&c,
m.,
It
and torchlight had succeeded the daylight in his aim out of the window at various things,
knocked down a lime, a
so
We
took
and
hit
looking boys,
a General's uniform
prints,
put
me
in
in
which the girls are dressed in hoops and farthingales, and the boys with
bag wigs and small swords.
time in the yard, as
it
Earn
fights,
all
this
each.
Then a
lion
made
He
and suffered
me
to go
up
tiger
claws pared, but very savage, trying every instant to break loose.
took leave at half past seven,
quite pleased with
We
by his
the kind
and
affable
am
habitation,
built on
a small island
all
stands on a square
of
seventy feet, the verandah having thirty-eight glass windows, with Venetian blinds outside.
sixteen windows,
and the
hall
eight glass
style,
doors
And
there
is
an old butler of
my
who very
even
speedily
and what
is
still
more
WELSH S EEMINISCENCES.
After
all
153
day,
it
may
readily be supposed
we
slept soundly
a custom which I
to spend any
and on the morning of the 23rd rose betimes as usual, most strenuously recommend to all young men doomed
East, and went to visit the Raja's stud and
one, about
eyes,
time in the
elephants
years old,
skin.
and amongst the latter found a young white most perfectly formed, with flaxen hair, light
his country
two
fair
and
Of these animals, as
abounds
in
abundance.
After breakfast,
in state.
we were astonished by a
from the
dress, he appeared in his native robes, richly decorated with jewels; and certes, in my eyes, he appeared a much handsomer man. He sat a few minutes, and then told us that he had received intelligence of a wild elephant,
Maha Swami,
No
and would,
this
if we pleased, accompany us to go and shoot him. To us was the most acceptable offer he could have made. We retired
to prepare ourselves
and our shooting apparatus and, on our return from our own rooms, found his Highness ready, with elephants and
;
attendants.
Away we
set,
across
to cut
its
neck, with a
hook
hand and a
knife in the
other,
in
me
the
excursion.
be
invincible.'
we dismountour reception,
on trees
for
When
all
Raja between
us,
The
Raja had a
ones,,
ounce
of one
ounce each.
.It
when
extract.
ed
and the length of the body was very nearly the same as
its height.
we proposed
to
take
we were yet
though airy rision ; but truth shall I be in the sequel to reverse this most delightful the first marim, anil it will force me to dispel the delightful romance which was here intruded on us by the most plausible appearances.
with
me
is
20*
154
of this excellent Prince.
HISTORY.
He
told us,
our own
tiffin, it
and
chairs,
a dinner,
built of
cutlets,
Nor was
and begged us
to
&c.
we
We
accordingly dined,
it
for
being
the
when they
five p. m.,
retire into
mountains.
At
we
.
two gold-handled Coorg knives, two panther skin caps, two sandalwood sticks, one royal tiger skin and two panther skins, and parted from him The Baja informed us with mutual expressions of esteem and regard.
that the present indifferent state of his health,
of finding
we would return
field
at the
sports.
my
first trip
to Coorg.
my
at once.
on the 17th of
country
;
which
my
Here we were
who
finished.
re-
refused any
pecuniary remuneration.
We
had
wild
many
the tank.
extremely bad,
it
There
On
dense
we
set forward,
still
in our palanquins, in
fog.
The
in particular, through
intersected by
deep
water-courses.
We
took
arrived at Virarajendrapet at
20 minutes past 3
church building
at
p.
M.,
and
a walk to
look
at a Christian
;
the west-
it is
Welsh's beminiscences.
grand
edifice for the
155
It is built
and from a
England.
&c.
rice, fruit,
vegetables,
He had
On
three A. m.,
a. m.,
and
is
placed
We
Mercara completely
re-
and, passing
it,
We
in
fine horses,
Swami.
He No
received us
his usual
having
general
officer's
but he looked
well,
and
attentive.
He shewed
;
then a gun,
made,
and highly
finished,
I really never
saw a more
elegant fowling-piece.
him we took
their appearance
thing apes
soldiers,
England
sat
down
and
between
amaze-
ment of
the beholders,
&c,
all
of which they
expected us to swallow.
On
first
the 20th of
to the Mausoleum,
bles.
The
little
was
getting darker,
and he appeared
At one
to be in
bad
health.
Lieutenant
to start
and having
we dined
at noon.
p. m.,
uniform on horseback.
He
and then
inviting us to
hill,
156
HISTORY.
We
found six
compound,
about
five
On
the
mounted our
hills,
elephants, at seven
&c,
all
prepared,
and
wicker
litters,
On
m.;
it
was impossible
our ele-
phants groping and kneeling, while our empty palanquins could not even be carried up from the bottom,
we gained a
all
beautiful
plain on the
round
it,
the distance
it is
called
m.,
we
set to
work
in the
way.
saw
six
elks,
and
fired
at
On the 23rd we
started at half-past
six,
have remarked
pike
that
all
it
in the left
'charge pikes,'
for their
and push
in advancing
among wild
beasts.
We passed the
yesterday,
and dismounting
at the
a.
m,,
rather scarce.
I killed
fired
and wounded an
elk,
which Meredith
killed,
and
a junglee buck;
rah, or wood-goat, with a single ball, while running like the wind
it
was a very curious animal, with a body the colour and size of a deer, having exceedingly short legs, and therefore its swiftness must proceed from the length and strength of its body ; it had short branching antlers,
altogether that I
I ever saw in
my
life.
A panther was started, but he escaped, from the We got into our palanquins at sunset, and
one
of our three
moving
thousand beaters
which we
passed,
WELSH'S REMINISCENCES.
157
elks,
Our
total
game
killed this
It
and one
junglee buckrah.
we ramble, the
dominions.
fruit,
Eaja's
attention
sit
We
some
never
down
to a
a large basket of
or
sweetmeats from his own table, and his people are the most orderly,
obliging, willing
met
in
my
life.
And
will
all this
which
in general
go a great
way with
but these
people reject,
with apparent
is
There
this.
certainly
On
way
we
tried
another spot, a
little
out of our
returned
or
had no
I
only and
home
have observed
league,
;
mile occasionally,
marked out
having a
man
being a good
men can do
equally
this
more
in
remarked
also,
evening
from
my
it
threw a
damp
whom,
in spite of all
my
officer of
No one would
speaking to
satisfy
my
my
old
to be so
fat Bengalees
who amused me
when
part
to run after us if
we only went
exist
into
moment
one
as
if
ments.
He
told
me
but was now better, and that the other men were gone away.
him on
his grave
if
He
;
immediately replied,
that every
"Happy ? he must be happy in such a under the Maha Swami enjoyed happiness." one
did
service
I
imme-
Muhammad
would
pleasure
little
I uttered
158
HISTORY.
yet, fortunately every thing I
then
to
On
retiring to rost,
and
sitting
down
all
my
had
of the
day passing
1
in
review, I
had
It
seen,
and
the
immediately struck
me
two
misconduct of
and
and
Having
determined
kindness to both
we took a
and returniug
up-stairs,
were followed by
Muhammad
and
who
me
in private,
to request
Lieutenant
listening.
in the
bed-cham-
my
feet,
and entreated
life.
me
;
by the me-
mory
struck
his
old master
to
save his
raised
him
him
to explain
when he told
me
a tale
which harrowed
my
;
soul.
The
four Bengalees,
whom
had
and
left fat
and wages
they had
demanded
their
dismissal,
had
in
He
all
he had,
and his
made on
body
flagellated,
would
god of the country, exercised the supposed right without remorse and
without control.
his presence
That,
for instance,
if
a poor fellow,
standing
in
Maha Swami
or Great
God
should be suddenly
;
known would
made by
This,
my last
Welsh's EBMiNisOENCEs.
visit,
159
who, having
built
ed and his property seized for the state and this, he also assured me, was the fate of every man who entered the country, if he ever attempted to quit it again: and the Raja, admitting his troops to a share
in the plunder,
bound them
to his interests
by chains of adamant.
country,
He
the
entreated
me
to take
of the
which he said
me
to
but I could not listen to such a proposal, and at once told him
at the escape of one of the Raja's
To connive
his guest,
servants while
was
But
learning,
officer,
guard,
was placed there as a spy over every word and action of every
in that palace,
I
with
him
He
also
told
me
that
Raja, fearing
forts
and repairing
and then
retired,
I believe
unobserved.
The
I
signal
being
made
for breakfast,
we
sat down,
attended as usual.
entered
Muhammad
will,
now
at
if
he had received
had
left
him.
He
replied
it
was the
first
he had heard of
it.
I had,
to get four
go and see his old mistress before she embarked for England.
He
told
me he
to go
and see
her, but
he could not
;
Maha Swami
him
;
to
which
to go with pleasure,
and said
but he begged
if it
me
not,
had a
capital effect.
This forenoon we took our leave of the Raja, who received us in his
was amusing himself shooting blunt but very heavy headed arrows, at different men, armed with spear and shield whose
palace, where he
;
business
was
to
shields.
He
afterwards
managed two
he requested
me
to mount, and
160
drove
HISTORY.
me
had been
in-
formed that
consequence of
my
He
was and
not
so
sandal-stick,
all
and
bird's head)
With
his
affability,
are
we
led by
circumstances, or by previous
opinion,
to
fancy
been kind and condescending beyond that of any native Prince I ever
knew, and was never equalled in after times but by the Raja of Nepaunee.
He was
calderah,
called
in Hindustani,
all
appropriated solely
to
the
my own house at Bangalore, I was surprised by the sudden appearance of Muhammad Sahib, extremely emaciated, ill-dressed, and with a picture in his hand. He threw himself at my feet, and told me I had saved his life, that the Raja had
few months
when
in
him
to carry his
picture
to
me
in proof thereof.
refused
it,
me
he had
;
but
saw him
in
musnud by
his son,
whom
had
810.
coun-
Wynad
pioneers.
to the Malabar
I
and a
capital ghaut
have omitted
it is
royal
tigers,
absofor-
and the
;
killed fewer
and
man who
should
touch the
he had
MURDEE OF APPANNA.
The above
extracts give a tolerably
correct idea of Linga
161
Raja's
Rdjendra to
in
1834.
temperament, hardened
in
which he
was
engaged
almost
of his
career by paro-
He had some
ambition
to shine as a poet.
Some
of his pieces,
merit,
are
still
preserved.
They have no
for
him. However, he
to have been his
Cruelty seems
own hand,
crop-
with gun,
ped,
bow
or
or knife.
their ears
swer
men
women had
mouths
rinsed,
e.
their lips
were cut
off all
left to
on
the
hill side,
Many seem
their
to
have
property,
During the
full
first
have been a
a subject.
and at times" to
with treason.
He had
One day
He
was charged
He knew
of
having
made a
Ap-
mad
with rage.
panna, with several other so called accomplices, was carried out into the
jungle to a distance of some miles.
large trees, the
victims,
Raja feasting
curses on their
large
number of people
21*
162
HISTORY.
the families, relations and friends of the condemned men, were slaught-
Some
Raja's
and that
their party
but this
may
In
died.
He
believed that he
was
influences
employed by
He bad
whom he managed
subject to
to
isolate
countries
terror
the
East India
frequent
of his
arm kept up by
He
His queen,
who
from the
hatred of the young Raja, swallowed diamond powder, and was buried
with Linga Raja in a splendid sepulchre near the tomb of Vira Rajendra.
Of Linga
" The
who made
his
late Chief,
Appaji
Saib, the
elder, is represent;
this
a premature
end,
fate, but seems to have owed his Having passed the early part of his life
cupations but
compensate
for
Weak,
frivolous
and
puerile
irascible
he
is
and sometimes
he
is
apprehensions to
;
but a suspicion
END
01?
LINGA KAJA.
163
circumstances will not allow of a proof of what they indicate, they warrant the conclusion that he
in the liberal use of
it.
is
is
He
many
to
of
whom
have
little
can be said
his
own
A
dictive
concealed by a mild
to
Europeans he
sion
;
can
few dissuade,
The nature
exercises,
him a propensity
sports
;
to active
much
is occupied in field
they are on an
extensive scale
distinction or
circle of slaughter,
game without
number being
his spear
killed
on these occasions.
is
He
is
a good
marksman, uses
skilful
with dexterity,
to
an excellent
mahout and
personal
rider
it is difficult
am
nor
is
easy to state what are his usual occupations or the ordinary distribu-
much
of
it,
however,
Linga Raja
is
now
he
in
his
and
no way remarkable
metry of features
is
rather dark
is
complexioned
command
he
is
plain in his dress, being usually habited in a loose gown, reaching to his
ankles
to this is
added a black
silk cape,
;
substitutes the
place of a turban
way
to the splendour of
form,
a string of pearls,
to
suspended
round his neck, forms the only ornament of his person, a Codagu sword
is
(it
64
HISTORY.
The forms
of his court
exhibit
but
little
pageantry, presenting
pomp
much
delight
indeed
it
remarkable that he
of rank.
than men
There
some
troops
"
He was
the
Greediness after
was
built
by him, he
is,
The
illustrious
Siva, sitting
on the
illustrious throne of
Coorg
led beauty and bravery, smiling like the sun in unparalleled glory, famous
to the
Vira Raja.
improve.
As soon
of his father.
who Many
members
time.
frontier.
seem
Mysore
account
his relative
knew how
to turn to
made
his
man apprehended
near Peri-
VIEA RAJA.
yapatna, and sent
165
him back
No answer was
given
to
the
Resident.
carried to
Kantamurnad, where he was massacred with his whole family, twentytwo souls on one day. In 1826 Mr. Casamaijor, the successor of Mr.
Cole, despatched a Captain
Monk
to
other
things,
Cbanna
Vira.
Captain
Monk
his
was told by Vira Raja that there had been much sickness in the
country
during the last
season,
with
this inaugural
to
have
shewn
cruelty
than
uncle.
An
intelligent
with Coorg
affairs,
about
five
thousand
Linga Raja,
hundred
and
lives,
the late Raja had not destroyed more than fifteen hundred
if
so
many.
Still,
the
last
man was a
Raja, young
greater curse
upon Coorg
less
cruel, Vira
sensuality.
He
kept
esta-
the youngest of his father's wives for his use and increased his
A number
of other
women,
summoned
to
Mercara
after accouche-
some
superstitious notion
ing.
To
refuse compliance
to the recusant
free to riot as
all
he pleased.
girls in
He
actually
demanded
to
unmarried
the country.
When
is
the Coorgs at
once it
The
said
night
married
all
their
grown up daughters.
Raja was
furious.
Many
the honour of their children were dreadfully flogged or had their ears cropped, or were thrown into prison.
Rumours
of these doings
reached
*The above estimate of Coorg murders is no doubt greatly exaggerated, but the proportion assigned to the three Kajas agrees perfectly with the general tradition of the country.
166
HISTORY.
He
posts.
Tra-
country.
soned.
On
maltreated,
impri-
Manuel
so was a
was kept
by the Raja
Jew of
name
of
Samuel Joseph.
Dodda Vira
Raja.
make
baffled
inquiries
on the spot.
He was
spies.
too
polite,
and
was completely
by the Raja.
The representative
of the British
No
his
inhabitant
of
interrogations
" I have
family.
daughter a year
so.
to
him that
had heard
He
I
said
it
that
he was quite
male,
the
alone,
rest
am
the only
have said
Devammaji
ters,
distant
villages."
Mr.
He
returned to Mysore
little satisfied
still
Raja was
"
He appeared
was
inquisitive,
Rumours
of frequent executions
continued
to
Mr. Casamaijor received instructions to demand of the Raja a regular report of every case of capital punishment ordered by
him.
Some
corres-
pondence ensued
this
demand,
but his
it,
rides,
drilled
like soldiers.
He was
167
This
took
place in
at
Mercara.
1832.
On
the
the
to
the
Government
name of Channa Basava and his wife Devammaji, sister to the Raja of Coorg, had taken refuge at the Residency. They had fled
country to
save their
their
honor and
their
lives,
and implored
After an
been permitted
to join him.
Of late the Raja had made incestuous proan old woman-servant, and had threatened to kill
festi-
her husband,
val.
if
In this extremity they had drugged the guard of honor who watched them, and set off from Appagalla, their residence, at nightfall.
During the night they reached Beppunad, passed Amadnad in the morning, and were drawing near the Mysore frontier when they were stopped by the Coorg frontier guard.
Being
fired at,
their
his
party returned
horse,
fire.
his
wife behind
him on
and made
his
The
rest fell
to
Mercara.
half,
Also the
child of
delivered
Raja
his uncle.
This
is
of the Resident.
his
life is
probable enough.
He was
a scheming
suspicions.
But the
on British
charge
made
sister
may have
been unfounded,
to strengthen
their claim
The
Supreme Government decided, under date the 18th January 1833, that
the Coorg refugees should not be restored to
Vira Raja.
In the
mean
mad
schemes
for
relatives.
They
all
came to nothing.
to Bangalore.
But every
Accusations
thing failed.
The
fugitives
had dreadful
to
tell.
Parsee from
Bombay had
168
ed.
HISTOEY.
A man
with
him, in presence of
Besides,
numbers of
people,
and
slaves, relatives
of the Raja's
believed
Channa Basava,
or
have assisted
death, or
him
in
his escape,
starved
Among
the
first
victims
of the
Vfra
Kunta
Basava, an upstart favourite of Linga Raja, who having been both the
tool
father,
the son.
He was
first
then he
commander
at last
became
principal Devan.
He
Mud-
was a
unprincipled
man.
clever
By
killing
daya he got
rid of
rival.
and respectable
plans.
Everybody
knew that the poor man had been destroyed without cause. himself, hardened as he was, had terrible fits of remorse.
would not
let
The Raja
him
sleep.
As soon as he sunk
into
slumber,
Muddaya Muddaya
:
would stand over him with a drawn sword, and Vira Raja awake, crying
murder
Muddaya how
seize
him
the Raja
to obtain
wall,
rest.
If
he had
it
man
painted on a fresh
and looked at
it
Muddaya painted on a new wall, every now and then saying I slew him because he
' :
By
On
the 18th
Government communicated
taking place in
Coorg.
Sir
F.
Adam
informed the
Raja that
demanded
free
BRITISH INQUIRY.
169
who might desire to accompany Mr. Casamaijor on his return out of Coorg. The interview between the Raja and Mr. Casamaijor took place before the
end of January 1833, at Mercara. Seven years, Mr. Casamaijor observed,
in the Raja.
he had not, could not have, an idea of the extreme profligacy of the
of the strength of his
in blood
man, nor
murderous
propensities, that
had steeped
him deep
The
Raja looked uneasy, seemed to be subject to sudden alarms and very unsteady of purpose.
The presence
owned
allegiance,
must have
passion
whom
folly,
ruin. in intri-
He had
bedmaker
Company.
He
Nun
Lai Barti, for the murder of Channa Basava, and for opening a communication with Ranjit
Singh,
whom
he was led to
in
believe to be a secret
enemy
of the
English.
He
succeeded
finding
would be
the
difficult for
offices of
Maha Raja
of
He had
secretly encouraged
name
of Suryappa,
who had
authorities.
He
could not
to abstain in future
from
to relax
shut up his people from communication with their neighbours and the
rule of the
authority.
to say
with deposition
Company.
Form;
As
for
22*
170
HIST0BY.
he was most reluctant, and when Mr. Casamaijor pressed the point, he turned round and asserted that he would do as he pleased, Coorg was
an independent country, &c. Mr. Casamaijor replied that Coorg had been
subject to Tippu, and
of the
former payment of
When
Devammaji
dead long
since.
and her
sister
This was the most barefaced lie. Devammaji indeed, Mabadevammaji had been murdered, probably before tbe
visit,
The end
miserable, and
of the
surpasses
monster tyrant.
wife,
Mahadevammaji and
his
were taken,
from
Mercara.
After
some
days,
the
Mahadevammaji
They
them shut up
till
about 2
o'clock p. m.,
when
the
Devan and
the eunuch
came
again,
When
be taken before the Raja, whilst the Jemadar and some of the guards held
her hands and pulled at the rope,
roof.
sisters,
As
soon as
was
extinct,
and placed
sugarcane.
just outside
Devan
to the
dig a hole
for
MURDER OE THE
jungle,
PRINCESSES.
171
in attendance in the
and
for
guard to
be
by 7
the
p.
m.
Several of
them
the help of
some
of
men from
already
prepared
the
the interment.
Perhaps Devammaji had revealed the place where she had deposit-
life
that the Raja learned from her the exact spot where her jewels
for
he despatched a Munshi of
his,
a Yedavanad
man
of the
name
to
and
instruct-
above the
"On
our digging,"
a half seer of water, with the mouth properly closed, was discovered.
It
We
my
mouth of
the vessel
it
but brought
Raja.
It
it to
Mercara,
in
to the
am
not aware
contained.
The
the
was not
full,
as on taking
it
shaking about."
Devammaji
manding
figure,
fair
Her
sister
Mahade-
Raja,
of Appaji's and Linga Raja's families, the nearest relatives of the Raja,
to
to that seclud-
ed spot in March
in a
couple of garden
:
bouses under
strict watch.
the country, orders were given in the morning by the Devan to dig a pit
for
five
women were
of
put
jungle-tribe residing in
Nalknad
and some
the
172
HISTOEY.
especial
followers)
who had
assisted
into both
murder
of
houses with ropes, and then and there strangled every one of them, and
afterwards tied
them up
in mats, the
The Raja,
on
this occasion,
present.
front
On
when walking
of the
murders
for
they
to death
them.
They
(the
country
Malayalam).
He
suggested
out of
families
some miles
month
and when
was
quiet, they
returned to Nalknad."
the
This ac-
sometimes at
least,
The
Mysore.
Raja
in the to
the
Resident
returned
ever.
The
Raja harboured
appearances.
intrigued
a Native
in
Regiment
in the
Raja
still
check
and
to
protect his
Government were
loath to go
to extremities.
Since the
Casamaijor, Mr.
Graeme,
Resident
at Nagpore,
then residing
named Dara
Coorg furnishto
return to Tellicherry, but the latter he refused to set at liberty until the
Raja's relatives were given up to
Having an
extraordinary idea of his power and the strength of his country, he resolved on war.
He
W,
DECLARATION OP WAR.
173
The patience
depose the Raja.
of the
march
into
Coorg and
As
it
drew near
:
It is well
Kaffers,
Nasara
(Christians),
low Pheringhies,
faith,
have
Bangalore, Cuddapah,
mind
of every one,
said ?
to time
by
f
force,
God Q
perished
but
may be
given.
embrace
his religion
and with
this
destroyed the
Hindu
This fact
is
well
known
to all of you.
Now
the Kaffers, Nasara, low Pheringhies have in like manner commenced to destroy the religion observed by
religion.
When
senses.
"When
death comes,
fast approaching.
There
is
no
doubt of it.
respectively consulted
their
Nasara, Pheringhies be
cessful.
3.
now fought
with,
God
be
will help us
There
These
is
no doubt of
fully convinced of
Kaffers, Nasara,
to
Some
whom
may all
be cut
race thus
It is therefore to protect people of all castes against such invasion, the Halery
to
Kaffers,
Pheringhies,
of
you
army
devastation
ed and enabled to
respective
your
castes unmolested.
Do
74
4.
HISTORY.
To avert the
evil
all
this
but keep yourself neutral, you will at laBt find yourselves under the yoke
the greatest misery to the
end of your
lives,
will not
be admitted before
Therefore,
if
God
for
Do
ye people
you
will
kind
of protection
from
it
and be able
happy.
Accordingly
is
ex-
P. S. It
is
ringhies will, in order to get possession of the Halery Samsthan, spare no pains
to gain
you over.
They
Let
to entangle yourselves
you
religion.
Be sure
of this.
F.
Clemehtson.
Principal Collector.
commanding
in
letter
of
the 31st
March
1834.)
Col.
Fraser
Kaja of Coorg has, for a long time past, been of such a nature as to render him unworthy of the friendship and protection of the
of the British Government.
The conduct
ruler,
oppression and cruelty towards the people subject to his government, and he has
of,
hostile
invari-
from
whom he and
his ancestors
would be needless
to
but
it is sufficient
own
sister
Devammaji and her husband Channa had fled from his oppression, the Eaja
has presumed to address letters replete with the most insulting expressions to the Governor of Fort St. George and the Governor General of India, that he
BRITISH PROCLAMATION.
175
has assumed an attitude of hostility and defiance towards the British Government,
that he has received and
Government, and that he has unjustifiably placed under restraint an old and
faithful servant of the
been formally deputed by the British representative for the purpose of opening
the
whom
the above
named
individual
nations,
by
whom
The
had so happily
subsist-
The most
earnest remonstrances have been in vain tried to bring him to a sense of his
obligations,
and
it is
with the concurrence of the Right Honourable the Governor in Council of Fort
St.
Coorg the
hereby
notified,
is
about to invade
Wodeyar
is
no longer to be considered
those
all
peaceably or
British troops
be
may
made known
who may
whom
have entered
to place
them-
they will be
kindly received,
aud
their
rights
and
privileges
respected,
them as may
traitors
in
will be
Raidroog,
Mysore, Bellary, Malabar, Canara, in order that the relatives of such persons
as have taken service in Coorg from those places or
adjoining districts,
may
its
(Signed
:)
J. S.
FRASER,
the
Lieut.-Col,
the
and
Political
Agent of H. E.
Hon.
Right
Governor General
176
HISTORY.
Upon
this
counter proclamation.
The explanation
English people,
who
are
mean
whore,
who in a
whatever occurred to his mind, for the purpose of giving information to the
inhabitants of Halery
I>
the slave of
my
know as
follows, that
in
the proclama-
slave, is
all possible
mations, which are replete with indecent subjects, the hearts of all of us
who are
be-
fire
of thejperson
who
have
evil intentions.
Very
well,
very well,
we
will
fill
up
all
your
bellies ac-
Be
this
known
to you, written on
Sunday, 6 th decreas-
ing of the moon, month of Phdlguna, of the year Vijaya, corresponding with
The invading
force
numbered
six
command
The
of
him
in the capacity
Agent
of the
affairs.
force
was divided
scribed.
whose operations
will be severally
de-
of one
com-
pr.
howitzers, two 5
pr.
gun 400
the
rank and
36th,
of
Native Infantry,
Com-
and 300 Sappers and Miners with head-quarters. It marched on the 2nd April from Bettadapur upon Sulacottu, and reached the
pany of the
a rude wall of
mud and
INVASION OF COOEG.
177
in various ways.
near
its
men armed
Before the force was ordered to advance, Col. Fraser, with a white handkerchief in his hand, attempted to cross the Kaveri as
peace,
a messenger of
followed by two
in kind,
fired
It
side,
more
in quick succession.
to reply
and
ball, under cover of which the advanced guard crossed with Cols. Lindsay and Fraser but before ; they reached the opposite bank the enemy was seen retiring towards
two howitzers
Ramaswam} Kanave.
but 100 Musalmans, of
it
numbered
whom
and the remainder with swords, a very few Coorgs provided with
also the
management of the
jinjals,
and about 50
armed with bows and arrows. The strong position at the fortified pagoda near Eamaswami Kanave offered but a feeble resistance, and was carried in about a quarter of an hour, and likewise a rough breastwork and barrier near Haringi, at the sacrifice of a few men wounded, and on the side of the enemy, who mustered 350 men, chiefly Coorgs,
half a dozen killed.
On
the 4th April the force advanced only five miles, on account of
But a
for
complied with.
Raja to the British camp, but the Raja had not yet placed himself at the
unconditional disposal of the
British
On
of
the
400
Coorgs,
went
to
meet
Col. Fraser,
to conduct the
At 4
flag,
v.
m. on the 6th
the Raja's
on one of the bastions, was lowered and the British colours hoisted in
stead under a salute of twenty-one guns.
A company
of H.
M. 39th
Regiment remained within the Fort, the remainder of the troops encamped on the heights around.
23*
178
HISTORY.
On
Whereas the
hereby pro-
civil
be conducted as heretofore by the Gaudas, Shanbhogs, Hobliddrs, Parpadigars, Subadars, Devans and Earnik,
stations,
as at
with the privilege of immediate and direct appeal from every native
Fraser, the Political
Agent
the perof His Excellency the Right Honourable the Governor General, until will be determined under manent establishment of a form of government which
the authority of the Governor General and upon the model best calculated to
secure the future wellbeing and happiness of the people of the country.
It is
will
degree with which they have been hitherto individually charged, to the entire
exclusion of that superior
power and
jurisdiction
No punishment
Col.
therefore
extending to
life
a reference to
Fraser and
the
(Signed.)
J. S.
FRASER.
Political Agent.
Lieut.-Col.
and
He had
necessary,
taken with him his women, his band, his treasures and what remained
of the Coorg Raja's families, that he might destroy
in order to render
it
them
all if
Devammaji
to any other
his wealth
to himself.
The
the Raja
who
in their ignorance
words
had boasted before and exterminate the English and took up their posts at the
passes,
where they
effectually and caused great loss to the Company's troops, had the Raja,
like his great uncle
his Coorgs
and vigor-
ously directed
courage.
the defence.
was yet
possible,
MYSOlii;
GOVT
I'REJS
BANGALORE.
A OOORGMAN ARMED.
179
his Coorgs
on the 2nd April from Periyapatna towards the Kaveri, opposite Ean-
in considerable force,
but
and
men
dead.
G.
Waugh, was
file
guns from
Bellary,.
company
of
24th Regt. N.
marched on the
1st April
On
passing
the Coorg boundary at the river Hemavati, the enemy's advanced posts
until
ground,
turned they
speedily fell
back,
and the advanced guard of the English encountered only one more
slight
opposition
at
Mudravalli,
which
was
as speedily overcome.
following day,
A far
met on the
when
at Haringi.
They had
scarcely pro.
ceeded a few hundred yards beyond their encamping ground, when they
found the road blockaded with felled
exceedingly
difficult
trees,
and
slow.
in a wood near the base of the pass in which the enemy's was situated, a feeble fire was opened, which was
principal position
readily
silenced.
But the stockade, known as the Buck stockade, was exceedingly strong; outside, protected by thick bamboos and trees and surrounded with a
deep ditch, and
inside, built of
mud
commanded
it
the
approaches in every
Appachu*, a
ever since the British accession was a most loyal and devoted servant
of Government.
# The late Head
Determined to carry
who
died in 1876.
it
Sheristadar,
180
HISTORY.
barred their advance, the troops, under Major Bird of the 31st Light
Infantry as field officer of the day, attempted every
means of attack
of H.
for
four bours and a half, during which they were exposed to a most severe
but in vaio.
misdirected flank
movement
M. 55th
and
I.
list
the rear,
In this
killed, including
the three
of
guns
file
I.
Regt.,
the 20th
and
was
to reach
ing Virajpet.
The
light
proceeded
:
on
the
2nd April
in
their progress
was checked
river,
and Lieut.
killed.
Erskine, a most
six the followits
of H.
M. 48th was
At
ing morning the main body broke ground, and had to fight
way
three
trees
up
fortified
it
with
felled
successive stockades,
with breastworks,
and
The
first
stockade
trifling
till
series of
hard
conflicts
barriers,
which the
The
last
Thomas
Bell,
the
in
181
as Col. Fowlis
his
marched
in advance,
He
He
replied
fire,
his troops
would
also abstain
from
to
accord-
ingly effected this march without opposition, and two he passed through the East Ukudu (guard-house) at Hoggala, where
afternoon at
loss of twelve
killed
and
thirty-six
wounded.
On
marched
Palace.
men
of
H. M. 48th
N.
I.,
Land
left at
howitzer with
a detachment of
men, were
command
column
of Col. Fowlis'
daramudy
was
river,
7 miles
south of Mercara.
which
to co-operate with
was directed
Colonel
rank and
file
I.
file)
who never
dominions
for the
If possible it
was to take up
its
position at the ruined fort of Sulya, at the foot of tbe Ghat, but
strictly
was
Col.
road,
when
his
advanced
guard
fell
182
distant from
their piquet
fired at.
HISTORY.
their stockade,
unless
first
was employed, and as they assembled at the gateway of the stockade, the
it
without
difficulty
or
On
the
the 31st to a
Ishvaramangala
hill
Madhur and
Europeans
reconnoitering party,
consisting of 4 officers, 40
its locality.
completed on the 3rd April, but the party was attacked on the spot
when
it
to retire,
and
it
reached the
camp
miles
and wounded,
killed.
it
The
coolies
enemy
fell
upon the
followers, the
ammu.
into
officers'
fell
The
casualties of this
column amounted to
thirty
killed
and
thirty-six
wounded.
his
expedition,
an enquiry by a court
martial
the
opinion expressed
by the Com"
The
Court do not see reason to ascribe any blame to the Lieut. Colonel, and
they would be doing
him
less
than justice
if
183
exerted himself for the good of the service on which he was engaged, and
when
his
column came
enemy
very probable
that
if
the Court
had been desired to express an opinion on the wisdom of the authorities who sent a force so inadequate to the task imposed, its verdict would
have been less favourable.
The
issue of the
him by
Col. Fraser, if
he would
surrender,
the Raja availed himself of so favourable terms and returned within the
stipulated time of three days from
Nalknad
to
to Mercara,
after
a vain at-
days' time,
march
He
and
his
women, and was received with due respect at the outer gate by
the officer
Col.
interview
"The Raja
of Coorg
having
sent
me
a message yesterday
five in
morning that he
wished to
see me, I
until past
called
upon him at
me
seven.
When
round
first
went
found the
whole palace
down
all
it,
for the
offi-
in the
Fort.
veil
afterwards,
from behind a
He
took
me by
him
in Hindustani
and enquired
after his
health, to which
At length one of
held
me
by the
flight
feel
my way
closed,
my
disengaged hand.
windows were
184
HISTORY.
no light whatever hut from a common lamp set upon the ground, he seated
me
by him on a
sofa.
make
to
me
he was weary and unwell, that his head was confused and he knew not
The
principal object he
demand
for
the sur-
founded as he said
the letter to
it
He
said,
that he detained
surrender of the
fugitives,
and
him,
that
he
thought
British
he
would
be
a useful
mediator between
I
and the
the
Government.
To some remark
made upon
this
subject,
Raja replied that he was an ignorant man, and knew not that he was
doing wrong, or acting in a manner contrary to the usage of other countries.
He
his ancestors
and prayed
for
my
He
ignorant and
never benefitted by the advantages of society, and that in all his late proceedings he had been misled by evil councillors such as Abbas Ali and
others,
whom
he plainly designated as
just, that
villains.
am
led to
believe that
he
is
spoiled by
power,
feelings
and
evil
superstition
purposes as they have been, might have taken a different and far better
direction
judicious
advisers and
had a more
of the
officers
In the course of
my
conversation I acquainted
painful,
I acquainted
him that
had not
185
Finding out that his deposition and removal were determined upon,
he
felt
all
his atrocities,
was
likely to
Fraser,
who had
whole
fixed-
him as
In
'
country.'
all
enquiries
to
Colonel
Fraser was
as
if
constantly
referred
Cevan Basava
all
for
infor-
mation,
the acts of
else
than a young
man
Devan the
convenient
exclusive charge
species of cruelty
and
crime.
to the jungles,
and went
to live with
Nalknad
man
escorted
A message was
by.
the
katcheri
Basava was
to investigate as
seemed
likely
own hand
or
to death
by other
well enough.
;
all
the
afterwards
all
confessed' the
and the
who had
shift
man.
risen from a
* His doiermination must have been very firm, for the Doctor found him suspended bj two Top es, and a third rope a spare one it muit he supi osed, was ftund at the foot of the tree.
24*
186
HISTORY.
sities, he retained his post. hated by them, and maltreated them whenever he had an opportunity.
With
his
clenched iron
fist
Basava gave him a blow on the temple, which sent him to the ground for dead. The accomplice of the Raja's crimes perished with ignominy
;
man
now
superiors and
the people.
ent of Coorg.
Assistant Superintend-
The
and no
distur-
of troops
kept in
Mercara
any emergency.
The
prize
money
distributed
amongst the
troops
amounted
General Order by His Excellency the Right Honourable the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief in India.
Head
Quarters,
Ootacamund, \lih
May
1834.
in
the manner in
his general
Raja of
His Lord-
had
To
Lieut. Col.
Stewart,
all
enemy
to his progress,
Column under
command.
of Col.
The
is
to
this misfortune.
Column, and
is
happy
in gene-
187
that Col.
Waugh
is not
blame
appear to
discretion
may perhaps be
in,
made
to the
object of the
operations
Column was
Waugh.
The good
tern
it
disposition
made by
Col. Fowlis in
command
officer
of the
South Wes-
Column
was
and the
officers
and
name
will be
able Court.
To
ated,
all
men composing
His Lordship expresses his thanks for their zealous and gallant conduct.
to
yet the excessive strength of the mountainous and densely jungle-country consti-
have surmounted.
satisfaction
ary tyrant has been subdued and a valuable acquisition been made to
the
Company's
Territories.
To
may
in
part be ascribed
The conduct
of Lieut.-Col.
Jackson, in
command
of the
North- Western
for the
present
from making any remark upon the operations of that part of the
Force.
to mention in
this
to
whom was
By the
adopted,
measures
Coorg
him the
and
By Command
ral.
(Signed.)
W.
H.
MACNAGHTEN,
188
As a mark
of the King's
Commander
of the
Royal Ha-
noverian
Guelphic Order.
representative of the Governor General
The
now entered
into
ne-
gotiations with the remaining Devans and other principal men, which
must have puzzled them not a little, but which they turned good account after having comprehended their novel position.
ted into a Company's taluk, and indeed the
tricts of
to pretty
They no
doubt had expected that the Principality would without ado be conver-
Headmen
districts
Canara.
to find themselves
The
chief
is
men
being assemb-
the
site of
which
Central School
Col.
"
rank with the Devans, then went round the assembled multitude, who sat
in perfectly quiet
is
where I
sat,
and
to be
Company's dominions.''
Not being
in the
end be
When
try,
they were most positively informed that he must leave the coun-
they were greatly relieved and readily acquiesced in the orders of the
Sirkar.
if
masters of the country, aud were greatly pleased with the sudden change
The up-
shot was, that Col. Fraser issued a proclamation which declared that
it
It
ran thus
Whereas
it is
under the protection of the British Government, His Excellency the Eight
ANNEXATION OP COORG.
Honourable the Governor General has been pleased to
heretofore governed by
189
resolve, that the Territory
nourable Company.
The
again be sub-
jected to native rule, that their civil and religious usages will be respected,
and
that the greatest desire will invariably be shewn by the British Government to
augment
and happiness.
(Signed)
J.
S.
FRASER,
Col., Political
Camp atMercara,
7th
May 1834.
began to break
in
Lt.
Agent.
Gradually light
affairs,
as soon as
it
leave
the
country. Colonel Fraser wrote on the 7th June to the Governor General
"The Raja
is
those around him who happen not to be aware of the past events of
his
life.
But
in
my opinion
his atrocious
discreditable
Government
to concede
more
to
him
life
The
fully
cruelty to his
of his
established,
and
in reply to
report on the
:
the
to
"
With regard
to Bangalore,
up
am
to render
should be
sur-
rendered, no conception was formed that his cruelties had been carried
to so enormous an extent as would
now appear
would
it
seem possible
for the
imagination
by any
to
may now,
with
Colonel Fraser,
sore, left
on being transferred
to
the Residency of
My-
Coorg in September
the following Address, the contents of which, and of his reply, reflect
great honour on the respective parties, and give us a just appreciation of
their character
190
To
Lieutenant Colonel J. S.
HISTORY.
FRASEK,
&c. &c. &c.
We,
the undersigned
of
Coorg,
would ever
did
re-
omitted
we
not
in the
name
of ourselves
and
our community,
We
the Residency, to which His Excellency the Right Honourable the Governor General
you,
its
yet you
country,
and that
We
should,
you
to separate
from
You
indebted
govern us.
inviolate
our rights,
Your
abilities
and knowledge of
for the
and
liberality
your proceedings.
It is with,
pleasure we
declare
to
improve our
moral and
conciliating
intellectual faculties.
We
manners
in
and make
flourish,
and your
desire
promote our
interests
We
shewn
humane
disposition
and grievances
of the
thus
and the
facility
in obtaining justice.
measures
nothing which
you have done that has not been consonant with the wishes
of the
community,
a circumstance by which you have acquired the confidence, esteem and affection
of the people of the country.
It is impossible that
all
191
The numerous
we have
received from you are eDgraven on our hearts, and they will ever be most
gratefully remembered,
not only by us
Your name
will
latest posterity.
as a lasting memorial of
the high estimation in which we hold you, we respectfully request your acceptance of a gold cup, and a Coorg dress,
liberty
to
present to Your
H onour.
have our fervent wishes for your happiness and prosperity
our humble
supplications to the
life
You
will ever
Almighty that He
may
ness.
bless
Devdns, Native
Officers,
the gold cup and Coorg arms which you have been pleased to present to me.
I shall
my
Government
people like
whom I
I attach a peculiar
as con-
veying also a gratifying testimony that the Coorgs are entirely satisfied with
the proceedings
of the
senti-
this
To advert
in this
mode
of administration
affairs of
the
far
as
the country,
Supreme
British
Government of
India,
and guidance
have acted.
The
invariable
object of those
This principle of
192
administration could scarcely
fail
HISTORY.
issue
But
if it
Let the
respectful,
aud obedient
in
the
of
in
mine.
"We have
We
Why,
hand.
that
all
And what
day on which
knew that
;
was right
and
that the Coorgs and myself, the governed and the instrument of
government,
were associated
system here
!
in
common bond
it is so,
of union.
Long may
For while
my
brave
and estimable
happy
to
friends
shall
come and
visit
shall always be
But wherever
am, and
in
whatever
circumstances I
may be
sured that the prosperity of Coorg will never cease to be an object of my sincereBt
wishes and most anxious solicitude.
(Signed:)
J. S.
FEASER,
Lieut. Col.
the Affairs
of Coorg.
After a short stay in Mercara, the Raja had to leave under an escort
of the 35th
and 48th N.
I.,
commanded by
Col. Stewart,
who
delivered
to the
2th
May
834.
The ex- Raja rode away through the town of Merto strike
band
up
he had
In their
no sense of his
palkis
fall.
safe,
certain
who accompanied the Raja, afterwards helped himself to a large amount of this treasure, and when the secret oozed out, he found it necessary to
inform Captain Le Hardy that he knew of treasure secreted by the Raja.
An
honest Coorg,
who
Company
all
he had
left
193
and
Gold
coins were
freely at
in certain houses.
From Bangalore
revenue.
the ex-Raja
Benares, where he drew a monthly pension of Rs. 6,000 out of the Coorg
The
British
in
Government
securities
still
the Raja
was
which, together with the money carried away from Coorg, enabled him to
play,
Coorg,
cipality
reviving
from time
to
which caused no
little
of Coorg.
When
Devammaji, the
interest of
which
&
Co. in
Madras. But
in vain.
to visit
Engold,
land with his favourite daughter Gauramma, who was then ten years
European education.
Arrived
faith.
up in the Christian
ititerest in
the
tism, on the 30th June 1852, stood sponsor through the Archbishop of
Canterbury,
'Victoria.'
By
this
achievement
commenced a chanrecovery
in
Company
for the
of the Rs.
680,000, but
it
Meanwhile,
1858,
the
fell
Government
of India
to the ground.
The Coorg
Princess
Victoria
Gauramma was, by the Queen, first Major Drummond, and then entrusted
John Login
the
officer,
in
whose
She eventually
married an English
1864
but
as a heathen.
in Coorg,
he remained a
England.
stranger
morality in
25*
194
HISTOEY.
Vira' Raja
Rajas of Haleri.
in
Whilst
exile
six
by
who was
six
bom
at
Vellore,
and
last
Padmaraja at Benares.
named
on a small
to
emissaries
families,
though
Thsy were
an
interest
were unsuccessful
all
from
Bangalore, had their confiscated farm at Appagalla with all its former
belongings restored to them, and Government not only increased
the
satisfied.
receiv-
hope of
eventually being seated on the Coorg throne as the only remaining male
relative of the
ex-Raja.
On
his return
to
he assumed the
title
of Arasu
of at
or king, petitioned
Government
at Mercara,
a residence one
Appagalla was
also
'
like
a cow shed,'
unhealthy' and
'
unpropitious.'
He
Government
allowed Rs.
designs
that
it is
quite
new
Sirkar.
They
is
plainly
as
their
private
opinion,
'
that
Channa Basava
that
if
be created in
the country.'
at Appagalla.
Thus he
He
died on the
His
sole sur-
Two daughters
THE PRETENDER.
Of the other members
Sultan,
of the
195
two
relics
Raja's family,
of Tippu
cousins of
any claim or
title to
the property.
Nilammaji followed
rites.
whom
both of them being sons of Appaji Arasu, the younger brother of Dodda Vira Rajendra on the 8th May 1869. The Pretender. These two brothers, Virappa and Nanjundappa,
order of the ex-Raja, immediately after his father's death in 1820,
to-
and
the whole of them died of starvation and misery within three months after
their
age,
imprisonment
Rajammaji was
and long entertained the idea that her husband Virappa had escaped
still alive.
and was
This
rumour circulated
and
it
when the
invading
army
to claim the
musnud.
so
much
credit
Rumour
stated
that Virappa had effected his escape from prison by the person
who had
been
that he
had pro-
ceeded to Mysore, and remained for some time in the village of Avarti
till
his
wound was
healed,
In 1833,
that he
had a number
and com-
Some
of his
verses were
Abhrambara,
this
to come to Mercara.
On
his arrival
was the sannyasi's name, was desired he was introduced to the Raja. He
was a
tall
looking
more
and powerful man, sparingly dressed, and wore a long beard, like a Mussalman fakir than a Hindu sannyasi. The
:
'
Who
are you
?'
'
Where
is
196
your home?'
'
HISTORY.
Here.'
?'
'
Who was
your mother?'
'
The womb.'
the Raja
'
Who
was your
father
The
short,
contemptuous
greatly
away.
to bring
Afterwards
he regretted
the
and though
He was
till
after
caused
by
He
appeared,
indeed,
to
deny the
than to
that
to confirm
he was only a
poor sannyasi,
whom
he was
made
and
of May
From
His
where he
Dalavayi Venkatappa.
Kenchammana Hosakote,*
ac-
companied by about 70 followers from Haleri-nad, Yedava-nad, and Yelusavira-shime, but only about
frontier,
were
it
Jamma
Haleri palace
nor
is
stay at Subrahmanya.
It is possible that
going to the Haleri palace was, to foster the belief of his being in corres-
Manjarabad.
COORG REBELLION.
197
His
fol-
At Hosakote
his
He assumed
the head-dress
a small cocked
hat,
and
other
insignia
is
He
also said to
place in Coorg, and to have warned his followers that by associating with
possibly render
In-
his followers,
the Divans, was also implicated in the impostor's proceedings and eventually
to Bangalore.
the Bangalore gaol. After 30 years' detention he was set free, and his
visit,
under surveillance, he came again in Juno 1870, but was sent back to
Mysore, and died on his way at Seringapatam.
Rebellion
of
1837. The
in
speaking, a rising of the Gaudas, a tribe on the western slope of the Ghats,
many
of their habits.
Company's Government.
After
the
Canara,
The
Collector of Mangalore
now
de-
One
of the four
Divans,
the above named Lakshmi Narayana, a Brahman, who was displeased with the ascendancy of his Coorg brother-Devans, made political capital out of the
country,
ill
brother of
his,
was
some
rich
and
influential
men
of the malcon-
tent Gaudas,
made a
Collector of Mangalore
and
two companies
of sepoys.
numbers increased
lore,
advanced to Mangafraternity,
opened
the gaol,
198
hills
historv.
overlooking the town.
All
the
The
civilians,
who
Cannanore,
a council of
procurable.
The Commanding Officer held war, and would have embarked the garrison had boats been But they soon recovered their presence of mind, and had
in
arms.
no
difficulty in
so that
arrived,
when the
and Bombay
Though
this
ned amongst the Coorgs at Nalknad and Beppunad, and amongst the Badagas in the Panje, Bellare and Subrahmanya districts, and the
northern parts of Coorg inhabited by the late Raja's trusted and favoured Sivacharis.
late
issued in
name
of that
who
were summoned
to the service of the great prince of the to take possession of his inheritance.
Haleri house,
who
carried them.
Abhrambara's
officials
were carried
to Beppu-nad.
surprise
side,
;
The Coorgs
there,
and
others,
were taken by
safer
they hesitated.
a deputation
from Virajpet
went to Mercara to see the Divans, to report to them and to ask for
directions,
Captain Le
consultation
Hardy,
alert.
After
Ponnappa
at
Mercara,
and
move according
to
Bopu's information.
When
Capt.
Le Hardy,
after a long
and tedious
march, had reached Sampaji at the foot of the Ghats, no rebels were to
be seen, and he learnt that they had moved towards the Bisli-ghat and
North Coorg.
of forest
hills,
It
was impossible to
difficult
of passage even
He
returned
therefore to
199
he'arrived there,
intelli-
districts of Coorg.
When
gence now reached his camp that the enemy was at Sampaji.
with marched to Sampaji by way of Kadama-kall.
He
forth-
Again no
rebels.
to
doubt the
fidelity of his
Divan.
mean time of several of Bopu's relatives having joined the insurgents. Capt. Le Hardy's suspicions were thus confirmed. He called Bopu and
charged him straight with treachery.
rebels' he said
if I
; '
Go down
to your friends
the
come
after you
and
the
Company as
his friend
eloquence of despair,
rebellion'
said.
Do you
stay,
and
let
me
to
quell this
miserable
'
If you give
me
liberty
act according to
I will
set
circumstances and
take
all responsibility
upon myself,
out
immediately
felt
and bring
alive or dead.'
Capt.
Le Hardy
that the
man
collected at Mercara.
The Coorgs from Beppu-nad and other districts had in the mean time A party of some sixty men was despatched to the
under Subadar Appachanna.
Bopu, with another troop, marched
north
straight
down
to Sampaji.
Two
lictors of his
own
fashion
preceded the
of fresh
coolies,
each of
The Divan
His best
little
friends
gathered
around him
to scour the
three of
them marched a
;
in advance of the
Divan
the
for Chetti
Kudiya,
and great
favourite,
man
of the Malebird,
Kudiya
tribe,
who could
hit it
flying
had
The party had not proceeded further than the Raja's were just descending the Ghat, when they met, two unlucky
Seat,
and
wights,
Muddaya a former Subedar, and Appaiya a late Parpattegar. They were well known to Bopu. They had failed to give him information of
the insurrection
;
they must have known things, and had they sent him
200 a message
disgrace
in
aiSTOET.
due time,
ruin,
it
would have
and
He
therefore
ordered some of his followers to seize the fellows, and others to take out
tunate men, at once seized by rude hands and stripped of their coats,
demanded explanations
their innocence,
They cried
men
of his
;
own acquaintance
he at once ordered
them
all to
on gloriously.
He redeemed
Le Hardy.
Bopu
The Subedar
sent
of Nalknad
him word and then had a meeting with him, when he prevailed on
difficulty to
him without
allegiance he
had sworn
Company.
The
loss of so influential
man was
It
drawn by the
and
Lictors,
in
distinctions in lieu
and broad
perhaps to
the Divans.
in gold,
and
Hi tolas
and
is
On one
side it
re-
it bears,
the
:
picha-Jcatti
and
the
'For distinguished
]
837.'
The
same
201
During the Mutiny in 1857, the Coorgs enjoyed the confidence of the Local Government to such a degree, that after its suppression Sir Mark
its
Notification.
mh February 1861.
In
consideration
of
loyally
and. intrepidity
its
and in recollection of
it is
conspicuous services
in aid of
the
British Government,
my
pleasing
in virtue of the
power
me
Act commonly called the Disarming Act are not applicable to the gallant
people of Coorg.
(Signed)
M. CUBBON,
Commissioner.
Coorg has been the introduction and development of which has attracted numerous European
coffee planting,
many
parts changed the face of the country, and completed the eman-
which, in proportion to
extent, yields to
none
qualities of its
natural resources.
26*
INHABITANTS.
The
interest with which the
is
Coorg land
is
invested from
its
pictur-
much enhanced by
who
on.
are
its distinctive
and
full description
them
will
be given further
tribes,
among whom
different classes
name we have
known
in Vastara
Jenu,
Kadu and
Betta;
the
immemorial inhabitants
of
Coorg
may be
broadly divided into the two grades of Patricians and Plebeians, the for-
mer
consisting of those
who as
enjoyment of
the rights of
Jamma tenure,
rest.
Amma
Kodagas.
of Coorg belonged
in virtue of
Ammas,
The Ammas,
have been admitted at various times into the country on the footing of
the privileged class, namely Heggades, Aimb-okkalar, Airis, Koyuvas,
The
Holeyas,
composed
chiefly of the
Holayas or
These were in
into
an
indigenous population
The
Kodagas, with the Holeyas and Yeravas, form about one third of the
whole population.
* See vol.
I,
p.
311.
NUMBERS.
203
which the origin of the Coorgs may be immediately The period of their mitraced has been indicated in the last chapter.
The region
to
history
Kadambas, be
set
down
Numbers- Though
In the
many
deserted farms
grown oyer
with dense
and
A
way
back, but
unhappy government of
their
estimate
made
in
183940,
and the
total popu-
125,000 to 35,000. an increase at the rate of 70 per cent in 14 years. Previous to the regular census of 1871, khaneshumari estimates of
lation at
people, the
This
may
who were
1
stated to be 11,862
number The
in 1867,
at
204
INHABITANTS.
Taluk.
BRAHMANS.
205
do very well withou^
in
them
them.
in their houses.
Now
supporters chiefly
by,
and assimilation
are in requisition on
many
occasions.
At
the birth of a Coorg child they ceremoniously purify the defiled house by
and without,
for
gift
nad
offers
money.
In case of
illness,
Brahmans are
At a housewarming
(grilia praves'a) it
Coorgs to invite Brahmans and to give them a good meal and presents.
to
upwards of a thousand
The purohita
or officiating
Brahman
(liebalasu) in the
and
Thus we
life,
see that
accessible
opening in Coorg
It is
and panders
however to be hoped
its
work
to
Without
ranked
of
them as permanent
The
greater
number
are.
in the
taluks of Padinalknad,
Mercara
and Yedenalknad.
described as A're or
Kumari Mahrattas, 36
are
and
255 Rajputs.
The Mahrattas
chiefly agriculturists
and 864
of the
latter,
greatest
among the
labourers.
Vaisyas.
These
:
297
souls, of
whom 278
chiefly
are Komatis
the rest
Marwadi,
6 Ladar, and 4
Nagarta
or Bheri.
solely in trade,
and are
'206
INHABITANTS.
Sudras.
Sudra castes
SUDRAS.
207
Panas
of Mysore,
Gdniga, oil-pressers.
This caste
Malayalam
consists of Joti
;
and Vaniyas
or Baniyas of
and the former traders, the two occupations combined being making and
selling of
oil.
sell
cocoa-nut
flat
oil,
in
leather vessels
piece of
palm wood
This
caste
is
Their occupation
is agriculture,
and the
sale of milk,
Siva.
Hajdm, barbers.
Nayindas.
and labourers.
Idiga, toddy-drawers.
ers
and Divars.
the
They
be
language,
are mostly to
It is
reported that
women do
districts.
The Adike
the
forests
Kudiyas, also
known
Male Kudiyas,
live
chiefly
in
on the Western Ghats, where they cultivate their own leumri land, and
draw toddy
tree,
in
cardamom and
and
also
They speak
said to
;
be divided into Adike Kudiyas, those who gather the areca nut
Kudiyas,
those
Male
who
extract the
palm
The
wine
Divars are toddy drawers from Tuluva and also work as labourers.
dress scantily and speak Tulu.
Bilvas, entered
They
among
wild tribes,
Kunibdra, potters.
Koyavas.
They are
to
be met with
ing.
in every taluk,
A few
Kuruba, shepherds.
This
;
caste consists of
Hal Kurubas. There are also three other classes of Kumbas, called Betta,
Jenu and Kadu Kurubas
but these latter classes are distinguished from
tribes.
The Kambli
live in
208
INHABITANTS.
also
known
(village)
Kurubas.
number shewn
labourers,
namely 7,687.
Of
this
386
They worship
all
lands of idols,
evil spirits.
The
different
'Sale,
classes
The three
the Madras
Presidency.
agriculture,
The
and
selling of cloths,
The women
also carry
on petty
trade.
Sivites.
Natva, dancers.
This
is
Some
&c, who
and
singers,
are called
Natva.
The
women
temples.
whom
25 are women.
Of the men,
Government
ser-
in coffee, &c.
There
this caste
than among
other Hindus.
Palli or Tigala.
The
is chiefly
labour
20
Uppdr.
occupied in
The Uppars, as
salt.
is
the
name
implies,
making
Now they
and about a third of the whole number have been returned as labourers.
The
total
number
Waddar, masons.
Kuttiga,
These
mud
1
are
chiefly
known as
Kolairis or Kallu
and Nudiyas.
in stone,
and the
latter
well-sinkers, builders of
&c
in agriculture
51 in constructive arts.
Of
this class
19 sub- divisions
Aiinmokkalu.
WOKKALIGAS.
209
wolclcalu, fifty
is
a contraction of aivattu
sect
The ancestors of
a low
this
for cultivation
Fifty families
are
said to have
sect.
com-
In their
;
mode
and
in dress
but the
latter
Amma
but since
and
now
the Coorgs.
language.
are scat-
The Bantars
from the
in Padinalknad
and
They
The
others of this
but
chiefly in
nalknad.
Like the
community
of the Coorgs,
floor,
in
whose pre-
sit
only on the
Coorg.
class,
chair.
in'
class of Wokligas
from Nagar.
numbers
total
in
Mercara taluk.
of
The
number
Wokkaligas of
28,231
of
whom
On
referring to
the statement
This no doubt accounts for the disparity of 5,997 between the sexes,
as
it
is
a well known
numbers of men of
this
class
27*
210
INHABITANTS.
and return
to their villages in
;
Mysore in
fields
the two
Of the
total
number
20
257
and
agriculturists,
to Mysore.
home
in Coorg,
Lingayats.
lhe
sect.
The
late
Coorg Rajas
in
belonged to this
One
Padi-
and
trade,
hey are
strict Sivites,
and
and generally
Marka.
no Brahman
number
is
probably
them as
such.
to
Yedenalknad
taluk.
Panchala.
class is
iron-smiths, gold
and
silver-smiths,
and workers
in brass
and
copper.
Kollar
Sikligara
Chappategara Koteya
Tachayire
fair
number
are
engaged in agriculture
and labour.
The
in
dress
They
closer
MENDICANTS.
211
The Tachayire
and
other weapons.
smiths
Muyairi, workers in
brass
Jambu
Mendicants.
There are
met
many
with in
Coorg are
Kutuma
Male
Padarti
Domba
Jangama
Kaniyaru
Panika
Satflni
The Bine Battar or Paddaru were originally musical mendicants who emigrated from Malabar. They prepare the parched rice for the
Coorgs on their festive occasions.
They engage
in agriculture,
and are
and beg-
tered all
over
The Male
tribe of gipsies
from
They pretend
to cure diseases
and exact
money from
the ignorant.
to be the descendants of a
Malayalam Brah-
man and a low caste woman. It may be interesting to quote at length Dr.
ing some of these mendicants.
"
The
make a handsome
livelihood.
The
Kaniyas
find
much work
great measure upon their friendly patronage. The Kaniya (astrologer) has
complete mastery over the minds, and to a great extent over the pockets of
the credulous Coorgs. For a consideration in the shape of a purse of upees,
Such
is his
know
the
name
of a person in order to
nativity.
He
is
also
the
and
witchcraft.
It is believed
by
212
things.
INHABITANTS.
The knowledge
or
of an all-ruling
Every severe
affliction
this.'
ascribed to
magic
art,
'
To
mischief,
to
the only
method
that suggests itself to such people for obtaining deliverance from trouble. Application
hadis
is
made
to
his
books and
(little shells
used for
The
man
and the
tled before this tribunal, the parties go to the Subedar, and frequently
the quarrel
is
who has
to get out of
The Padarti
employed as
is
not a caste,
in
but a
drummers
Hindu temples.
even were found to have been returned as Padartis, and it appears that by
some they are regarded as a lower class of Brahmans. The total number of the mendicant class in Coorg is 2,158
1,250 are males and 908 females.
principally of the bine Battaru class,
of
whom
The
Taluk.
OUTCASTES.
the menial
213
work
When European
commenced operations
different importance,
At the time
of part of their
various pretences
'
but the
'
domestic institution
is
now
class of people,
indifferently,
They dress
to
demon
worship, but a
Christians,
settled at
to
who formed
which was
given by the Rajas, and they also work as day labourers with the Coorgs.
Their number
palace.
is
very small, and they are only met with near Nalknad
They speak Coorg. The Pales or farm labourers are immigrants from South Canara. They are found principally in Kiggatnad and Yedenalknad taluks. Their
language
is
Tulu.
reside in Coorg, but
come here
active,
periodically for
and much
liked as
The Madige Holeyas are perhaps the lowest of the low Pariyas, for prominently amongst them they eat the carcasses of fallen beasts and prepare hides and
skins.
They are
towns in Coorg.
The
34,100
;
total
number
head Outcastes
is
Those engaged
miscellaneous
in labour
trades 5 per cent, while 37-5 per cent are returned as of no occupation
whatever.
Coorg farms,
whom no
appropriate
name could be
found,
214
INHABITANTS.
Wandering
met
with, viz
:
Tribes.
Three
classes of
Males.
Females.
..
.
..
. .
Lambanis or
Brinjaris, also
known
as Sukaligas
origin,
275 387 95
'203
354 30
dialect,
They are
robbers and dacoits, and their children are brought up to thieve from an
The former
to the latter,
who
eat
The Medas
Province.
supply annually for the Coorg houses on the long established terms of a supply of rice in return. At harvest time they get from the Coorg house
for every
2 cubits long.
is
The Medas
are the
drummers
Their religion
the worship of
They dress
like
an
inoffensive race.
The Lambanis
They
animals.
to another on their pack There were only a small number of them in Coorg at the time
of the census.
thieves,
feast
make
among the
crowd.
Wild
Tribes.
The
Females,
Yeravas, also known as Panjara Yeravas .. Paniyars or Paleyar Jenu Kurubas, Kadu and Betta Kurubas
Bilvas
*
5,608
4,908
..
.
318
1,466
314
1,457
..
..
..412
it is
300
From
have been more correctly classed with Holeyas among the outcastes.
to be
originally
WILD
TEIBES.
215
They are met with
al-
Nail's.
most
entirely in
much sought
after as
They appear
to
be treated much as
if
and a compressed
clothed.
At
their
they
chant their peculiar songs, and have dances in which, as with the Paleyars,
their
women
take part.
Yeravas.
The Panjara
hair to
grow
in
is
their
appearance
most extraordinary,
vas appear more
civilized.
Some
They have no
hke that of
Bhutas or demons.
They
to place in search of
They are
excellent climbers
Their
language
is peculiar,
name
fowl.
The Kadu
or Betta
Km abas
bamboo
forests,
but
They
flat nose,
dark,
deep set eyes and curly hah, which through neglect becomes
matted.
In stature they are middle sized, well proportioned, and in habits nimble
and enduring.
Their colour
whiskers.
is
They
cradles of
bamboo
216
and
cane.
INHABITANTS.
In their scanty clothing (the
women
features, their
appearance
wild and repulsive, yet they are a good humoured, peaceable set of people,
it
pleases them.
others.
eady stated
latter
caste.
number
No
to be evenly divided as to
caste of'the
same name
is
met
is
The Botwas
or Kadalas
in the
Tavunad.
They are
excellent
arrows,
and
live
made
of sticks
The
women
men wear a
coarse cloth.
Muhammadans.
distribution of
The
and
Muhammadans
Taluk.
CHRISTIANS.
217
all
kinds,
and 752 in
some are
and
coffee cultivation.
Of the
latter,
known
The
Christians
number
2,410, of
whom
and
,101 females.
The
218
INHABITANTS.
negotiated.
The 2
The Ooorgs.
The Coorgs, or Kodagas as they are properly called, are the princountry, and from time immemorial the lords of the
For the
last
of mountaineers,
two centuries they are known as a compact body who resemble more a Scotch clan than a Hindu caste-
In the Hindu scale they are Sudras, and not pork-eating bastard Kshatriyas, as
it
but
it
ought to be the
and
to
The Coorgs
to the present
day are as
Canarese people on the western coast, as they are from the Mysoreans in
the north and east, though their peculiarities are to some extent allied to the habits of the one as well as to those of the other race, and even their
language
is
Look
some
The
difference
is striking.
tall,
Men
of 6 feet
Their features
men
distinguished
The colour
of the Coorgs
Their
air of
mode
manly
of
in-
whole bearing an
self-assertion, well
inhabitants.
The grotesque
and savage
bursting at
once on
hills,
of the loftiest
and
contributed strongly
memory some
COOR0 WITH
HIS
THE COORG S.
At the same
different
219
the natives, so
approbation by a mountaineer of
my way
of thinking.
The
first
thing
my utter
astonishment, was to
come up and
quite out of
give
me such
to a Scotsman.
my
part that
it
drove
my
in the act
of addressing to him.
you, however,
that I gave
him such a
if
"The
inhabi-
and
all
the outward
signs of well being, are by for the finest race I have seen in India."
The
cotton, or
and
is
open in front;
not white,
it
has short
sleeves,
held together by a
which
failing
is
several times
A red kerchief,
The
or the peculiarly
large and
flat at
or
sandals.
silver or
costume. Those who are in possession of the Coorg medal, or the lunulate
ornament
called
fail
to
suspend
it
of course of a
more simple
nature.
is
imposing.
His dress
of the
same
{odu-Jcatti).
In a hand-to-hand fioht
since the
their knives
by
plantain
is
of curiosity than
220
inhabitants.
sportsmen
description.
rifles
of the best
Their ancient arms and ornaments were manufactured with the most
simple tools by natives of Coorg.
distinguished for personal bravery
to
reward
men
3 upon
the blade,
and these tokens are kept as sacred heirlooms and worn on grand occasions only.
lived for
men
is
very striking.
man
dressed in a woollen
;
now
aspires to a
stockings.
Amongst Young
still
at.
Native umbrellas
make
to
the
legs, delights
now
to be seen
on an impetuvisits
steed from
official
Kandahar, as he
his
on duty.
women
is
not less
well shaped,
and blackens
and
in quality
and
is
string, so
make
the skirt
of
it
down
covers the
bosom and
is
To
end
is
arranged in
folds,
which, consensi-
activity
in
house and
field.
pry-
ing Brabmans,
who
by a
silly
puranic legend,
THE
COORGS.
221
which at tbe same time gives vent to their vexation at the intractability
of these rude mountaineers.
its
raven hair,
is
encircles tbe
Tbe wealth
of a Coorg family
is
displayed by tbe
ricbness of
Glass,
their
neck
is
coins.
Even
tbe ears are ornamented with pretty jewellery in gold, pearls and precious
stones,
and
also silver
festive
rings are
worn on the
toes.
skilfully
with red marking cotton, and the patterns, of native design, are often very
elegant.
their
Berbn work,
fine-
much admired by
ladies in
Europe.
A.s for
women
They
rise
early, and besides cooking and other domestic work, they bear a large
rice
The men plough the fields, transplant women carry manure, weed, fetch home and the The men do no menial work, they leave that to their
they enjoy a dignified repose, disbetel, or stitching
;
women and
cussing the
a piece
others,
:
many are
is
of
game but
to figure in tbe
capacity of a Government
A
work
Coorg
woman
is
rarely idle,
if
to do,
and no wonder,
its
we
and bustle
of
a Coorg
house with
Two
or three generations,
The labourers
also
belong to the household and look up to the mistress for food and orders.
pigs, the
222
the house, these and
IMHABITANTS.
many
other cares
a Coorg house
presents a
mar-
more material
The
break
member
of the house,
to
when a tendency
But
up these
itself.
Coorg women of a
of,
commanding
who, like
human
is
beehive, and
make
mon
Here
woman
called
Dodda Avva
the great
She was
Almanda
of extraordinary size
Nor was
she less distinguished by qualities of mind and character. the country, she was
Throughout
known
Coorg women.
choose
a husband for
clan
Her choice
same
Uttacha,
He was
great wife.
a good
Per-
much
inferior every
this
way
to his
very
reason.
of
to Irktir, in
On
such
occasions
and at
last
accom-
pany her husband and his oxen to the place of meeting appointed for
the whole train from the village.
On
recommend her
the caravan,
Often,
to the
kind
offices of
the best
men in
to her
when husband or servants appeared too slow in loading the oxen, she would bid them step aside, and quietly taking up the double sacks with
both hands, lay them softly and evenly upon the backs of the cattle
THE COORGS.
She was equally famed
for
223
On
this account
Muddu
Raya, who ruled Coorg in her time, greatly respected and reverstopped
to
have a
Dodda
Awa
of
Almanda
house.
In course
of*
time Dodda
but to her great grief no son was granted her to succeed to the Almanda
property.
When
of the
marriage
The
eldest
member
Pulanda
Amnichanda
family.
to the
The youngest, by
Palekanda house,
to give her sons, if
chiefs,
Almanda
these,
was
Of
Awa at
Almanda. The name of one wasTimmaya, Machu had a son Ayappa, whose son was
The
European
use of
oil
women
is
not
much
appreciated by a
which
and ghee.
made
into a nourishing
and
ambatti-pickle,
makes
to native taste
an excellent meal.
and chut-
and sweetmeats.
inside the house, are remarkable for the cleanliness of the cooking-vessels
in use.
The Coorgs
with
pickle,
or curds.
fast, consisting
of boiled rice
At 3
o'clock conjee
is
again
Toddy of the
made
but
of fermented rice,
European
liquors have
As
is
women
attend
first
to
224
serving up for their lords
sit
INHABITANTS.
down
to their
and the male members of the house, and then own separate meal. This selfish and unmanly custom
greatly
charm of family
life.
brass plates, on low stools, are rather animal feeds than family gatherings
table.
The Coorgs
then- houses.
from Europeans
looked upon
as a great honour,
efforts are
and on
Then great
made
to do
served,
one comes
unexpectedly
inconveniences
At the unexpected
arrival of
a European
visitor
there
at once a great
fair Kodagitis.
is
Clean dresses
are donned,
the house.
fire is
aroma of roasted
The
brought in a spouted
it is
of red pepper, as the coffee beans were broken in the mortar that serves
for
pounding
spices,
resist
to gratify the
importunity of
To
offered refreshment, be
orange,
would be a
has been said that the Coorg women do not exercise the domescleanliness.
it
;
tic virtue of
falls
to their share,
festive
costume
in public the
women
Coorg children shew much affection for their parents and relations, and
the
little
is
of the house.
The
wonder, and
if
be liked
all
The bearing
de"
*
member
of the house o 1
by a
visiting neighbour,
The
and
the
young
man
lays aside whatever burdens his hands, puts off his shoes,
THE
feet of his senior,
COOEGS.
225
who
blessing.
to others.
race,
fortitude
a great deal
cold,
and
proved them-
for
fierce intrepidity.
But
hills.
come under
the rule of the British Government, their warlike spirit has found no scope
still
doubtless stand
by
At the hunt of
but with nerve and coolness and wary cunning he will dodge the
fire
at
him
at close
The
intellectual
and moral
been neglected, and consequently up to the present day they are both
ignorant and superstitious. The worship of demons and of departed spirits
Charms and
sorceries
abound
all
Disease
cattle is readily
The dead
are sup-
living,
demand
sacrifices
Many
may
and neglect
bottle.
The
Rajas engendered
dissimulation, falsehood
and treachery
often
enough practised
an opponent and
feared by their
The name
of the Coorgs
still
neighbours,
as proud, irritable
and such popular estimations of the character of a neighbouring race are seldom without some foundation. It still may happen, that the head of
a Coorg house on his dying bed
will solemnly
29*
226
INHABITANTS.
hitherto been
an unlettered people.
The
Rajas,
without education,
Even
the
English Government
many
in intelligence
and character.
satisfy the
Only
most praiseworthy
efforts
awakened
made have
though education
public
is still
The
controlled
by a council of
elders, called
TaMa
who
manahere-
gers of social affairs, without however any magisterial power from Govern-
ment.
is
village
Takkas extends
over offences against social customs, attendance at public feasts and pro-
per conduct during the same, drunkenness and adultery. The offender has
to appear before the council of the elders of the village, at the ambala
investigated
is
and
sentence,
which
may
amount
to
10 rupees.
refuse
muhhyastaru, that
district,
is
the assembly of
when he may appeal to the Nddthe Takkas of all the villages of the
outcast Coorg
and
An
may
fine.
after years
be
To
the influ-
Coorgs in public
is
principally owing.
It
is,
the
many Coorg houses modify Takkas, and make them more complaisant to
The contact
the natives.
of the
which tendency
will inevitably
and a greater
Coorgs with
Europeans, who have chiefly settled in the country as coffee planters, has
not proved an
of
unmitigated boon
for
With
the
influx
more money
European
civilisation
who
are no longer
their
country
vice,
and
is
this
now
rather
AMMA
COORGS.
227
country.
It
requires a
during their
festivities,
Amma
sect.
Kodagas.
Their number
is
They
live chiefly in
to have originally
Nam-
have connections.
costume, they are hardly distinguished from other Coorgs, only they wear
the brahmanical cord and abstain from animal food and fermented liquor.
They do not
Their
name
Amma
Kodaga
Amma,
or Mother
Kaveri.
With
the rest of
the great Kaveri and Huttari festivals, but of course as priests performing
puja in their own houses, for they have nothing to do with the Kaveri
temple.
any
spiritual influence
The
seem
They
But
by
minds some
sanctity
superior
It
is
said that
Tim-
influence
over
the
of
Amma
to
him
many
them resolved upon laying aside the Coorg costume and imitating the Brahmans in dress and diet.
To acknowledge
its
Brahmans invented the following legend, which is not in harmony with the The sage Kavera, as a reward for his austerities, was Kaveri Purana
:
whom he
another sage,
who
also resided
on the Brahmagiri.
228
INHABITANTS.
the proposal, and assuming the shape of a river fled from the mountain.
They
called
that a
woman
The
en-
raged Agastya muni thereupon pronounced a curse upon the Coorgs, that
the generation of Kodagas or Coorgs should decrease, that their
women
should not tie their garments in front, that the sown rice should not
grow, and that their cows should not give milk.
Kaveri
the patroness of the Coorgs, counteracted the curse as well as she could
in the followng
words
;
Amma
;
garments behind
the
after the
Hence the
place, where
this occured,
was
called
it is
Dodda Vira
preser-
Kajendra also
vation.]
origin of
it
built here
a rest-house, which
is
still
is,
in tolerable
The only
and bury
vestigation.
The Coorg
their
house.
The
paddy-fields,
clumps of plantain
ing trees.
and other
fruit-bear-
coffee
ables are seldom absent, and, where the locality is favourable, a little
fish is
not uncommon.
The
one of small
feuds,
and
tradition points
when
of
in every direction,
229
A
shady
deeply cut passage, payed with rough stones and overgrown with
trees, its
variety
of luxuri-
passing under an
Though a paved
which
square,
All
of
one
feet
and
rice- straw.
is
an open square
four sides
The
hall.
reserved for
an open verandah
the reception
Near
collected in a
masonry
reservoir
and drained
off
by
an
underground channel.
On
The
wooden
is
raised,
slab,
from
it
square and
The
floor is
of well beaten
and the
ceiling of
is
wood,
separa-
ted from the inner hall merely by a wooden grating, in others by a solid
earth wall with a
principal door
flowers
sort of
window, or
is
lattice,
made
of wood.
Like the
often very
handsomely carved in
and
figures, leaving
to see
and observe
Mussalman
sisters
compartment
to the
The next
the whole
room
is
and
fills
of the remaining two wings are tenanted by the married couples, and the
unmarried
women
the boys
hall.
From
230
INHABITANTS.
and the
is
reached by a ladder,
in good order,
but
attained,
A deep
well
is
with stone,
is
is
side of the
paddy
fields,
The low
Coorg house
at
the meals
given
them they
from male
their masters.
is
stock.
The landed
Jamma-bhumi,
or divided
is
and cannot be
farm
is
alienated from
amongst
members.
The
of the
cultivated
by
all
management
divided amongst
them
after the
It often occurs,
member
of the
some fields
Koppa which
if
support of his
family, he
may
live there
coffee plantation or
seem
own paddy
and
fields,
and eating
the fruit of their own labour. The indolent will then have to work for their
subsistence or sink into misery, the industrious
thrifty will
life
prosper,
and
after
a period of no
domestic
to be
little
angry
strife
a happier
of personal free-
dom and
felicity
will
The danger
apprehended
absorb the poorer ryots and thus interfere with their independence.
Jamma
land, which
is
money
2,31
to beggary.
It
was therefore
Jamma
land,
and
to cancel
Sons, grandsons,
brothers, brothers'
right
man
is
devolves on his
widow
if
his guardian,
and
and a
brother,
divided, provided
the family
be undivided
but
if it
be divided the
of primogeni-
The law
now
prevails
and
division
is strictly
prohibited.
If the deceased leaves neither wife, nor children, nor grandsons, the
if
nor sons
nor brothers, but a daughter not married, the relations of the family put
her in possession of the property, and dispose of her in
marriage, and
inherit it
But
if
man
dies leav-
cases where
patrimony until he
according to the
ments during the period of his nonage. If the deceased has left no children, the widow adopts a
her relations,
if
child of
the property on his attainment of the proper age, provided he has been
life.
The
fashions
and nohad a
In ancient times,
it
festivities
232
peculiarly cormnunal
call together the
INHABITANTS.
character.
On some
is, all
farm houses, to a
The youths would have their earrings, and the maidens had rice
feast.
generally performed
is
smith or carpenter,
may
act for
In Coorg the
carpenter has the exclusive privilege of piercing the ears for ornaments.
The
girls
have
their ears
When
they come
rice is
some grains of
rites of
and
fellowclosely
resemble the
common
conformed altogether.
It is to
be hoped
that the Coorgs will ever be preserved from the misery of child-marriages.
A young
Coorg,
when about
to marry, has
first to
obtain
the con-
sent of his father or of the head of the family. the Arava of the house
is
He has
They
to
whom
office
among the
life.
particular friend of
a neighbouring Coorg
is
house becomes
its
naturally the
Aruva
of the other.
On a
is
certain
woman who
to be asked in marriage.
They speak
to the
favourable answer
being relit.
house
is
carefully swept
and a lamp
is
Some
man
of experience.
COOEQ WEDDINGS.
families, affecting
233
call in
.
new
fashions,
at
this
time
the astrologers
together or not.
loss, find
new
couple
will agree
Where no
It is
to be
answers.
is
evidently an innovation.
;
The
old
fashion is
a lamp
in the
the bridegroom's
an inviolable
Aruva and
tives
on one
side,
on the other
in token of
rarely, if ever,
broken.
is
agreed up-
The
when the
rice valleys
work to
be done.
the
When
asked for
The
and the
bridegroom are
wedding.
the
The members
respective
families
On
of the
bride
and
male
;
at least one
representative.
;
Now
rice
The
whole company, thus working together, join also in a good dinner provided for their guests by the
principal
parties
interested.
The Aruva of
On
house
is
at sun-rise,
the
No
In the
the female
a good Coorg
feast.
The
larger
more abundant
Anci-
liquor, the
30*
234
principal
INHABITANTS.
persons
among the
assembled
relatives.
Now
the
muand
Mrta
At the same
in order.
One
after the
other approaches
the bridegroom or the bride, strews some grains of rice upon his or her
lifts
a brass vessel
into his or her
filled
some drops
than
a three anna
ta
is over,
When
the
muhur-
the bridegroom on his side and the bride on hers, retire into
sit,
to the dinner
prepared
feast
is
heightened by the
bards,
who
The
following
is
and
rule,
his farm.
He
On
Coorg
And completed
his labours.
lived comfortably,
a string of pearls,
Though he now
Though of
And
And within
But in our
Md for ever,
have
rice
But no one
I
to dress
man
But where
of reputation,
When he
To
Vain
offered
is all
our
toil
a petition
and trouble
is
-,
perfect
For 3 goodly
jamma land,
it
Without wile
If a
He
received
as a present.
now bought
Has
And
WEDDING
Has
it
ONG.
While he thus was
235
sorely troubled,
Who
would
News
arrived of consolation
And
When
hen the
silvery
dew was
sparkling,
himself,
To the
down
On
To the
Sent a
ancestors and
Gcd
man
When
To conduct him on
Took
the journey,
with
silver,
in a silver pitcher,
And then
with
bis friend.
it
on a shining mat,
for
Where between
the
woody mountains
him
hilly
Fattam&da Chinnavva
He went
oflf
to seek
a wife. wore
off,
Walked he
till
his soles
all
Why, my
?
friend,
Pond'ring sat in
the Mandus,
Do you not
Use
it,
with
sitting
and then
said,
more.'
Wandered
Till his
So she
'
and he replied
Certainly
I will,
my
dearest,
Wandered
the walkiug-stick
If for ever
suit his'mind.
feet
suit
him
Thought,
come
for
more to-morrow.
clever,
seat of honour,
he found the
6elds
cattle right,
And began
Tell
'
My pretty maiden,
is
Then the
If the
were miserable
me
now, where
;
your father
She
replied
"My
father's gone
Then the
To a meeting
'And where
is
in the Mandu.'
And
were good,
please him.
?'
236
Where they
'And where
celebrate a wedding.'
is
INHABITANTS.
Spoke again to him the landlord
Tell me,
why you
called
me
father ?'
clever
With
When
To
his
That
why
I call you
father.
Mandanna made
stately palm-tree
and crippled,
When
You
forget to look
upon
it.'
Then the
'I
saluted.
will let
When
To
his
Mandanna made
me
him
'Dearest cousin,
assist
him
let
us
know
journey
Why
He
you undertook
;
this
Women
replied
'My
dearest father,
with provisions
sold,
And moreover
From the
ceiling is suspended,
relations
Whom you
'AH the
In July,'
want
to
give in marriage.'
Came
bullocks, they
were
sold
of weddin.
month
of
May
she
this
left us.'
his bride
a golden necklace
answer:
As a
pledge,
them be happy,
Was
Give
me
her
who
remains.'
is
pork and
other.
lamp
between them.
The
; *
Amva
Do you
and yard,
COOEG WEDDINGS.
237
field
it is
silver?'
This question
is thrice put.
When
hem
little
who
binds
them
into the
band's home.
The
and seated
in.
upon a
stool.
light is kindled.
The bridegroom
coin, half
is
now brought
little
He
milk to
drink,
a rupee or a rupee.
He
the
is
same manner.
the
rise,
new member, the bridegroom takes the hand of his bride, and leads her into the outer room of the house. Thus
the family and
property of her parents.
the daughter
bids farewell to the house of her birth and renounces all her claims upon
Upon
this
Then
own
the Aruva of the husband conducts bride and bridegroom into their
or seven,
or nine, or
the
with them.
unclean,
Oa
her return
to
is
treated as
is
she
not perafter
shut up like a
is
woman
In
this
seclusion the
young woman
the family.
From
to her
whenever she
first
meet
in the
relatives
and other
house,
rites
Mendalenad,
respects,
e.
the high-
is
in
many more
than geogra-
of the Coorgs is
disfigured
by the extraordinary
of
communism
women
in
238
one house.
Also Col.
INHABITANTS.
Wilks
in
his
as
Upon a
careful
too
much
to expect
from
fallen
nature
there
may
an alleged practice
still
vogue
solitary intances, as
Hindus might
as well regard
of European matrimony.
of the
married
life
of the
Coorgs,
would not
but rather
induce them to render and to maintain their family hearths pure and
honourable
withal,
and
to infuse
also
a better
spirit into
all foul
their
public
from which
and indecent
Polygamy
curs,
is
but
it
seldom oc-
and
chiefly
male
issue.
It also
taken to wife by
another
member
of the
this is
a voluntary engagement on
either part,
when
severely punishing
men and
reduced the
women
to a state of slavery,
making them
to
Any low
caste fellow
who
ap-
plied for
a wife to the Raja, might then obtain one of these poor creatures,
for
Takkas
of
the village.
The
all
her belongings to
No
'
com-
munism
of
CHILDBIRTH.
239
CMldbirth. The birth of a child renders not only the mother of new born babe but the whole house unclean, and every one who may come in contact with them. This ceremonial uncleanness (sutcika)
the
lasts for seven days,
The mother
is
confined
for
two months to the house and not expected to engage in any work, but and to devote herself
entirely to her child.
This
and vigour
of the
Coorg women.
much
valued.
They must be brought up and yet are destined to be entirely alienated from the house by their marriage. Boys are the stay of families. As
soon as a Coorg boy
plant, with
little
is
born, a
little
an arrow, made of a
leafstalk of the
same
He
its
is
thus,
at taking his
man and
On
many
warrior.
to
1
lost
meaning,
and ceases
be generally observed.
2th day after birth, the child
is
the
laid
in the cradle
by the
in
name, which
thus for boys
well- sounding
and
significant
(gold-father),
Mandanna
(the brother,
for
girls Puvakka
(flower-sister),
Muttakka
Chinnavva (gold-mother).
The
up
cradle,
woven
of slit
fitted to
it
be hung
tidy as
for* swinging,
requires
but a
trimming
the
to
render
as
any fashionable
sleeps in
it
little
Kodagu
smiles and
When
Juwa, juwa, baby dear the baby's mother comes, She will give her darling milk.
Jiiwa, juwa, baby dear!
When
She
240
INHABITANTS.
The corpse
die
is
The bodies
of
the young
who
buried
On
the death of a
member
As
at a
wedding,
to do
diis
each house must send at least one male and one female
service
member
on the occasion.
of the
rection
ceremonies.
washed and dressed by the men who have followed the funeral summons,
if
the deceased is a
man, but
if
It is
remark-
able that the Coorgs see no defilement in the handling of a corpse by the
funeral party.
It is
enough
for
them
to bathe
is
partment (nadu mane) of the house, and laid upon a funeral bed, near
is
placed.
Instead of
oil,
those
who can
afford
burn on
a copper
dish.
much
in the
usual
Hindu
style.
Guns are
is
brought into
the yard, a
piece of
water
is
poured into
mouth by the
the body
relatives,
little
and a
cocoa
money
containing a
is
Now
carried to the
Each
into the copper dish, moistens the lips of the corpse with
a drop or two,
and
in the plate.
funeral.
After
all
is
the body
pile,
upon the
it,
burning
Before this last scene, however, some relatives must be set apart
for
is
thili,
e.
at the
in
when
peculiar
honour
is
intended
FUNERAL SONG.
to be done to
241
the departed.
early
at six
and nine
o'clock.
own food
it
(consisting of rice
and a
the rest to
When
the
thiti,
the great
arrives,
the whole
village
com-
and thus
is
The Coorg
funeral song
is
:
most
pathetic,
father,
1
Woe is me
Gone with
Oh how
!
can
my
father
Woe! thy
Of the
All
is
days are
now
concluded;
Tumbe male
now consumed
And no
Alas,
When
And
the sun
is
the grass
is
on
fire,
But
among the
living.
Thus,
Truly
man comes
die
;
into being
But to
Is
not one of us
Onward, onward
the years
Oh how
!
off,
father
When
Where the
All the
wood are
stacked,
Woe
house
in distress
is
Which our
Is for
When the
AH
meeting-hall
ruined,
Woe
is full
of sorrow.
Thus
is
Woe!
the wrath of
God Almighty,
By thy sudden
Hath swept
its
summit
to the ground!
life!
31*
242
Ai the
stately
INHABITANTS.
banyan tree
forest,
To the Thou
roof,
Which
Is
And the
I
Oh my
father
yesterday
Of the
royal sampig.',
And
off,
father!
On the morrow,
like
the sun
life,
thy hand
Made
Thou Thou
Thou
slialt
Woe! my
Woe my
!
father,
gone
Coorg
festivals.
The
festivals of the
The
the Kdveri
feast in Tula
masa
;
i.
e.
November or December.
The Bhagavati
observed
all
May and
in August, generis
and men
Kdveri feast.
sun
has gained
the ascendancy
may
still
be ex-
The
ma-
the forests and grass hills are resplendent with the freshness and
beauty of spring.
to Tala-Kaveri.
Also pilgrims from Malayalam, Tuluva and Mysore reDistinguished amongst these are
clothed in a reddish
the
Brahmani widows
sad
figures,
brown gar-
shorn head.
arm, they trudge along supported by a stick; perhaps they come by their
in the
more
fre-
quent and the more numerous are the festive caravans of men,
in holiday costume,
women
who now
rest
in picturesque
defiles over
groups on
the grassy
now proceed
in
gay
KAVERI FEAST.
243
With
Tala-Kaveri
is
it
are
fro,
and
the
humming
ocean.
stream before
they enter the temple, which forms a large square with an open centre,
like a
Coorg house.
with hollow sounding conch and brass gong in hand, push, blowing
crowd.
and
.
new
arrivals descend
valley.
from
all
the neighbouring
to
and
ering booths
damp
night
A pathway
!
leads
over
ridges, to the
sacred spot.
As they ascend,
is
they shout
Narayana
Narayana
The source
of the river
is built.
From
tank of
2\
feet.
On two
hill side,
third terrace, on a
to Ganapati,
pujari.
clip
of the
hill,
there
is
a small
At the moment,
to experience the full
as fixed
into
anxious
an ever-increasing mul-
moment.
Now
the priest gives the sign, and the living throng, old and young,
in wild confusion into the water,
men
drink as often of the water, and, on emerging, offer a small gift to the
244
priests,
INHABITANTS.
who
sit
some pure
pilgrims
most
of the
it
home
wells.
with decreasing
From 8,000
to
15,000 pilgrims
may
annually
visit
Tala-Kaveri,
The presiding
Brahmans have secured some jungle for coffee cultivation in the neighbourhood of the temple, and the Coorgs complain that the priests take
greater care of their coffee gardens than of their religious duties, for not
long ago some valuable portions of the Tala-Kaveri shrine were stolen.
is is
who
her bed,
a handful of
common
To
is
use,
the centre.
these a fresh
young cucumber
added.
Upon
peris
The mistress
own person on
is
and a
tripod,
a dinner
upon
rice,
the mat.
Upon
woman
cakes from
a dough of rice-flour and plantains, well kneaded together on the preceding night,
Three of these
little
cakes
She then
calls the
They
all rise
instantly, go
and
fold their
tripod, as in ado-
One
of the
men
them down
to the rice-fields.
bamboo
sticks which
crowned with a
is
The
field
When the cakes are duly laid upon man gives three loud shouts and
five o'clock. live in the
house.
It is
now about
HUTTARI FEAST.
245
the whole family
On
man
from the
field,
sit
down
and eat the cakes prepared by the mistress and other females
morning entrance into the cooking and dining-room.
consumed, the ceremony of the Kaveri day
is
after their
When
But
over.
in houses
where
to read,
The day
is
is
kept as a holiday
nobody
is
expected to work.
But there
no further
ceremony.
The substance
of the
Lay
of the
Cow
is
as follows
A large herd
and
in
when a
herd,
few moments by three or four leaps threw himself into the midst of the
poor peaceful animals.
pair in all directions.
The whole
affrighted,
still,
ran
off in
wild des-
savage beast.
to
and said
'
You
it
will
kill
Do
it
But give
me
The
a few
my
poor
calf,
to let
and
to
commit
to the
tiger,
astonished and
cow
to
swear that after performing this last duty she will return and deliver
herself to her hungry
her
calf.
Having found
it,
she gives
to drink,
it
to the care of
to share their
own
when
it
it
when
comes in
and
begs his pardon for having detained him so long and increased his hunger.
But the
remorse.
tiger, in
is
seized with
The
'
slayer of a thousand cows sinks under the burden of his wickedness. I killed this pattern of righteousness,
If
my sins
says to himself.
He
declares to the
air,
and
falls
Such
is
Lay
Hultari
The
Huttari
is
feast; is
The name
Malayalam
pudi-ari,
new
The
rice,
into Huttari.
festival occurs
The
246
day of the Coorg
festival
INHABITANTS.
celebration
festival
Leo.
The Malayalam
Coorg, because
months
earlier.
If the
Malayalam
festival
First-fruits
upon the
first
day of the
;
held on the
first
day of Vrishchika-masa
tho
Malayalam
festival
month, and so
to
masa
November
is
December.
it
The Huttari
of the Coleyas. of Saturnalia.
It is as
The
real
each other, generally add two or three more days of feasting and merry-
making
to the
great week.
On
this occasion,
as
a Coorg kitchen on
it
of tasting
the
new
rice, all
the
of
Mandus
Mandu
is
the
name
which business
is
transacted or festive
games carried
Gramas have
;
third,
Uru-mandu
(i.
e.
the
Mandu
sunset
The time
till
is
from
of the
Giima,
except
little
men past
is
The
the
When
assembly
is full,
a space
marked out
At a
little
distance
a band of musicians
sit
near a
fire
and of
brass.
of.
(large
drum) and a
JcudiJce-pare
(pot-drum
HtTTTAKI FEAST.
1 hree
247 and
call
Coorg
men
:
Ayappa
Mahadeva
Bhagavati
The men
stand
in a triangle, their faces towards the centre, their backs towards the
company.
Ayappa
is
The
scene.
now
follows.
The whole
as-
the
moon shedding a
A
is
peg
is
piece
of rope
fastened to
seize
by a loose
loop.
paration,
this pre-
of wood,
chandu,
i,
e.
balls.
circle
round
the peg at a
to pick
The player
in the
centre, always keeping the rope's end in one hand, turns round
and
If
he succeed, the
person touched must take his place and the play recommences.
six balls
When
When
this
this also
is lost,
the
man
play
has to run
through the whole crowd, and escape without being caught to the musicians' place.
finished.
If
he reach
asylum in
safety, the
is
is
won and
If
man, an
officer of
fierce
it,
the victim.
ends.
different
dances,
which one generation learns from another in the moonlight nights of the
Huttari.
buffoonery.
more
advance and recede three times, keeping time to the slow-paced dance
with a peculiar kind of shouting.
party.
is held,
A wounded man
is
is in
the
;
camp
of one
He
is laid
his friends
consultation
ed by
a famous doctor.
They
arrive at the
248
enemy's camp,
call out,
INHABITANTS.
shout and play
all
manner
of tricks.
They go At
district telling
numbers of
who they
their
are,
own camp.
style,
own
and prescribes
wounded
The dance
ful abuse
is
is
gone
and play-
One
of the
camp
funeral.
The
is
and triumph.
scene
of demoniacal possession
battle.
acted.
fiercest
This suddenly ceases, and the funeral procession issues from one
while the other side celebrate
The
on
" I saw
its
day a
little
hare
I
neck"
"Did you?
and
saw a
so on.
Dances
nastic strength
and
agility are
The seventh
in the morning,
religiosa),
or great
falls
on the
full
moon. Early
(ficus
before dawn,
kumhali and
M;u
(wild trees),
for great
some
fibrous
and deposited
in a
is
are scoured, and every thing wears the appearance of a great holiday.
blacksmith a new
Each
HUTTAEI FEAST.
Huttari portion of rice and plantains.
249
astrologer
follows, to
The
com.
full
moon, and
claims his
share of the
once
;
The
cattle
are
for
the
allowance of rice
for
a hot bath.
The precedence
from bathing,
whom
sheaves.
On
his return
floor,
rest are engaged in their ablutions cuts the inyoli creeper into small
pieces, rolls each piece into three leaves
Jcambali
IceJou,
up the
bundle with a
of achclii fibre.
All
Now
lighted
fields.
the
women
it.
strew
it
with
rice,
and place a
lamp
in
carried in front
man
binds one
of the leaf scrolls from his basket to a bush of rice, and pours milk into
it.
He then
cuts
an armful of
rice close to
it
Some
No
one must
All
floor,
move on
Deva
rice,
'
(increase,
God
!)
bundle of leaves
and fastened
a brass vessel
filled
They move
is
and
it.
are placed on
of the family,
members
who
them
and garden,
to
doors, stools,
&c.
down
cardamom
seeds,
32*
250
INHABITANTS.
of
sesamum.
leaf,
little
of this
dough
upon an ashvatha
and eats
company.
gared rice and sweet potatoes, into which a handful of new xice
thrown,
curry.
now
On
the
eighth day the Uru-kolu, the village stick-dance, collects the whole com-
munity.
The women
the Uru-
mandu,
bals
cym-
When
they have
down
and look at the dances performed by the men, who go through the evolutions of Coorg saltation, beating small
one
in each
and that
of their
own
people,
same fashion as
Ga-
ances begin.
next morning.
This
is
an
district.
Every thing
is
men from
step
different
gramas,
and a long
rattan,
from opposite
evade each other, swinging their rattans and dealing blows aimed at the
legs,
and with
them
off.
excited that
flogging,
sham
single-stick
the parties
from the
and go home.
village.
The entertainment
is
BHAGAVATI FEAST.
public dinner, which
is
251
when the
Medas
Bhagavati
feast.
Of
the
festivals,
one, the
if it
Bhagavati
originally
It
feast,
was
Different
villages
the time
of its celebration.
Two
Brahmans.
Tulu Brahmans
who wear no
The
whole establishment
in the Tulu country,
idols
and
to collect
money.
On
sums are
offered
by the
superstitious.
The Coorgs have an extraordinary dread of the power of these men. They say that if one of the Tantri Brahmans be offended and
curse a man, he will lose
his sight or
hearing, or
even his
life.
It is
enough, they believe, for one of these masters of the black art to say
to a
man
'
do you not
see?'
or
'
fellow is
doomed
to blindness or
or even death.
would
common
was
less
poor Coorgs.
The
Tantris,
on one of
some two
Sometimes
it.
an
idol of
Bhagavati has
Or
ser-
the officiating
days, has died.
festival
to appoint
;
his successor.
These
through a curate
whom
he leaves in charge.
sion
by Bhagavati.
Some Coorg also is chosen as a subject He likewise, and his successors, must be
They
are selected from a small
v
for posses-
instituted
number of candi-
by the community
The
Tantri takes one of the men, pronounces some mantra, and puts holy ashes
upon
his face,
to shake an,d
252
Every house of the
INHABITANTS.
villages
must be offered by
last
every family,
festival.
The Bhagavati
feast
During the
first
six
days,
the idol
is
carqphylUfolia,
mixed
and mumbling
his mantras.
;
One
of
the
Tulu Brahmans
Pujari
carries
he
is
accompanied by the
by the band of
the
of the
shrine, followed
Coorg
sion.
man
Many
to put questions
to
Bhaga-
&c, which
On
more excited
aspect.
Now the Brahman idol-carrier also is seized with the strange inspiration. He dances and trembles, and answers questions by making signs only. On the same afternoon a crowd of Holeyas, who have finished the Pannangal-amma
feast
many
of
them possessed by
all
of
dancing and beating their drums and gongs in the most approved fashion.
child, carries
a long dry
to at night,
the ground.
If
the pile
fall
towards the
east, it is
considered a
lucky omen.
take place outside, the temple-yard resounds with the voices of Coorgs,
singing
hymns in honor
of Bhagavati,
shrill
!
a dismal scene
the seventh
On
temple,
day,
after the
votive offerings
each village the people collect at the house of some one who has vowed
a bullock-load of
rice
After
KilLMURTA FESTIVAL.
breakfast, the whole
253
offering to the temple,
priest,
singing
to the
Thus
the forenoon
spent.
Then
the
young
men
tertainment,
and
sit
all
children
and
old men,
At four
o'clock the
The Brahman
carrier of Bhagavati
He
Whoever
can,
money
into his
open hand.
Tantri.
With the
day
is
concluded.
delivery of votive
The morning
presents as
is
devoted to the
At ten
performed
till
the seventh
day.
This continues
two
when
is
all
the
cocoa nut
hung up
some
nut
is
tree
as a
mark.
He who
hits the
Then one
of the
Tak-
number
of cocoa-
One
seizes a nut
He who
away as his
after
prize.
all
At three
the
o'clock the
idol-procession takes
place again,
which
men go
On
to bathe tho
goddess
and themselves.
the ninth day one person appears at the temple, from each house
is
The
collection being
made, the
and servants
of course
rest
to their friends.
This temple
dinner
is
Ihe,
festival is
a very
different
254
affair,
INHABITANTS.
altogether a Coorg business.
Takka of the grama calls some respectable men to accompany him to the house of the astrologer. They enquire of the wise
August) the
man what
will
be the most propitious day for the celebration of the Kailis fixed.
murta. By the sage's answer the day of joy for the village youth
and transplanting of
rice are
lull in
the monsoon,
and
valleys,
forests
and
fields of
Coorg.
:
at
labour in
their fields
and houses
On
Some
this
is
the morning of the joyous day, the whole armoury of the house
the verandah, gun and
spear,
collected in
bow and
arrow,-
sword and
knife.
of the
young men
sit
down
When
.
some room or
All
in a corner.
now wait
for the
muhurta,
dotted upon
(nivedya)
them
is
in profusion, to
and a show-offering
to
idols.
of rice
this
made
them as
As soon as
over, a
mat
is
down
to dinner.
men
Uru
up has been
hit,
some of the
from the
company
ground.
arm and
On He
who
du
succeeds
in
cutting through
placed on the
Man-
and thrown, or
When
the evening
is
company
disperse.
On
the
Of whatever game
This day
is
mail who has killed the animal receives a hind-quarter and the head, the
rest belongs to the company.
is
of
on a larger
scale.
The
the
most glorious of
all the
VILLAGES, &C.
255
Urban Population.
Villages, in the usual acceptation of the term, are found only in Yelu-
savira
and Nanjarajpatna
taluks: the
so called villages
(grama)
of
com-
256
Alphabetical
Achala Paleyar Adike Kui.lija
p.
CASTES.
list
215
'207
Gauliga
2 7
Gauriga
Golla
Adiyar Agasa
212, 213
206 211 Agas&le 202 Aimb-okkalar Ainnnokkalu 208, 209 Aiiis 202, 210 212 Ajjalapale Annua Eodaga 202,
Gugga
Gujaiati
Quntis
p. 212 205 Kumari Mahratta Kumbara 206, 207 Kuruba 206, 207
Eukka
Paddaru
Pale Paleyars
Palli
p.
211
Eutuma
Labile
211
216
227
A're
205
237 210 209 206 207 211 209 208 211 208 208 208
Balolikara Banajiga
208,
206 204 Hajam 206, 207 Hal Kuruba 207 Hal Wokkal 208 Havika 204 Heggade 202, 208, 209 Hindus 204 Holeya 202, 212, 213 Hulisavar 212
I'diga
Haghiya Haiga
Ladar
Lambani
Lingayats
Panehala 210 Paneyars 214, 215 Panika 211 Panjara Yerava 214
215
Parsis
Pille
Pin'dari
217
206, 208
216
Kaxhevar
Rajapinde Rajaputs
Madivalas
Mahrattm
Maila Paleyar
Baniya
Male
206, 207
Banna
Bantar Baral
208,
Maleboyi
Jada
Jains Jaliya
208
203, 204, 210
Burya Bedar
Besta
211
206, 206,
Jambu Kutiga
Jangamas
208 211
Mamyara
Miipile
Betar Betta Kuruba 202, 207, 214, 215 205 Bheri Bilimagga 208 Bilvar 202, 207, 214, 216. Bine Battaru 211, 212
210, 211 Jenu Euruta 202, 207 214, 215 Jingar 206 Joti Pana 207
Brahmans
Brinjaris
218 214 208 210 208 203, 217 210, 218 206 206 208 208 207 211
Chaliyar
Chappategara Chelekava
Christians
Coorgs
Darji
202,
206 Kadala 216 Kadu Kuruba 202, 207 214, 215 Kage Korama 214 Kakar 216 Kallu Kuttiga 208 Kambli Kuruba 207 Kaniyaru 211 Eapala 212, 213 Kavadi 208, 209 Kavare 206 Kerobatti 212 202, 218 Kolairi 208
Koleya
Kollar Koinati
21i>
Eabbara
212, 213
206 208 211 208, 209 Eetti, Banajiga 206 Sikligara 210,211 Srnartas 204 Sri Vaishnavas 204 Stanikas 204 Sudras 204, 206, 218 Sukaligas 214
Sadar
Sale Satani Se"rvegara
Meda
Mendicants
Tachayire
210, 211
Mochi
Modali
206
206, 20S
Mogeru
Moickuva
Muhammadans
216.
207 Tiglar 206, 208 207 Tiyar 206 Toieya Tula Brahmans 204
Upp4r
206, 208 208,
206
Muyairi
Uppu Eoramar
"Dru Euruba
214 215
Nadavar
Nagarta
Naidu
Nambiaru
Natva
Va
204, 205
Vaniya Vaniya
Vavve
Dasa Banajiga
Devadasis
210 205
208
Nayak
Nayina
206
217 207 208, 217 206, 207 208
206, 208 204 Wandering Tribes 214 214 Wild Tribes 204, Wokkaliga 206, 208 209
Waddar
Devanga
Divans
L'oiriba
Konkani Korachar
Naymda
Nayir Neyiga
Koramar Koyava
Eshatriya
Nudiya
Outeastes
218 Eudiya
212
Padarti
211,212
Yedeyar Yerava
207
202, 214
RELIGION.
The
essential features
of the religion
Demon
Worship.
But
'it is
not
remarks the
Revel. F. Kittel,
'
the Coorgs brought with them at the time of their immigration, and
Their superstitions,
elements.
however, shew
Brahmana
the
name
Kaveri,
Iguttappa),
in having
tales,
and
in
They
in the
introduction
;
of
the Linga.
Tulus
still
manage
the
to smuggle in their at of
indispensable
demons Maleyalas have made themselves demon and ancestor worship, and are also increasing
;
number
demons
of the year,
bring a
Mari-amma and
to
it.'*
vows paid
Though
able to obtain is in
faint
echo
it
origin of
deities
who
nical
fancy,
is
The
story
In ancient times there lived in the Malabar country six brothers and
sister.
Five of them,
accompanied by their
sister
Ponnangalatamma,
them
said
'
How
is it
is
our wife/
The
fifth replied
'
If she
comes with
hill
us,
we
her
caste.'
When
near the
Ivd. Ant.
II,
47.
33*
258
RELIGION.
Kakabe river,
said
'
Then Iguttappa
:
'
Pre-
She replied
rice,
fire,
'I
have neither
it it
nor
rice.'
Iguttappa
'I
will give
you
without
without
tire.'
She replied:
I will boil it
without
salt.'
To
milk
this the
brothers agreed.
Then Ponnangalatamma,
the
a pot
tree,
where
began
to boil.
When
up
rice,
it
and exclaimed:
'
is
Ponnangalatamma, angry
a heavy blow on
at this, took
'
up a wooden
Let us
into
the reddest.
it,
Then they
all
hands
to look at
it
after
were throwing
again into their mouths and chewing, threw the betel be-
The
sister,
deluded by
this,
mouth
had
again,
lost
whom
they ap-
Ponnangalatamma was
excessively grieved,
and wept
bitterly.
But
sister
it
fell.
into
spot.
Near the Karatandra house some Holeyas were working in the paddy Ponnangalatamma flew upon one of them, who thereupon became fields.
possessed,
tree in into
different villages,
where they
set-
Bai-
Taliparambu
in
Joma-male
at
near Kunjila,
the fifth
Palur
Kuyangeri
Timmaya,
at Tirnalli in the
tree
Wynad.
built for
where the
ANCESTOR WOKSHTP.
arrow had stuck. At her annual
feast, in April,
259
Ponnangalatamma weeps,
is,
and
is
The arrow
mango
tree.
spirits
of
visit
the living,
to be worshipped
It is be-
female
spirits
The
spirit of
a male ancestor
chi or Sodalichi.
living
Karana
is
also a
head of a family*
spirits
of their ancestors,
which continue to
or Kai-
Kaymada
matta
is
It is
room
feet
embossed with
figures,
copper
or bronze images male and female, or even a slab of stone with figures
sculptured on
ver or
it.
common
way
of memorial.
Those
for the
first
who cannot
afford to build
a Kaymada, make a
sort of
mud bank
purpose, called Kota, under a tree in the fields where the family's
house stood.
On
occasions
when the
disturbed by troublesome
rice or arrack,
spirits,
If the visitant is
Kaymada.
But should
these not be
deemed
sufficiently effective,
member
of the house
may
spirits,
as whose representative
he now
acts,
and he
is
The
gifts offered
him
are called
Karana Barani.
still
ceremony of
greater importance
is
na purusha is
in the Eannadsflanguage the expression Mrarepeatedly used in the sense of a person horn to fulfil a particular high destiny, or fated 1'hus Kama was the predestined victor over Havana, 'to accomplish some great work or purpose. the champion oftherikshasas.
260
RELIGION.
annually or biennially,
and
is
ternity of wizards,
Panika,
Banna or Maleya.
after sunset,
and
is
people and
their neighbours.
The personator
Thus arrayed, he
as
is
its
mouthpiece.
To each
spirit
Karana Barani,
offered in the courtyard, consisting of a cocoa nut, fried rice, a cock and
liquor,
a bottle of
fortify himself
whom he
the head
it is
Where
made
at the
Ka-
rana Ko(a.
is
essential
to both performances.
being used.
Where they
the ground.
which are two or three feet high, pieces of cloth are fastened,
oil.
When
is
thus arranged, two layers of strips are raised, one to near the top of the
spikes, the other
a foot lower.
plain
and
fried,
of areca
When
At the
sacrifice
all
the offerings placed on the leaves, which are the perquisite of the perfor-
mers.
When
Demon
pf
Worship.
As
if it
were not
sufficient to
be in constant dread
of the superstitious
spirit,
the
life
DEMON WOBSHIP.
Coorg
is
261
rendered
still
evil
Strange sounds or voices are some times heard by the knowing, sudden
illness
cattle, or
a relative
is
supposed not to
then a Kuli-kola or
Demon-mask
at
must be performed.
fixed
periods
the master of
vow.
the house
vows to have
the Kuli-kola duly performed at the appointed time, and as a pledge ties
some money
to
and
eats
he has
fulfilled his
If the
ceremony should be
off
:
a departed
spirit
sup-
by a demon or Kuli
represents the
let it go.
demon
some
begged to
After
members
spirit
falls into
and
is
"With his
frater-
name
of five Kulis
Chamundi,
;
and
or in the
name
of three
Kallugutti,
The
or in the
name
is
of only one
Chamundi.
under a vow
spirits in
much
the
spirit
mounts
they have to hasten swiftly away with their burden, without looking back,
till it is
secure in the
bosom of the
ancestral family.
262
RELIGION.
The
of the so
final act of
Demon-mask
is
called Kuli-kota or
demon
abode, which
:
may be anywhere
upon
it.
One pig
suffices for
is
a house
affair,
whole village
concerned.
performers, the
mor through
all
all
in the midst of
their
own
interest
the wizard
which he
is
minds
1
his liquor
bottle,
so fond
a national
interest.
On
into
spirit of
Lingayats.
On
this occasion
charis, collect
ment
Treasury.
Ajjappa
liatanda
Ea-
Fonmppa,
Malayalam
many
He was a
great
Since his death, his spirit takes possesto the strange arts that
he practised.
similar worship
Munduru
in Kiggatnad.
Kuttad-amma.
of
all
in the estimation
Coorg,
of the
Wynad.
Kuttadamma has no
temple, but
she
represented by some
The pujari
left of
is
a young
the family
For bloody
sacrifices
offered there
thi-
263
parts of Coorg.
damma
woe
person recover or
to the living.
sum vowed
or
her services against enemies, who, they say, are distressed or altogether
destroyed by the
is,
demon
There
over
Kuttadamma
Another annual
sacrifice
is
This
an
ing both to the order of planets and to that of the zodiacal stars.
No mortal
eye sees
The
sick.
astrologer only
its
stone
is
offers
and a
little
worshipped.
Tree
Worship.
The
their
universally
discovered traces
of
course of
are
According
When
it
long
life, its
to brighten
shines like
silver,
hundred
years.
length.
At
last it shrinks to
Then
it will
some
day
it
fly
up high
disappears altogether.
No man
Kanya knows
to
will
communicate
consideration
Should any
human
being unawares
set- foot
rot
away by
To prevent
is
marked by a
stone enclosure.
lighted
December)
a lamp
Each bane
a presiding
divinity,
to which an annual
is offered.
If this sacri-
264
fice
RELIGION.
god,
e.,
the god watching over the cattle, will withdraw his favour,
and
sickness
Besides the
many
nad
for
some
and
object
of
forests
supersti-
of deified
heroic
ancestors.
Omnia
Devatas.
mountain-tribes, so also
Grama Devatas
Mdriamma, Durga
line,
who
are sup-
sacrifice
used to be brought to
Bhadra
'
Kali,
!
offering
!
cU
Amma
'
a man, oh mother
not a man,
'
dl all
Amma, ddu?
oh mother, a
and
man was
sacrificed
by cutting
off his
head
at the
temple
devoted
victim
made
his escape
the jungle.
The
villagers,
after
:
an
'
unsuccessful search,
meaning,
viz.,
:
next year,
ddu,
we
will
give,
scape-goats
were offered.
The devotees
fast during
day.
stone,
The
and
he-goat
is
upon a
in red
cotton cloths, and their faces covered with metal or bark masks, perform
their demoniacal dances.
Tied
is killed
by a
knife,
The blood
GRAMA DEVATAS.
265
man
the pili-dta or
by an extraordinary
stable or field,
sacrifice, is said
human
sacrifices.
for
some
set to work.
pit is
dug
in the
middle room
occasion
field,
as the
may
pit,
require.
He
sits
down
in
Hindu
Pieces of
wood are
Upon
fire
jack-wood
is
sugar,
different
kinds of grain,
&c,
are thrown.
all night,
the
Panika
sacrificer
immured
These
cost
colleague
below,
is
repeating
o ened, and
called
the
man
are
MaraIn-
nada
bali or
death-atonements.
being,
They
is
from
to 15 rupees.
pit,
stead of a
human
a cock
and
killed afterwards.
grama
or nad, such as
ryots combine to
appease the
different houses,
at the
is
some
rice,
little rice in
the basket, with the belief that the dreaded evil will depart with
the
rice.
At
and
In
still
driven from
nad
to nad,
and
266
Pilgrimages.
RELIGION.
Besides
in October,
there
is
a large concourse of
in
Kiggatnad, and
at the foot of
the Lakshniantirtha
fall,
thousands of
The way
thither
through a
back,
bursts all at
in
its
earlier
rice valley.
On
the right
bank of it
is
the devasthana,
and
The bathing
tic,
place
is
200
feet
is
romanleft,
with steep rocks to the right, the shallow winding stream to the
tumbling and foaming over large boulders, but during the monsoon
swelling into a thundering torrent.
is
fanatic, as
man
and a
horrible
corpse-like appearance.
At the holy bath, the stream high above breaks through a woody
embrasure over a succession of rocky ledges
till it
spreads
itself into
goal.
now
falling spray,
woman
lifts
bles from
the
she perseveres.
;
There
a father
here with
brought
change
their garments.
The
pressure
is
great, the
PILGRIMAGES.
the confusion alarming.
267
bathing pilgrim.
The darker
its
guilt,
falling
it
reaches the
a brass image
of Isvara
upon
his
head
another
Brahman with a
sandaL
The
native officials
first
make
their
obeisance,
voted amongst them even the sdslitdngam, touching the ground with the
eight
members
of the body,
and then
and annually
receives on
occasion
The
and Herumalujatre
is
based upon a
common
Brabmanical legend
of madness, in-
sulted
him by
returning the
received from
forgive-
Rama.
ness,
rashness,
Lakshmana asked
same time
to
fire
as an
He
rocks at Irpu,
when a
Rama immediately
created a river,
it
is called
Laksbmanatirtha, but
was too
Rama
man
time,
to bring a linga from Kasi (Benares) within one hour and a half.
During his absence, Rama, fearing that Hanuman would not be back in
made a
was sur-
prised by
vain.
Hanuman, who
He twisted his enormous tail round one of the Hanuman betta, and attempted to upset it. Eama, to
more famous than
and the
festive
neighbouring
bills,
Jt
often
268
BELIGION.
therefore no
On
is
an anstone-
who
has there a
little
names
only 15 feet
It stands near
is
There
is also
a remark-
feet
broad and
5 feet long,
bring offerings of
woman, or a
a
suitlittle
is
On
is
said to have
been
defiled
by
some time.
dus.
woman bathing in it, when the spring ceased to flow for On the south-east ridge a cave is shewn, which, accord-
ing to Brahmanical discovery, offered an asylum to the exiled PanAfter their departure the cave was occupied by a tiger, which out
of respect for the jatre quits his abode seven days before the feast and
afterwards returns.
On
the precipitous
side
For seven days before the Tula sankramana the ryots assemble in
the village of Mugutageri at the foot of the
hill,
at the
Mandu
in praise
On
the
They then
torn.
go to the Ambala and dance and sing to the sound of the torn
The day
representing a horse,
made
The
of cane-work,
body who
carries
making
it
appear as
if
hill in procession,
a band of musicians, dance round the temple and bring their offerings
of water, fruit and money.
in Kuyingerinad, in honor of
affair,
Palrirappa, brother
a similar
HINDUISM.
April.
269
expense.
which
is
number
of people, as
connected a
cattle-fair
idols.
they also
which comes
off in
It is
December.
Hinduism
religious sects
common
influential
in
the
its
country from a very early period might not only be conjectured from
historical associations as previously described, but is evident
from
exist-
rulers
we
most
is
of the
of Siva
and
classification is
perhaps open
Saiva faith
doubtless a fact.
The Coorg
character;
devastdnas
is
none
distinguished
mud
walls and
the
same
which
style as
the Rajas' tombs, but with a small tank in the temple yard.
From
is
pretty
little
pavilion
rises,
con-
The
priests or
270
mans.
RELIGION.
The former
in Coorg. in
branches
the Kotu,
Kan-
latter are
merous
Honore
Canarese.
They
worship both Vishnu and Siva, and the marks on their foreheads are
put horizontally.
Mysore.
There are altogether 863 pagodas or temples in Coorg, and 57
of
'
ment contribution of 13,800 rupees annually in cash, and 9,174 rupees worth of remitted assessment from endowed landed property: 372 places only are maintained by private contributions. The lion's
share of this large Government grant
svara temple, with rupees 4,850
;
falls to
the Mercara-Omkare-
to the
rupees 3,956;
total of rupees
The mattas
are
originated
and
They
now
who
derive
whom
this sect,
in spite
endowments 31,457
Government
if
The most
Abbi
richly
MUHAMMADANISM.
271
the history of
Muhammadanism.
As
regards
Muhammadanism,
is
sufficient to
shew the
character of the proselytism which was forced upon the unhappy people of
in Coorg.
The Musalmans
resid-
ing there are mostly poor, and live chiefly in Mercara, Virajpet and
Fraserpet.
Christianity.
The introduction
of Christianity
demands a longer
Roman
Coorg Rajas
Gatlidlics.
political vices
of the
may have
and
liberal spirit^
marjy Christian Governments. Dodda Vira Rajendra extended his protection to the poor fugitive
Roman
Catholics
who
fled
into his
fall of
siege of
in 1783,
when he
them
in
and about
his capital.
The
and
skill of
adapting themselves
eagerly welcomed
them
into his
them in
its
maintenance a stipend of 84
buttis of
oil
and
candles.
This allow-
commuted
far as he
it
into
continuance being
flock, in
as
is
may justly
it."
This stipend
now looked upon as the Priest's salary from Government, and attempts have been made to get it increased, but Sir Mark Cubbon declared:
" that the amount the Priest enjoyed had no doubt been deemed proportioned to the ordinary duties of his
office,
but
if
members
of his congrega-
latter
means
272
RELIGION'.
De
Sta.
Agnes, Bishop-
Superintendent
1846
"The
of
founded to remain always under the jurisdiction of the Bishop Vicar Apostolic
it
to me.
of
No jurisdiction
The
territory, aa
over
it
was ever or
Goa.
jurisdiction of
shewn by
Rome
national presumption,
in
Roman
The Roman
Mangalore having
grant of Rs. 2,500 for re-building the same edifice, which after completion is said to
5,000.
The
Priest's
dwelling
and the
streets
and
girls
are on the
same
premises.
The
and
tidy,
like those of
and comfortamounts
The number
of
Roman
Catholic Christians
in the
in Virajpet
to 313,
neighbourhood.
The
mortality amongst those in the town has of late years been very considerable.
of Coorg,
is
and himself
Roman
Catholic,
Virajpet
not a mission
caste
ever joined
it.
The
away from
seem
to be
more
influenced by
by
their Christian
life
now
to be in a better condition
CfitJBCk
OF ENCLAND.
273
than they were when Lieutenant Connor saw them in 1817, and drew a
picture of the colony in the following sketch
:
" The Christians here are under the Church of Bombay, a small
chapel has been built and
its
services are
performed by an ecclesiastic
is far
from
flourish-
in the
manufacture of
arrack from
rice,
on
its
the degradation
attaching to a profession of
in eastern countries
the morality
retain
it
inculcates is
observable,
and
;
its
votaries
seem
still
to
most of
be taken as a
to result
most
much good
A
Miners
servants of Europeans,
and pensioned
sepoys, especially
Sappers and
have
been established at
places either a
Church
of England.
Mercara containing a
offering a
greater
number
of
Eu-
more salubrious
1
residence, the
has ever since been under the spiritual care of a clergyman of the Church
of England. His congregation, comprising civilians, military
planters,
officers
and
souls.
Basel Mission.
When
of the
British
establish
Government
of India,
remarks:
"There
have
is
not probably a spot of ground in all India of this limited extent capable
of so
much improvement
minds
seem to
as
Coorg.
to
little
the country,
of
and
me
to be
any other
35
274
RELIGION.
Indians I have seen, to be prepared for receiving the light of the Christi-
an
may
money as an
endowment
of
sionary Societies were inclined to extend their operations to Coorg, but both
Societies
men
for a
new
was
lost.
on the western
coast, in the
and
south.
and then
Coorg.
visited
made
to the
Committee to occupy
British
At length
in
1852 Dr.
was
visited
life
highly interesting.
baptism on the 6th January 1853 with the name of Stephanas, this man,
Somaiya of Almanda
in
great joy and declared that she would live and die with him.
following day Stephanas took formal possession of his
On
the
house,
and Dr.
who
the convert.
Two days
afterwards, his
him and
to take
Mark Cubbon,
:
to
whom
the matter
was
To
The StTPERINTENDENT OP
Sir,
COORG.
jour various com-
consideration
who
DE.
MOEGLING.
275
has
tions as to the
manner
which
seems
this to be
In the
first place, it
fact of his having left his caste, Somaiya, as the' rightful head by inheritance of
had nothing
to
and take
it
really happened.
in the
be true, as stated
is so,
from caste
change
of faith,
not of itself regarded in Coorg as involving the deprivation of herediIt is therefore evident in the present instance,
themselves
case,
So
far,
however,
is
this
that
it
all of
in his
company
is
no time in following
who
violently ejected
house, of which he
had been
possession for nearly three days, as a gross and flagrant insult to the Govern-
ment, only to be excused by their ignorance, and their having been led
away
to
evil
Of the
not unwilling to overlook for once the error of an old and able servant
Government, and trusts that Appachoo will justify his good opinion of
alacrity
with which he
will replace
Somaiya
in possession of
the house and lands of which he was so illegally and violently deprived.
You
to all
will
the parties concerned, and at the same time inform them that the Civil
should they
still
RELIGION.
to their
home
in June,
and
Dr. Moegling
With
a
the begin-
made preparations
for building
little
church
Stephanas to the
commenced.
Having taken
all
the
the burden of
rangement,
as well as the
was
in order to bring
the
Memoirs, which
its people,
publication,
in the
"Madras Christian
Herald," greatly helped to interest the South Indian public in his Mission.
in his
work, he
still
continued in
port and obedience to the rules of their conference as applied to the older
stations.
Meanwhile two more Coorg families joined him, and Dr. Moegling,
notwithstanding repeated attacks
of jungle fever, remained at his post
and continued to labour assiduously, preaching on market days at Virarajendrapet and Mercara, visiting the scenes of the Coorg annual festivals,
and engaging
ty.
He
English
manda church, applied for instruction. They were received, and located in Ammat-nad on a waste farm, which was taken from Government for
the purpose, where they might maintain themselves by
its cultivation,
under
Brahman
converts
of Mangalore,
who
and
responsibility.
The
resi-
new settlement
(city of joy)
and a simple
who had
known the work from its beginning, and the altered circumstances of
BASEL MISSION.
277
India after the mutiny, induced Dr. Moegling to seek connection with the
Church Missionary
Society,
offered
himself
to their acceptance.
He was
full deliberation,
they considered
better
make another
effort
to continue attached
to Basel,
and
liberal grant
of
500
to his work.
Encouraged
with this help, he returned to Coorg in January 1859, alter having effect-
Society,
and
so
it still
Dr. Moegling in 18 GO
to
had
to
wife,
Europe
in
him
the
Revs. Kittle,
with varying
success and
under great
selves
and disappointments.
:
The
manager
Mr. Hahn, a substantial dwelling and a new church, towards which the
,000
coffee
first,
the devastation
was destroyed.
bamboo
district
;
and only
partially
the
Hahn had
in
1
on account of
Kaufmann and
Considering the
abject
in
wanting of
Of
and of Step?
278
hanas in particular not
RELIGION.
much good
people
and
of a divided heart, as
He
is
in a
fit
of revenge
to
which were utterly demolished, and then disappeared from the country without any trace of his whereabouts.
lore Theological Seminary, lore lead a
His son
is
in the
Manga-
becoming Christian
Thus
far
failure
may be
some headmen in Stephanas' affair, the loss of the 130 Holeyas of Beppu-nad who joined the Missionary, the Coorgs* jealousy of the
it is
ascribed
difficult to say.
The unpalatable
defeat of
of the Coorg
own degradation
to
life
to,
and success
self
material pros-
indulgence, their
increasing
more
the
influence of
Brahmans upon
stances
;the superstitious
Coorgs
circum-
may have
or per-
haps the providential time has not yet come for such a decisive step
his opinion
may
still
be an unfulfilled
but however
this
may
Coorg
European married
Mission, gives
agent, which,
secular interests
of the
useful employment
number
of native converts.
LANGUAGE.
The
official
language in Coorg
is
Kannada
It
mountain clan of Coorgs, with their former slaves the Holeyas, have a
language of their own, called Kodagu. *
appears to be a dialect of Kan'
On
it,'
'
as standing
Kannada
A
Cole,
by Major
870.
is
it
and admits
of chewing betel
Indeed a beginner should practise the pronunciation with his mouth half
full of water, till
spilling any.
it
hough
it
has not
glides
the
lips.
It is rich in
solemn
strain.'
consists of
;
33
half
it
<a
^u
ro
wa^
o
;
^,
and au
?,
is
o,
=5*
ka
rt
ga
da
2Q gna.
e cha
W
da
ra
ja
<se
rf
uya.
Labials
W ta z$ pa w
:
es
na (V
a)
Dentals
Liquids
&
&
ta tf
na.
5? va.
ba
& ma.
ya
tf
e;
la
which
is
According to Dr. Caldwell, Kudagu, from kuda, west, a meaniDg of the word Properly usual in Ancient Tamil. Gram. Drav, Lang. int. 36,
280
In writing Kodagu there
LANGUAGE.
is
letters,
which are
Ex. 5o=mo,
5=
da.
letters are
by
either of the
in
pronounced like
the
6 in
German
French u
in " vertu"
or the u in the
German
" Miitter".
As a general
syllable,
rule in the
Kodagu
where in
in
at the end of a
whether mediate or
o,
terminate in anu,
and
Hale
Kannada
in am.
= a shepherd.
u
in
But
it is
Kodagu
idu,
Kannada,
pronounced
il
Ex. Kan.
Kg. idu
this.
The Kannada
are in
before cerebrals,
idu,
is
;
u,
Kg.
iidii
to put.
6,
The
Kannada
seven
cerebrals
pronounced
e,
but before a
changed
box.
in o
g.
Kan.
elu,
Kg.
olii
Kan.
pettige,
Kg. potti
A
the
slight nasal
Kannada avanu
Soft
he.
single conso-
nants doubled
now.
e. g.
Kg.
ikfca for
Kan. iga=
Compound consonants
;
are separated
e.g.
=moon
Kan.
surya,
letter
(s'a)
becomes
(cba)
;
e.
(ja) e. g.
des'a,
country
(sa).
atf
becomes s
g.
Kan.
Kg.
The Kannada
letter (pa)
;
a word
e. g.
Kan. h.&
hidi,
Kg.
5^ pfidi
to seize.
The roots
dissyllables
of nouns
verb's in
Kodagu
which
may
;
mon
The
Dravidian stock
tadbhavas,
there are however also many Sanskrit words as which are by Coorg pronunciation tortured into queer forms.
Musalmans has
NOUNS.
281
A
may be
is all that
further
Nouns.
There are
in
than grammatical
is
in
its
present
form
three
anterior to
Kodagu grammar.
as in Kannada,
genders, but as in the other Dravidian languages the principle of distinction is the separation between the divine, the
man
tinction of
As
to
num-
ber, there is
may be
the
cases
five, vis.
Genitive,
a,
in
or
e,
and
in u.
Examples
will
make
First declension, of
Nouns ending in
a.
Masculine form
rajo,
the king.
282
LANGUAGE.
Feminine form
mova, daughter.
To
the crude form the objective singular adds la and the plural Ha.
ADJECTIVES.
283
As
in
Kannada their
number
is
many
ano,
being, possessing:
g.
chai,
The
used as
adjectives
e. g.
paduvo
For express-
is
produced by a peculiar
construction of the
:
book
useful,
e.his
book
is
more
i.
the superlative
among all books his book useful, e. his book is most useful. The numeral adjectives are considered a criterion of the origin
language, and in Kodagu, as
of a
may be
1
much
like those of
The
to 19
neutral numerals in
anji, arii, yelii, yettii,
Kodagu from
to 12 are
from 13
pattii, vis.
padu-mfindu,
&c
20
is
iruvadu, to
into
tt,
for 21 to 29.
In
all
compound numbers,
which
resembles the
Kannada yeradu.
eluvadii,
30- is muppadii,
40
napadii,
50
aimbadti,
60 aruvadu, 70
&c.,
80
embadii,
90
toniirii,
100
niirii;
101 nuyittondu,
1,000
200
innuru,
is
ettunurii,
900
ombainurii,
ayira,
which
ne
is
e.
g.
second,
all
obbo
one
man.
woman.
thing.
ibbo
ibba
two men.
women, things.
it
obba
ondii
dandii
As
ndondii,
in
a distributive
e.
g.
Of
Coorg stock
%
kalii,
is
are,
| mukkalii.
mana of 40
seers,
and the
batti of
80
as the rupee.
284
LANGUAGE.
fractional arith-
a most
native teachers.
Pronouns.
The
Kannada.
ner:
man-
VERBS.
285
i,
u,
e,
or a.
The
e. g.
root
padu, sing
who
to
:
sings
past
:
rel.
part, padiino,
who
e. g.
root
nene,
think
part, neneto,
who
thought.
The various
form-
ed from the
participle.
relative participle
and
First Conjugation.
:
Verbs ending in
sing.
it.
Root padu,
Infinitive
Mood
do
padiivakii, to sing.
Past
Negative Gerund
paditii,
who
sings.
Do Bo
Past:
Negative:
paduno,
padatto,
sang.
Present Tense.
Singular.
Plwal.
sing,
paduvia.
Fast Tense.
nanii padiine, I saDg.
ninii padia.
enga padichi.
ninga padira.
avang
padichi.
avu padichi.
Future Tense.
nanii paduvo, I shall sing.
ninii
paduvia.
avang padu.
avu padu.
do not
sing.
padille, did
padii, sing
;
not sing.
padi, sing ye
let
;
Mood
me
sing;
enga padanga,
us
Second Conjugation.
Mood
Verbs ending in
e, a,
or
i.
nenepakii, to think.
:
nenatandtt, thinking*
286
LANGUAGE.
nenetittii,
:
having thought.
Bo
Relative Participle Present
Negative
nenepo, wholhinks.
neneto,
Do
Do
Past
who
thought.
think.
Negative
Present Tense.
nenejatte,
Singular.
Plural
Past Tense.
nanii nenete,
nfnii nenetija.
I thought.
enga
nenettatii,
niDga necettira.
avang
nenettatii.
avu
nenettatii.
Future Tense.
nanii nenepo,
ninii
I shall
think.
enga nenekku.
nenepiya
ninga nenepira.
avang nenekku.
avu
nanii nenepile, I
nenekkii.
do not think.
Past
Imperative
Mood
nene, think
me
think,
enga neneka,
let
us think.
Some
manner
:
Boot,
kada,
nada,
pare,
bole,
part,
kadaudo, kadapo.
nadando, nadapo.
parando, parevo.
bolando, holevb.
,,
Verbs ending in
Boot
kani,
Part,
kuri,
kai,
kodi,
kodicho, kodipo*
cnadicho, chadipS.
chadi,
AUXILIARY VERBS.
287
be.
irii,
Mood
Bo. Do.
.-
ippbkkii, to be.
:
injandii, being.
injittu,
:
having been.
Negative
.
iratte,
not being.
ippo,
injo,
who
is.
Bo.
Bo.
Past
who was.
who
is
Negative:
iratto,
not.
288
LANGUAGE.
Present Tense.
Singular.
Plural.
nanii dpi,
ninii apia.
become.
avADg
apn.
avu apa.
Past Tense.
naru ane,
ninii anija.
I
became.
enga
acbi,
we became,
ninga anira.
avaug
acbi.
avu
acbi.
Future
nanii apo,
ninii apiya.
I shall
Tense.
become.
enga aku.
ninga apira.
avang aku.
Negative
avu aku.
Present:
nanii apile, I
Mood Bo
do not become.
Past:
ayile,
Imperative Mood:
au,
become
ayiri,
become
ye.
me
become,
nanga akka,
let
us become.
The
is
As
in
Kannada
the affirmative
ahudu, haudu,
Kodagu
shall become,
distinction
which
is
the
be,
between
ille
irii,
and
au,
and
alia,
There
is
superfluous.
is
obtained, as in
Kannada, by adding to
konda (Kan.
" relating to
kollu)
oneseE"
g. darii
made
it?
in
Kodagu, the
affix chiru is
added,
e.
g,
IRREGULAR VEBBS.
289
290
LANGUAGE.
English
LITERATURE.
291
Literature.
Strictly
speaking there
is
no
literature
in
the
Kodagu
language,
comprise
and
man
likely to continue
be popular.
The
as al-
heart or by writing,
Some
and
of them, as
Chant*
unknown.
The
latter
ing divided into 35 Nads or districts, and consequently must have exist-
in
differently
divided,
1633.
and
contain numerous
modern
Kannada
expressions.
phrases of the old stock serve the Coorg bard on any occasion
new
compositions
lation.
trivial
and obtain no
circu-
The author
died in 1868
Appaya
in 1839.
Of these songs
was known
until
Mr.
made them
in its
reader
mind
European
simple
by
The
mountain
foot
;
rules of
Hindu
about them.
It is
true they
move not
gay iambic
,
the more dignified trochaic measure suits the Coorg mind better
292
each
line contains 7 or
is
LANGUAGE.
8 syllables, but the accent
is
ed, nor
there
either
rhyme or
alliteration.
In
its
Coorg measure
verse.
may
among
song,
its
The
may
literal translation is
1..
Biimikelloy an dadii
Bhumigella unnata
all
high
Mahammeru Mahammeru
parvata
parvata
Mahameru mountain
Pii
marakkoyandadii
Than
Mdnjappeya
mara
Dejakelloj andadii
Deshakkella unnata
Than
the countries
all
high
Pommale Kodavapa
Honnu male Kodagu agutte
Gold necklace Coorg
is.
The
lines
may
And among
string of pearls,
other lands,
LITERATURE.
293
in
des-
he following
is
a some-
what
p.
free translation
Huttari or
Harvest Song*
referred to on
250.
seasons make, sky they take. Lord of heaven and earth. the joyous earnest toil
o'er all the
is
Thiify-six great bulls lie bought Of the best and largest sort;
-
God
W hite
AH
Happy ryots give the soil, Our rich land is lully worth.
Famous Jambudwipa"s bounds
Circle marry fertile grounds
Nandi, Mudda were one pair, Bullocks both of beauty rare. Yoked together were two more, Choma, Kicha were they called.
is
the best ?
With them was their leader stalled Kale, best among two score.
Then did Appirandra say,
Far above the highest hill, Mahameru's snows are still Shewing where the saints are
Midst the beauteous
forest trees
blest.
'
All
my
If I
and plough.'
so well ?
Brightest to the eye that sees Is the brilliant sampige. Sweeter than the sweetest rose, Purer than the mountain snows, Better than mere words may say
How
;
Choosing sago for the pole, At the end he madea hole; Pushed the p:ilm wood handle through,
Thus
is Coorg the noblest land. Rich and bright as golden band, On the neck where youth doth stay. In this happy lovely realm No misfortunes overwhelm. Live and prosper while you may
Sampige was for the share, On its edge he placed with care,
Iron plates to
make the
shoe.
Sharp
mail.
ot teak.
Now my
Joyous Sing Tell us All the
friends with one accord, on the verdant sward, we our dear country's praise. then, from fir=t to last,
past,
Strongly tied the whole with cane Strong and lithe as any chain Other strings would be too weak.
;
wondrous glorious
When,
Like a robe of precious silk, Green or golden, white as milk, Like the image in a glass, Brightas shines the sun at noon, Or at night the silver moon, Sweet as fields with flowers and grass, -
Poured upon the earth and main, Sweet as honey f om the bee All the fields became as mud, Fit for plough and hoe and spud, Far as e'er the eye could see.
i
Then
Thus
before the break of day, Ere the cock began his say, Or the sun had gilt the sky, In the morning still and calm,
Twelve stout
slaves
who
tilled
the farm,
Apparandra lived at ease. In this glorious land he dwelt, Forest girt as with a belt, Coorg the blessed, green with
Soon he
'
within his heart, to do our part, For the tilling of the field. Sow we must, and speed the plough,
said
Through the verdant fragrant grove, To ths watered paddy field, Brilliant neath the silver moon As a mirror in the gloom, Or at noon a brazen shield.
'
Dig and plant, spare no toil now, Harvest then the ground will yield.'
Thus he said, to Mysore went, To her fairs his steps he bent, Where the country met the town,
fire
he nods.
From
Gover's Folk
294
LANGUAGE.
After that they yoke the bulls. Each then other harder pulls,
First they praise the God they love, Throne! high the world above.
The ground they quickly ploug'i. Day alter day the work goes on,
For the seed seven times is done, Then the harrow smooths the slough.
Six times
And
move th?y plough the field Before the planting drill they wk'ld. This requires full thirty days.
^
Then a d<z?n blooming maiiis Crownel with heavy glossy braids, Leave the house like happy lays.
Each one
1
the seventh bright day begins, for his household wins Leaves of various sacred plants. Five of these he ties with silk Then provide a pot of milk, Ready .r the festive wants.
When
Each man
A"
When the evening shades draw nigh Each ths others would outvie
In rich and splendid dress.
House and home from drought and Each one lifts her tiny hands,
Before the sun a moment stands, Offers thanks for heat and rain.
Thus they march with song and shout, Music swimming all about,
For the harvest's fruitfulness.
To
peay that God's rich grace should rest upon their race. Waiting till the gun has roared Milk they sprinkle, shouting gay, Pole ! pole Devaii Multiply thy mercies, Lord!
First they
Still
I
But they only plonh a part Of the field to which they cart
Plants so tender and so young. Just enough is done each day For the plants they have to lay
Soon the tallest stems are shorn Of the rich and golden corn, Carried. home with shouts and glee. There they bind with fragrant leaves, Hang them up beneath the eaves,
The new-made
soil
among.
On
the north-west
pillar's tree.
In the following month they weed, Mend the bunds as they have need, Place new plants where others died.
sing,
Two
Till
months after this they wait with corn the ears are freight
tide.
Keeping every ancient way. On the morrow young and old, Dressed in robes of silk and gold, Crowd the green for further play.
There the Huttri feast they make For the bounteous harvest's sake, Spreading ever towards the east
By
the Paditora ghat, Gliding all the land about, * Coorg receives the Huttri
feast.
Here they dance upon the sward, Sing the songs of ancient bard, light with sticks in combat tierce. All display their strength and skill Wrestling, leaping, as they will Till with night the crowds disperse.
Last of all they meet again, Larger meed of praise to gain, At the district meeting place. There before the nad they strive, All the former joys revive, Adding glories to the race.
the Padinalknad shrine all the Coorgi line, Offering praise and honour due. There they learn the proper day From the priest who serves alway
To
Gather
Iggotappa Devaru.
Now,
my friends, my
story's done.
end
is
won,
In our happy glorious land ; When the shades are growing long, All the eager people throng To the pleasant village Mand.
And your
or overbold,
live.
* It
how
Coorg.
local
marches upwards, so to speak, by the Paditora ghat. As harvest is later and hvter. Thus it spreads towards the east,
the harvest takes two months to pass from Mangalore to we rise higher and higher the
LITERATURE.
25
to,
The
following
is
forest
all
their children
Happily they
live,
and prosper
Land of cur
fathers, thrive,
And
Like the
game
in
mighty jungles,
Ruled the
six
and
fifty countries
By
To the
Happily they
and prosper,
But
Free from terror and from danger Like the deer in holy
forests,
By
the grace of
God Almighty
throne of England
On the glorious
Our
Where
the gun
is
never
fired,
Beauteous
a string of pearls,
and defends
it
And
Of her
of India,
this country
Sovereign;
By
May God
May He May
Houses
full
pf blooming children
To her
friends
a kind protector,
May
On
fine
and stately
The commander
of her armies
296
LANGUAGE.
Vanquished
all
hir enemies;
in the dominions
Of our
gracious
live
Long
When
Had
By
To
the grace of
protect this
God Almighty
happy Coorg-land
The chanting
and
range of three notes, which are intoned with a slow tremulous and rather
Jadibe-
a large and small wooden drum, the dudi, a metal drum, the Jcomlu
may
be expected that the Coorgs, who are a shrewd and goodindulge also in racy proverbs, with which they spice
humoured
people,
in
solemn
meetings in the
specimens
1.
:
Ambala
of the
village-green.
Pattama padekaga, pireke karikdga Beppeneke bechaka pireke karikaku Poppaneke pottaka pattama jadekaku.
for fighting,
if
fruit
but
the pirike
properly dressed,
may be used for curry, and with proper management even JKrahmans may be made to fight.
?
2.
Paiyu kartaka, palu kartada ? If the cow is black, will the milk be black
Andii rnadapavana kandii nadakandu. Him who holds sway we must obey.
3.
4.
Andii portavangii ache porpokii keiya ? Have we endured for a year, and can
Kettuvokii bandavang totaka buduva ?
we not endure
for
a day?
5.
He who
ing a
6.
is
doomed bow ?
He who
7.
is
Kumbiyettu kakudi
adirall ariyu.
He who
*Tippu Sultan,
indulges in toddy in the fine season will find out his mistake in the monsoon.
Cairns,
all
and which puzzle alike the simple peasant and the astute
have been discovered also
structure and
in
Coorg,
and upon
investigation, their
contents
prove to be
of a
Madura
and other
districts in
Southern India.
They are
also
remarkably like
Switzer-
Germany and
numbers
and implements.
The
1856
first
discovery of
them
in Coorg in large
in
for a soli-
Almanda
in 1868 on a Bane near Virajpet, but soon others were found and in better preservation near Fraserpet on the Mysore side ot the Kaveri. The
matter was taken up with great enthusiasm by Captain Cole, the Superintendent of Coorg, and the
All of the cairns found are
crop just a
ber, the feet
little
out of
it.
cist or
kistvaen of archaeologists.
inches thick, and surmounted by a large slab that projects over the
sides
;
the flooring
is likewise of
stone.
The narrow
an
aperture of an irregular curve, liearly 2 feet in diameter, broken out from the top, and generally faces east.
is
by
give
Many seem
to
have been
Rude Stone
Monw
38*
298
The
relics
the chambers.
The The
sand,
iron spear-heads,
is
and beads.
of
and
a red or black
;
2 feet higb, contracted towards the mouth and tapering towards the bottom, where 3 or 4 short legs give them support for standing upright.
Some
Roman amphorse
no such supports.
to be glazed.
line
proportioned
like
and even
toys,
is
elegant.
Some
to
children's
from l
2\ inches in diameter.
fills
the pots
the
same
chamber of the
bones, ashes
;
and
bits
of
grains
of ragi
it is likely
that some
Kuruba
natives to secure
of
their grain in
earth-holes.
Beads of red
occasionally
met with
in
The
very
much
It
hardly distinguishable.
would be vain to enter into the question of who were the builders
of these cairns.
The Coorgs
is
call
of the
beyond their
It is certain,
life,
habitants of Coorg, nor can they have been the abodes of a legendary
pigmy race
but were most likely the resting places of the earthly rehistorical
records of
Of a
Jcallu,
I.
are the
kolle-kaMu
(from
to
kill,
and
stone), tombstones in
in battle.f
*
districts
There
p. 413.
KOLLE
is
KALLTT.
299
in
some
Kottekad, 6 miles to
many
in Fraserpet
In
are
The
slabs
The
containing
figures
As already stated
slain
(Vol.
;
413) the lowest depicts the battle in which the hero was
the
him
in the
act of being
conveyed to
heaven by
celestial
nymphs
is
in the
regions of bliss
and
emblem
of erecting such
monuments seems
The
the
Kannada Gaudas,
of cakes
in
whose coun-
the stones are chiefly found, claim them as relics of their ancestors,
offerings
and
fruit.
The
dresses of all the figures represented are not in the Coorg costume but in
with a
violent
'
death or
With the
of
costume,
chased on
Kaimatta, which
in
remembrance of
worshipped.
whose departed
annuare
ally
little artistic
merit,
made by
stone
The
stone
was erected
paddy
fields in
fell in
or general,
who
he said to the
king
Mudda Raja
defeating the
300
time I shall not
fell in
the
same
battle.
When,
after the
memsilver
still
visible.
on the
stone, is preserved
by the family
in
Shdsana-lcallu.
In some
localities, viz.,
yard at Bha-
Paltir, in
That at Bhagamandala
is
in the
Tulu character.
The others
are in Hale
older.
made by
The
scription discovered in
to this
dynasty.
as
to
how
or
there no informa-
be obtained.
388
(A. D.
a grant
in the reign
of Kongani II of
some land
in
Mysore
article
District.*
Kadangas.
savages ?"
In
an
headed
"Were
the
Ancient Britons
by
W. Walker
Kadangas
world possesses so
many
ancient earthworks,
of access,
from the steepness of the mountain heights on which they were formed.
This
difficulty
the primitive
by the
most
He sunk one
lofty
summit of the
hill,
and raised
soil.
;
Undoubtedly this
is
known
it
and originated
it
in all
the nations in
the east.
But be that as
may, the
them out
evinces, besides,
I,
p. 363,
KADANGAS.
of society here in prehistoric times utterly
vailing notions on the subject/'
301
imcompatible with the pre-
The description here given literally applies to the Coorg breastworks called Kadcutgas, which are seen in almost every part of this
country,
and which
testify to the
indefatigable perseverance
with which
hills.
They
is
mentioned
in
an inscription of the
ruled
9th century*
for
of
which already
existed, as appears
He
and thus
Coorg."
hills,
flat
various
Some
are nearly 40
hill sides
feet
from sum-
mit to bottom of
with an angle of
80 to the horizon.
but
As stated
in the
that at the same time they formed at least to some extent also the boundaries
and even
in the last
campaign at the taking of Coorg in 1834, the Kadangas proved no contemptible obstacle to the advance of the English troops.
Forts.
Bhagamandala and
Mercara Fort
gical value, as it is
is still in
commanded by
was
cannon.
The
fortress
originally
built
mud
walls, but
it
it
was
rebuilt with
stone by
Tippu Sultan,
who
called
Jaffarabad.
302
It
was held by
it
with
all its
and 5
feet high.
The
forthill
ress
top, leaving
all
for
glacis.
built
of
strong masonry.
and
circuitous
is
and
now
the
the
is
offices of
the Administration.
On
cated to Ganapati.
palace, to the
left
there
is
in the
centre the
quarter-guard and armoury, and behind the palace the powder magazine.
was demolished
built
in 1855.
The Fort
It
at Kushalnagar (Fraserpet)
in
was
by Tippu
Sultan.
When
in
1846-1848 the
building material.
in
to the
ground
August 1789. Bhagamandala Fort, where Tippu seized some 5,000 Coorgs with their families, whom he sent into Mysore in 1785 and
in
forcibly
invested by
in
1790
and taken
from the
cannon
tiles
Mumbaratu.
tiles
made
of silver.
The Papare
Fort,
Hatgatnad
temple,
is
in
but
its'
monuments
of Coorg con-
PALACES.
sist of palaces
303
and tombs. Besides the Mercara palace there are two other
aramane, one at
is
re-
markable
built
by
in-
mountain
fortress,
steep approaches.
Now
it is
who
visit
the place.
In front of the palace, near the right corner, stands in tolerable preservation a
handsome
little
pavilion (dare
for
the celebration of
in
Dodda Vira Rajendra's marriage with Mahadevamma February 1796. Under proper management the land belonging to
fertile
and
The palace
at Haleri-nad
the plan of
and
barriers.
The
is
a conspicuous building, of modern date. According to an inscription on a metal plate in one of the palace rooms, it was commenced on the day of the new moon of the Bhadrapada month (Aug. Sep.) in the year 1735 of the Salivahana era, (A. D\1812,) and was completed in two years and one month by Linga Rajendra Wodeyar, the younger brother of
first
" The pious who Dodda Vira Rajendra. The inscription concludes praise Almighty God by whose grace this magnificent palace was con:
structed after the removal of the rugged hill-top, shall enjoy eternal happiness in this world
and
in the world to
is
come."
that of a
The
It
high, and presents a fine with an open space in the centre, is two stories along the whole extent of the botA range of arches runs nearly front.
tom
sashes
and Venetian
window
projecting into a
small
masonry. balcony supported by two rearing horses formed of ornamental masonry. of rid<*e of the roof runs a balustrade
Along the
The other
blank space, varied only by a three sides of the building present nearly a called windows. irregular apertures to admit air, for they can hardly be
few
to
804
they could, are tenanted by the officers of the Native Regiment stationed
at Mercara.
is
built of brick
solidity
and other
trees.
It
owed
existence to
the
gratitude of
English.
It
to the
and two
in
high.
style,
Both as
and
furniture
it
was executed
it
European
a comfortable abode
life.
to travellers
luxuries of civilized
It is referred to
memoruin.
randa of English
of the British
Government
At length
it
it fell
into disuse,
was demolished,
are
Mausoleums. The most remarkable modern buildings in Coorg the tombs of Dodda Vira Rajendra and Linga Rajendra and their
These
first
favourite queens.
edifices
one another.
The
By
their
of Rudrappa,
an honoured guru
in
of the
Rajas, which
by Devan
Ponappa
1834.
The
much
in the style of
Muhammadan
edifices, .with
dome in
ed by basavas or
On
dome A
is
a gilded
ball,
with a
weathercock above
and
all
pillars
The
inside consists of
slightly
raised
re-
and daily
newed
A lamp
MAUSOLEUMS.
Lingayat
Rajendra.
piijari
is
305
in daily
Dodda Vira
the
is
Coorg Rajas.
It is prettily situated
on
the banks of the Madaptir river, but has no claim to architectural merit.
is
It is
is
of the
same
size
leaving
room
for a passage
and a
a large
low balustrade
figure of
round.
The lower
a Basava, sculptured in
syenite,
at Holesalhalli
is
the
all his
thus
government
and
re-
a house to
live in till
our
life
come
to
close,
and a temple
For
it
In com-
Dodda Virappa had a palace built near the on the spot chosen by him at Holesalhalli, surrounding [it with a
him there and gave
it
ditch, settled
the
name
Nanjarajpatna.
built also
For his
He
a Virabhadra
over the
Seep. 150;
'69*
306
des'vara,
and
him
in a
grave construct-
made a grant
Industrial Arts.
There are no mines in Coorg and the only quarries are the pits from which
laterite is
dug or cut
made
in the country
worthy of notice.
The kammarbands,
by
field labourers
is
made, and a
woven
in
Almost every
article
is
imported
the village
principal manufactures
is
18734 :
Cotton
307
The only
paddy
(rice in
Cannanore and Tellicherry are the ports to which goods are sent from
the western and northern parts of the Province.
of Coorg the trade
traffic
is
From Mercara
to trade
the
goes both east and west, either to Mangalore on the "Western Coast,
Bangalore.
or to Mysore and
with the
Western Coast
is
vessel
shore
till
article of
food
From Mysore
and and chunam.
spice, sugar,
fowls
and
eggs,
cattle
and
sheep,
tobacco,
hardware
And from
hardware, cloths,
areca nut
imported.
and pepper.
The
difficulty of
;
on
this subject is
very great
on
The
and imports
for the
508
WAGES AND
PRICES.
309
310
nized, the
in operation.
complete change.
for labour
drew away from their old maswho now asserted their freedom.
The
rise of
wages
for
are,
it
to hold offices
under
salaries
deeming
a privilege to render
it
When
however
became necessary,
pay of
inferior servants to
it
Magistrate was found to have a lower salary than the peon attached to
his
office.
The
hardly a
market
in
connection
in I860.
'
with
public works
man
is to
be had. Mysore
coolies,
who
all
work
in the
coffee
where each
man
in
who
mensem,
will only
Madras
fish
men
Men
coolies
per
class
mensem
,,
Es.
Es.
2nd
Women
4i 3| 15
,,5
4 .,18
rise.'
and these rates are with the more universal demand continuing to
The
to be
is
for unskilled
for skilled,
which
very scarce, 12
annas to B.
H to Es. 2 a day.
now a prominent
harvest
is over,
of imported labour is
feature in
Many
coffee
own
go to the
Coorg
to
culti-
WAGES AND
vating season.
PRICES.
311
At the time of the Census, which took place during the busy season on the coffee estates, there were 11,316 persons employed on them returned as
Prices.
laborers, of
to the
whom
According
;
5,
rice,
10 to
20 to 35f
wheat, 4 to 6
horse gram, 3 to 20
salt,
10
to 22.
official
ADMINISTRATION.
Under the Rajas of Coorg.
history of
the country as
Regarding
above referred
two years
the
namely,
and the two taluks of Sulya and Puttur below the ghats.
purpose of
civil
These
administration, had at
The
These
composed of vargas
the divisions
consisted (as
hoblis.
The
villages of
Kodagu
farms extending along the narrow valleys that wind at the foot of the
high grounds, and an indefinite
number
had
may be
translated canton or
well
township
de-
fined boundary.
in
What-
state of
Kodagu
to
The
cultivated
lands
COORG RAJAS.
were occupied
in severalty,
313
common
posses-
sions of those
inhabiting
it.
1800 or 2000
medium and common sized 500, and the largest from 1 200 bhattis. Farms of this extent however were not
possession of the relations of the Raja or officers of
The
had from 3
to 4,
average number.
The
chief
agricultural opera-
The
better
class
su-
of personally
necessary
to
hire servants.
The
protracted vicissitudes
was subject
during the reigns of Haidar and his son, the destructive inroads of the
latter,
of the inhabitants,
some measure
remembrance
to
authority
of the oriof such
many
longer existed.
On
reinstated in their
;
patrimony, thus in
was
lands
charac-
be disputed, and equally valued as if held by a more legitimate tenure. Property of this nature was subject to no Possession rarely fluctuated.
additional imposts, and the cultivator while he continued to pay his pro-
portion of the
tablished prejudices,
consent
such a
tenure
40*
314
gave as
ADMINISTRATION.
much
of the security of
permanency
to
was uncontrolled
which
by
it
law.
sale
or conveyance, without
cannot be considered as private property, was as far as could be learnthis nature did not
often
re-
possessors,
and when
it did,
quisite, in
whom
in the
soil.
It
distant period
in
Kodagu than
it
now
was.
Con-
may
had undergone no
alteration
all
military tenure
their
lands, and the same tenures were generally annexed to such grants as
all
burthens.
The
species of
by
this tenure
by them, and
imposed at a period
causes that have
produced a change in
this
surrounding countries,
remained like
perienced.
It
its
spirit of
their lands
manner
in which the
was
was exempt
from
all
demand
of taxation.
cultivated lands in
said,
* Colonel Wilks speaking of tbis kind of possession, snys that it existed in its perfect form provinces of Canara and Malabar, and the principalities of Kodagu and Travancore.
th&
COOEG RAJAS.
is,
315
assessment.
who aided
in expelling Tippu,
:
There were
it
will
in consideration
however
of this easy tribute, the proprietor was liable to all feudal and other services he
2 per
cent on the gross produce of their grounds, but though entirely exempt
and
servile labours to
must be observed
to increase,
that the
manner
in
made tended
In Kodagu Proper
it
was on the
princi-
pal of the produce which the ground yielded, and in the lower districts the
it,
nature of the
soil,
&c.
officers
on some acknowledged
principles-
these
occasions
was termed
bhatti,
which was
seers;
Kodagu
pakka
every
generally
worth one rupee) * was respectively taxed ten and twelve rupees.
The
and
in
many
is
quantity
number of
when
would
fall short
of
is
was very
and
still
it
per cent,
who
own lands. The money rent was only imposed on wet cultivation f the ryot sowed what dry grain, pulse, tobacco, &c, he pleased on the high grounds, giving to the Sircar some small proportion of the produce. The tax on
in almost every instance cultivated his
:
gardens, that
village
is,
those
its
each
agreeable to
at stated periods.
constantly com;
* The husk is removed from the rough rice at a Io6S of about 50 per cent to forty seers, the general value of which may have been a rupee.
t Nanjarajpatna is an exception to this observation, the chief produce of this dry grains common in Mysore, the assessment was necessarily levied on them,
district
being the
316
ADMINISTRATION.
Raja,
all occasions
entered into a part of the wages of every description of public and private
servant belonging to the chief.
If to the land rent,
bazar shops,
be learned will
be closed.
It
is
douceurs, either
money
or kind, and personal services did not form the least disagree-
less
exactions equally uncertain, vexatious, and liable to abuse, must be considered as cheaply purchased by any sacrifice of
means
at all consistent
with comfort.
The
foregoing remarks
it
maybe
slight
the other
classes of inhabitants.
Every inducement was held out for the occupation of waste lands
if
they had not been cultivated for some time they were exempted from
if
a much
longer period.
met with
assist-
ance,
sufficient to
refuge in
Kodagu
emigrations from
them
into
it
months succeeding
sure.
The
cultivation
was
COORG RAJAS.
particularly
31
remissions however were
generally
made
appeared to
call for
such an indulgence.
revenue of Koda-
gu arose from a
territorial
land tax
customs, cardamoms,
pepper,
sandalwood, tax
(about ten khandis of this article were annually collected), honey, (of which
the woods produced about six khandis), ivory.
A khandiof
elephants' tusks
was yearly
from
however
was so great (water carriage was impossible) that none was exported, and that felled for internal consumption was in most cases free from
charge.
in
The
amount of the
re-
venue of Kodagu
it
tax, customs, *
and spirituous
I;
iquors
...
do
do
...
Surat Rupees, .400,000 ... 100,800 ... 34,400 ... 20,000 ... 60,000 1,000 3,000
Honey
Ivory
Total
1,800
600
6,21,600
From
the above
it
will
six lakhs J
Kodagu
family,
and one
ample funds
to
gratify his
sensuality,
the receipts
with Malabar, lately cut through Wynaad offering so excellent communication lately they the transit duties on foreign goods passing through Kodagu, till the direct road from Cannanore to produced ten thousand pagodas a year, the Heggulapass teing Peria Ghat the former pass was now Mysore, but in consequence of the superior facilities offered by the customs of Kodagu of nearly eight-tenths of their nearly deserted and a diminution in the sunka former amount had in consequence taken place.
had
greatly decreased
Company in 1804 amounted to Kantliiraya t The revenue of the districts in Canara ceded by the pagodas 24,879 or 74,637 rupees. little more than eightyValuing the Sarat and Bombay rupees the same, this would give a very
J two pagodas per square
mile.
318
ther
its
ADMINISTRATION,
public servants nor the military part of the establishment being
expensive.
at the personal
immediate expenditure,
that
which, though he
marked the
was
reason to doubt
much
festivals,
away on
puerile
and frivolous
It will
as to the state
sumed
authority. It
which he subscribed
He was
and
quantity of treasure,
The neighbouring
districts
pressure of
his contributions, as
by
of
so gainful a source
revenue.
Some
Kodagu
Panniyas,
dispersed almost
over every part of the country. The, extensive landed property of which
he was thus immediate proprietor, was of considerable value, and provided for one great source of expenditure.
No
distinct
knowledge could
There were
20 or
24.
The grounds
in the
immediate
also the
Raja.
The arrangement
all
as to the
management
cases similar
of the chief, * stocked with his cattle, and tilled by his prsedial servants,
of
whom
*
On
We
known
revenue of the Raja ct' Travancore drawn from personal estates, and have constituted a part of that of all the petty chieftains throughout in Bednur.
C00RG RAJAS.
district in
319
the time
when the
Panniya re-
The
was con-
ducted with great care, and the order in which the whole was preserved
On each were
;
ex-
and secured
industry.
They had
in
many
cases gardens
principally
sown with
lice,
The produce
and
they were
number and
extent.
who
being
amount of
furnished by him with the implements and cattle necessary for the purpose
of cultivation.
mode
to
of
and unstable
had
The
rule
of a mix-
ed nature
it
was something
kind, but in this latter instance vesting prerogatives in the chief greatly
rights
it
was
It
that might
exhibited, per-
relics
of a
mode
of rule that
may
at one
tract,
The
chief of
Kodagu
knew no
restraint
control not
curb his
indeed he
literally
the royal
maxim
that
* Numerous feudal services of this nature were required from the inhabitants.
320
ADMINISTKATI0N.
He
reverfear
the servility
subject subject
hand as
in the act
of prayer
in
suppliant attitude.
than attending to his mandates, which, received with veneration, were executed with singular precision, and his projects of whatever nature second-
ed without enquiry
commands
or actions.
however
it
must
command
The
of the people
of person
was complete
political
Asiatic system of government, but the inhabitants of this little state were
interdicted
neighbours enjoyed.
of
abstract
rigour
through the minor subdivisions of power, the prince alone enjoying the
prerogative of indulging his
short, the
spirit of
fact.
would be
difficult to
trifles
this in-
as nothing could be
COOKG RAJAS.
within their
321
own
limits
to secure secrecy
on state
affairs
chief,
were of a very
nature
its
and probably
long before
commencement
conversation
among
the inhabitants.
it
had
except
ordinary nature.
The
existing
maxim
solicitous
on this
by him more
it
to secure the
the breach of
was a
was extended. *
be readily believed that there were but few, indeed no, opporconclusions could be
tunities
drawn as
severities
the direct
operation
of such a rule or
the
extent of the
practised.
It occasioned
an implicit
obedience
and apprehension
mistaken, and did not require the concurrent testimony of those strengthen the inferences that must necessarily
The
princes of
Kodagu,
it
would seem,
for ruling
by the scimitar.
* There are numerous stories current that might be adduced in support of these remarks, and were the generality of the belief a proof of their veracity there would be little hesitation in crediting them. A few however will answer all the purpose of illustration, for which alone a recital of such is desirable.
The anxiety to conceal th? internal policy of the country could not be stronger evinced than in the case of Fakiruddin, a munshi of respectability who settled at Muddukere in the life time of the Some time subsequent to the death of his late Kaja, to whose illegitimate children he acted as tutor. old master, finding his 'situation at onca irksome and unsafe, he solicited permission to proceed with his family to Mysore. Aware of the difficulties that opposed his wishes, he left no means untried that could overcome them, but without success; to admit of the departure of one whose long residence in Kodagu gave him a knowledge of the affairs of the country was not a part of His Highness' policy, and the unfortunate teacher persisting in his wish to retire, fell a victim to his temerity ; himself anil family to the number of fourteen persons being it is said indiscriminately murdered as the only means of appeasing
the alarm which his departure would have
createrl.
Another instance will suffice to shew the same jealous and sanguinary disposition. About the period the above transaction took place, Byranji, a respectable Parsee merchant and a great favourite with the late Raja, having suffered some indignity, felt disposed to leave so insecure a residenc, and after lepeated applications ohtained permission to quit the country; he proceeded to Yirarajendrapel, remained tVre a few days and thence set out for Mysore, but was waylaid on the load and afsassinated by the emissaries of the chief.
Other instances which might be added would shew that whatever attachment bs might prefer* to the Briton he equally dreaded their power and feared experiencing it,
41*
322
ADMINISTRATION.
who
the
usually
made
his
own
little
value on
insanity of
his
successor
had
the reputation
to
obey his
mandates whatever might be their nature, a hint was a sentence without appeal, and
in cases
(if
of violated
believe
we
report)
scarcely
more occasion
for.
However austere the control which the Chief of Kodagu might exercise within his
own
limits,
of
living
find
an asylum here.
The
cient,
effi-
and a great
The
had
each two Subadars, and a Parpatte presided over the smaller ones composing them. These officers were entrusted with the collection of imposts
their authority
Every place of
responsibility
to all offices in
money.
officers.
Some ancient
feudal
services not
known
and
in the neighbouring
public duties
requisitions,
The course
when interrupted by
more authentic system
had
all
the force of a
prince ad-
COORG RAJAS.
323
ministered justice in person, and the inferior authorities had a power of deciding to a certain extent and inflicting slight punishments. A court
of arbitration, formed by the most respectable inhabitants of the place,
officers
and determined
all cases
of
minor consideration
and
ed.
and
false pretences
whom
in
all
cases
for
there
,
tbat
of the justice,
violated. Indeed the system altogether seemed to correspond with the prevailing habits and
its
it
was immediate.
the culprit was moderately
principal
by labouring for a
certain time
necessary.
It
was only when the transgression was against the State that
;
viola-
requisite to establish
evidence of
it.
inflicted
by order of the
to the
office
who
it is
said
Of the
it is
not possible to
and
it
is difficult to
credit the
stories
and
ferocity.
be crushing to death
efficient instru-
ment
for such
an operation
to.
were resorted
fingers,
and
suspending the offender by the ears, punching out his teeth, ampu-
and
lips,
"When of a
The
sufferer
324
serted his home,
ADMINISTRATION.
his apprehension
should he
make a
diligent search
which
as
proving ineffectual,
he was declared
to have
primitive,
forcement of
lice.
precepts would not require any complicated system of poof the territory admitted of the influence of
rence not of a
celerity.
strictly prohibit-
ed at those points where they crossed the boundary, there was in every
;
it
The
inhabitants
petitioner
must
state his
business in the most explicit terms, and his family in almost every case
crime was
fol;
in
taken to prevent
fugi-
Kodagu
was no
escape.
The peons
all
the duties of police. Tumults and disturbances were unknown, and the
;
possessof
of,
ing
all
society, they
had no disposition to
theft.
strife
it
and
may be
was
security of person
COOEG RAJAS.
traveller, that belongs to
325
its
inhabitants
The anxious
tion,
suspicion
European
utmost attensur-
all
intercourse with
In short,
inquisitorial policy
was
Military.
The military
institution,
force of
Kodagu was
entirely feudal
it
was a singular
and had the appearance of being coeval with a no regular army, an active and warlike
Like the Nairs of the
remote antiquity.
There was
Peninsula, and the Rajputs and Sikhs of the more northern parts of India)
soldier,
duties.
It
has been
munities which they enjoyed, personal services, to any extent that might
obligations.
Those
services
were rendered in
knew no murmurs.
insti-
They
consisted of Sarva-
commanded
ryots,
re-
indefinite
body.
who
con-
at the terminatio
of this
others,
might
arbitrary
but
strictly
regularity.
This
peasant and
326
thing of a martial
spirit,
ADMINISTRATION.
be irregular in
its
operations,
or of a fieLl was
armed
The bod)
drawn
was
in theirs. Inefficient as
and permanency of
to a
mili-
but their
mode
in
of
life
training
them
kind
of concert
adapted to the
in
remarkable
and
them
pillage'.
guerilla,
though they were unable to contend openly with regular troops, they intercepted their supplies, cut off their communications, and harassed
them
hilly
An
intimate knowledge
of
it,
strict
the
want of military
However
as to the
desirable
distinct information
amount
number
them on the
been
it
entirely useless.
The few
judgment
scattered
in
may
direct the
its extent.*
must be
of
and observes
by about half
* It is already been seen that Kodagu could at one time raises body ofl2,000 men. In 1799 Tippu had from 1,500 to 2,000 Kodagus in his service; they had been circumcised' and were called Chelas. 4,000 men joined Lord Cornwallis in 1792 ; we are not particularly told what numbers were brought forward in 1799, but frequent mention is made ol more than 5,000 having on different occasions acted with the British.
COORG RAJAS.
the number of peons, variously armed.
of bearing If however the
327
number capable
does not appear
arms be
men
it
be
much
or
overrated
of
Mysore and
little territory,
the
Coorgs
its
be said to
augment
in
any measure
its
military
more conspicuous
When
individual
the matchlock was added a large knife or short sword, which, as each
must depend on
his
own personal
was
every Kodagu,
side.
who may be
was
by his
It
spring,
from which
easily disengaged.
The prevalence
in appearance
of fire
arms
however rendered
this
than
it.
reality,
In adit
worn
in front
is
for domestic
many
uses as Hudibras's
dagger.
The
power of
and
its
may
little
afford
owed the
conse-
quence
defiles
it
might possess to
its
its
But
it
be an object of
much
solicitude
neighbours.
The woods,
offering
flight
be
* Those
rupees a month, but were neither regularly paid nor well clothed.
328
ADMINISTRATION.
their incur:
though
sufficiently destructive,
as a body
Some
Land
Le Hardy's Report
year of the
tenures.
The
tenures
in
was divided
into vargas or
farms.
In the more
no assessment, which
Coorg
to the
was attached
to
them
hilly parts of
north
soil
is
susceptible
exoeeded 70 "butties of paddy land, and there were some which were composed of not more than 10 or 15 butties.
Bam
and Barike.
The
first
of these terms
was applied
to high forest
lind from which the farm was supplied with wood, manure, &c, &c.
Barike was a low swampy inferior
are turned out to graze.
estates,
The
cattle
but very little dry land was ever cultivated by the Coorg population,
beyond a small patch of garden ground adjoining the farm yard, the produce of which (consisting of plantains and vegetables) was seldom more
than sufficient for the family consumption.
ants of other castes, small pieces of this land were occasionally found
planted with chillies and tobacco, and here and there a few acres cultivat-
ed with ragi or koolti ; but the latter was of very rare occurrence except
in the
river,
where there
is
barely room
Although
all
jamma
any
indefinite
extent,
for every hundred butties of land, they could only hold it on these terms
after
by the pay;
ment
donation of
rupees,
termed
namr Mnike
neither
jamma
on paying rent
COOEG RAJAS.
of which they were
329
varga was tak-
composed.
When
part only of a
held,
was invariably
ryots,
jamma
The
100
battis of land.
estates of jamma
ryots were
to
four or
in-
five vargas,
of the family
habitants
Previous
rarely took
and
it is
said that
it
was not
35 or 40 grown up male relations, and many families consisting of upwards of 120 and even 150 members, living under the
uncommon
same roof
separate farms.
;
This however
all parties
for according to
law or
common
left
stock,
he was viewed
to
own
means
of livelihood.
name and
to
means
polyandry as well as with the view of extending cultivation. The generality of the
Coorgs however
still
of each generation living under the same roof, however distant their connection), or their forming
To
this feeling
may
in
pressed that the law prohibiting Coorgs from leaving the country should
still
remain in
force,
apprehending probably
that,
by constant intercourse
with
customs,
42*
330
ADMINISTRATION.
No
land on
made from
jamma
fire,
such as
number
which
claim remissions when the produce of their lands had been so meagre as
to render
it
that
is,
had
farm.
When
this
fields as
jamma
was as
battis of land,
Rs. As. p.
Assessment at 5 rupees per 100 battis of land, for 300 battis ") Ghee tax The same as paid by s&gu ryots Dhnlibatta f
...
15
...
House tax
3
Total
Government demand
17
originally so
it
one-sixth
;
and
frequently as
much
or pro-
cultivation.
to a
ryot
producing 60
battis of
battis
of land) was,.according
to the average
;
market
it is
19 per cent of
its
gross produce
other
and
probable that
many jamma
ryots of Surlabi
and
nads to the
their crops.
The
them
in
1834
COORG RAJAS.
It
is
331
whose
families
in the country,
ryots.
and
to confer
on them
jamma
have been done as a particular mark of favour for there were now
individuals
many
numbered amongst
in Coorg
families
upwards of 60 or 80
Sagu
at 10 rupees per
100
battis,
which was originally fixed by Vira Rajendra on the whole of the arable
peculiar circumstances
it
was
applic-
qualified
service of the
Rajas, were
upon
to
pay the
amount
all
required to per-
form
have been at
181
1,
very light
and
to
Mercara was
first
projected.
From
ryots
at length
became so oppressive
that most of them were glad to obtain exemption from the performance of all duties to the Sarkar by being transferred to the next class, or sagu
ryots paying 12
rupees per
annum
They were
Hu-
kumnama, which
ance,
specifies that
inabili-
batta,
on
latter tenure
only
by
districts,
as foreigners without ties or attachments to the country, were not considered admissible to the
same
privileges as the
They
venience to do
Such appears
to
332
ADMINISTRATION.
On
referring to the
it
which
exist in the
cutcherry,
appeal's
that there were at that period only 281 of the second class of sagu ryots,
first
class
but in
1815 we
find
the
number of
first class;
the second class increased to 1090, while only 386 remain of the
of ryots
first to
on increasing from year to year until there remained in 1825 only 276
of the former.
About
demand
for labourers,
owing to the
new
works in progress.
These demands
the per-
formance of nearly,
of
if
No
for
transfers
from one
past.
class
to the other
some years
The
number of
The
difference in the
first
demand
great as might at
sight be supposed.
tax and dhuli batta to pay, which the latter had not.
tis
cultivated
ryots, the
B.
rent for 300 battis at 10 Es. per 100 battis of land Ghee-Tax at % seer Ditto 1$ seers value at ... Dhuli batta at l\ battis of paddy ... ...
A.
P.
R.
A.
P.
Land
30
House Tax
100
9 7
...
...
...
...
Total Government
demand
...
...
...
32
Second
land
House Tax
...
...
Class.
...
36
9
...
Total
Government demand
...
...
...
...
...
36
9 9
Difference...
...
...
...
...
battis of land, in
300
battis
of or-
may
COOBQ RAJAS,
battis of paddy,
333
as yielding not more than 210 battis. Converting these crops into
at the average
money
it
sold
vie.,
in
kists in 1834,
by a sagu
and
if
held by a sagu
ryot of the second class the share of the produce of the ordinary description
cent.
to the
more
hilly districts to
it
appears never
battis of
more than 50
is
or 55 battis
45
battis of
;
paddy
was
selling
at
Virarajendrapet and
in
battis per
will
had
for
the
fields
entitled to
may have
The
number of sagu
season, will
ryots, afford
and quantity
some idea of
No. of families.
334
ADMINISTRATION.
A number
class,
the second
ed the measure
of the second
the
request did
additional
amount
of tax
was imposed
at their
own
view of pur-
Sarkar, which
were now alike relieved from. The Divans further suggested that
ryots originally
class
;
belonging to the
all
first
and that
strangers
ground-
many would
be
has been shewn by the foregoing statements that the rate paid by
prima
facie,
a light assessment,
less
Jamma
ryots
had
sagu ryots, when, owing to want of means, less than half the land of
Petitions were
received from a few sagu ryots, praying to be admitted to this class on the
score of long residence.
to
They
;
of it
would have
jamma ryots.
three different rates,
vis.,
unibali tenure at
at
1\ and
rupee per
annum
per
100
;
battis.
for services
jamma
and
and ghee
tax.
Persons enjoying estates free of tax, were exempted from the pay-
to sublet their
but,
on the
common sagu
teuure, vis., at
COOKG RAJAS.
335
whole of the country
;
The
applicable to the
within the
affect
Kiggatnad
ghats.
The whole
a money rent of 5
battis per
management
of
its
revenue was
left to the
Patels, to
whom
much
the ryotwar system, and in 1806 ordered the whole of the lands of
the same
The name,
size
;
but
was made
fields
in the
of
some
The
it
beriz, or
amount
villages
it
and
of
lis.
Rs. 3
5
;
4.
The produce
of the second
kind of
;
and
one-tenth of the
first
kind
average produce
battis of
of Yelusavirshime
valued at Ks.
11
13|
and assessed at
Rs.
13
7,
while
in Coorg
was estimated
19a
battis of
15
14 8$.
were kept in kandagas and
one of the former, which as a grain
Applied to land,
it
of Yelusavirshime
battiB.
may have
for
336
ADMINISTRATION.
now
this
differed so
much from
the size,
fertility,
or value of pieces
measure.
to
2 \ to
from 20
90
battis of
paddy
and
in the
3 to 16 Rs.
The
one
by
whom
as tenants
of the
waram
The system
of Coorg
;
was
but
it
appears
to have
when
this practice
however, that more than half of the land of that taluk had
still
sublet
waram
tenure.
'
Most of the ryots who held land on waram tenure were of wandering
unsettled habits.
They remained
stationary for
and the land which they occupied was taken by other ryots of the same
caste,
who
predecessors
did,
not only
unprovided
subsistence.
cultivate
means of
would be
circumstanced to
waram
by
the Patel,
who
may have
furnished.
culti-
amount
in
only be raised by
them
parts of Coorg.
in favour of Patels
waram
tenure,
COOKG EAJAS.
337
had been productive of much oppression, and that the wretched condition
in which the lower classes even of the aboriginal inhabitants
of that
it.
During the
Some
cause of complaint was the result of a custom, which had long prevailed
in that taluk,
land to new
settlers
sufficient
quantity of
The
value of
2 2 cawnies
and the
gross
when taken
wet land
in which
case
it
forest land
common
law
it
belonged.
It being contrary to
mon
the
sagu tenure,
of
it
number
about 600 or
waram ryots; it is, however, supposed that there were 700 who held land on these terms. Their means were of
waram
Es.
22%
battis valued at
o$
battis for
Rs.
Estimated value of \ the produce of unassesBed dry land attached to paddy, ground
Land rent
Butter tax Seed generally given to the cultivator by the person who sublet the land
Clear profit to a ryot subletting a piece of land capable of being tilled by one
plough
...
338
ADMINISTBATION.
The
upon
but they had to pay the house tax, and instead of ghee tax one in butter.
number
of sagu ryots,
yielded
ryot
70
may
therefore
battis,
5J
battis
for
4 Es
...
50
at-
of which
is
valued as above
36
5 10
Value
ol
to paddy land
...
COOEG RAJAS.
339
Number
of Families.
102
340
It
ADMINISTRATION.
for 3 or
families,
in cultivating
pieces
land
of agricultural
six or eight.
Land
of the
so cultivated
was entered
accounts in the
name
ryot
ment
who managed the farm and he was held responsible for the payThe butter tax -was fixed on of the Sarkar demand against it.
;
farms
ryot.
land ; but when the latter had lain barren not more than
was
waram
had undergone a
sufficient
reception of ragi.
The
first
soil,
it is
crops consisted
and
gingelli,
and
thrive tolerably
well with-
But
of these
sum equal to
therefore, giving
up half
them these
;
that only kulti would thrive on from the Sarkar on waram tenure.
The tax on
description
of cultivation
it
certain pieces of
mudi
of the ghats, who were selected and set down for the purpose of surveying
them
at the beginning of
December every
year.
all
parts of Coorg
but, it cul-
was not
liable to
assessment
nor was
it
when
collected
families,
COOEG RAJAS.
jungles bordering on Mysore, lived on this
all
341
sort of cultivation, free
from
Government demands.
Besides the land which was held under the foregoing
tenures by
ali-
enated to the
office
of the Pateh
and Nanjarajpatna,
all
and
establishments in
parts of Coorg,
Within the
little
barriers, land
uncultivated,
jamma
and
it
might be
half of the
ment
to
which
it
differed
from
jamma
it.
in
disposed
No
pur-
Raja's stores
now no means
of maintaining them,
on jodi tenure.
barriers,
amounted
5106^
;
battis
of land,
the
whole assessed
50 rupees
rupees 263
in
<
Yelusavirashime,
and 800
battis
80 pagodas,
were resumed by
the Sarkar
when
the
lieu
land assessment
jendra;
and in
two parkas
(or 8 pice)
As
this
privilege
was no longer
requesting
now made
on jodi
for
An
annum was
solicited
342
river. It
ADMINISTEATION.
appears that this
is
considered
in the
same manner
dis-
they
now do
this
country prohibited
all
com-
Wynad
The
which used
to
be fur-
but
them again
as soon
as circumstances
As the roads
to travellieu of the
of the
country were
the
dhulibatta
whom
it
used
to
be collected and
offices,
but since the land assessments were remodelled by Vira Rajendra, this
tax had been
Raja's time
it
of the Sarkar.
During the
ex-
of a few
others
owing to the
indulgence.
demanded
this
to Mercara,
with the
was regulated as
fol-
lows.
Ryots cultivating
From 25
nalknad,
to 50 battis of land
and
for
50 and upwards 1
consisting of the
battis
and Yede-
Dhuli batta was not paid in Yeluexcept by the ryots of four villages, to
fields
neither
was
it
and lOf
seers
paddy were realized from this tax, the whole of which was applied
COORG BAJAS.
as heretofore in assisting ryots requiring advances of takavi,
343
to be re-
The whole
Haringi
river,
l-
Nads
and of Surlabinad
the north of
it,
the rate of
9 7 per family
classes
who
Gadinad, and
trade
Bahadri Fa-
Qr.
r.
Es.
As.
nams.
caste, practising
any pro
3
Other merchants of the 1st class Do do 2nd class 3rd class Do do 4th class Do do Eiruganiga or oilmakers of the 2nd class Weavers, 1st class Do 2nd class Common tradesmen Dhobis and Barbers ... Goldsmiths brass mongers, &c, pay in Coorg above the Ghats Iron and below the Ghats Do do Potmakers 1st class 2nd class Do Coolies of all castes above the Ghats ... The proprietors pay for their slaves of the BaJaja caite for their slaves of the Kembatti caste Do
,
34:4
ADMINISTRATION.
festival,
Huttari
The
this season,
to
44 battis and
223- seers,
and of the
latter to
and 374
seers, altogether
2.
They
name
implies,
and
it
has
stood by the ryots, that the object of this tax was to afford the
of celebrating the harvest
festival
;
means
at which period,
it
was customary
several days
together.
and
therefore,
that
sup-
The accounts
fanams one pagoda.
Rajendra's
8 of the latter,
The exchange
at
of this coin
Hukumnama
to that
4 Madras rupees.
;
said, equivalent
sum but
it
of Yelusavirashime for
14
;
or Rs. 3
14
6.
but there
is
reason
was generally
;
collected
There
is
in this
manner by the
The
assessed,
in
of grievance
shime.
obliged to pay their kists in silver at the rate of 4 rupees per Bahadri
pagoda
14
it
and
that they thus paid 2 annas per pagoda of land more than
was
assess-
ed
at.
And
COORG RAJAS.
"
345
jamabandi, at the begin-
We
left
Mercara in order to
settle the
ning of December, and remained out until the end of March, halting two
or three days in each nad to review and settle
its
accounts, &c.
In the
The
to
business consisting of
little
and
no cases of
litigation
all
appeared contented.
condition of
we everywhere met
But the
state of Yelusavirashime
was very
different.
There was
serious
cause of accusa-
against the
district officers
which were instituted they are proved to have suffered every species of
cruel oppression
all
;
by
exists
between the inhabitants of Coorg within the barriers, and those of Yelusavirashime.
Amongst the
former, mendicity
is
almost unknown
All,
and
They are
well and warmly clad, and their dwellings, which are kept exceedingly
clean, possess
and
;
to their
it
district officers.
nor could
be
so,
for
illegal
necessary by resistance.
on the other hand, submit without murmuring to extortion although redress is within their reach, they seldom from their Patels seek it, but; had rather fly the country than complain when unable to
shime,
;
;
The lower
appa-
rently from the long course of oppression to which they have been
subject, are
now reduced
to the
Kodli-
44*
346
ADMINISTRATION.
with beggars
as also are
The appearance
their
connexions,
harriers.
comfortably housed
unlike them,
;
among themselves
and they are represented as having been always veiy unruly and from
the influence which they possess in their villages occasionally exceed"
Government."
The whole
a
few of
and
Gadinad,
;
Yedenad,
and Uluguln-mudgeri-nad
were held
office
by hereditary right
on
beriz of the
and
in the
amount
of its assessment
from
Ik.
Besides
this,
quisites, the
most valuable
of which
was
a. do nation for
marriages which
took place
in their villages,
offering of fruit,
betel leaves,
in
money
of
They were
to
with the authority of disposing of the Sarkar lands, they appear to have
without question
and
to this cir-
to
no ice
in
that taluk.
Hukumnama, which
Sarkar land
to
whose
offices
land assessed
S'0
jodi tenure.
few of these
attached to
Patels applied
their offices,
the land
on the ground of
terms
by hereditary right
COOE& RAJAS.
347
though they received no regular salary, the situation was formerly prized
in
consequence of
all
its
which
Raja's stores
were
left
without remunera-
tion of any kind for the duties which they were called
upon to perform.
battis of
;
Sampaji
and
1,055 disposable
tion of Coorg.
After
ofPanniya
memorandum which
of preventing any
feeling of discontent
which their
to be
employed on their
who
labourers, paying
of hire,
demanding
their attend-
ance only during the working hours, and especially, allowing them the
entire
management and
of their
children's marriages.
rising
The
generation were
also
to
of
except,
first,
in
their
being placed under the surveillance of the Patels of the villages which they
might
and secondly,
in their
being oblig-
when
desirous of removing
other.
sams
to
be allowed to
culti-
348
vate land on their
ADMINISTRATION.
own
account, or to
work as labourers
for
whomsoever
they chose.
Thus the condition of the present Panniya slaves would be very materially
improved
was such as
to render it necessary to
their fathers
first
in the
same manner as
This appeared as
much
as a
step
No
although
was
might at
ing,
first
be some
difficulty in placing
new
;
foot-
and in securing
to their posterity
men
these
difficulties
attention to their
comtri-
forts
fling
establishing themselves as
villages.
free labourers
The apprehension
emancipation
among the
;
may
result
to
assume
men by
degrees.
Indeed,
the Divans,
who were
ed the measure were there any, the slightest, grounds for entertaining
to
open a
The Devans
also
BBITISH GOVERNMENT.
349
British Administration,
At the time of the annexation of Coorg by the
the limits of this
little
British, in
May
1834,
But the two taluks of Amra-Sulya and Puttur below the Ghats, comprising an area of about 580 square miles, were at the request of the inhabit-
ants then
Canara.
The remaining
Proper, together with Kiggatnad on the south and Yelusavira on the north,
incorporated with the kingdom, were formed into the separate Province of
Coorg as at present
existing,
and
placer*
The
was
direct control,
who
Commissioner of Coorg.
This arrangement
still
continues,
and the
affairs of
who
a European
officer of the
Mysore Commission,
monsoon
when they
The Province
number
by the term
village.
In
number
of regular villages
is
found.
The
now
stand
Taluk.
350
Coorg
is
ADMINISTRATION.
governed (says
1872
3) under
conditions differing in
many
The
physique and in
manly
attributes,
solid
intellectual capacity to the inhabitants of the low country, they are but
a simple people, and have not as yet developed the subtlety and imitative
power which characterizes the ordinary Hindu.
society
of.
among them
is
more favourable
to the preservation
and develop-
ment
Coorg
and the
of their
less
houses
villages
in
renders them
is
under
a pledge to respect
all
Coorgs, and
has always guarded against the adoption of any measures which might
appear to threaten the destruction of their nationality.
This protective policy
is
inasmuch as the
1
68,31
2,
com-
jamma
the
which
is
absolutely necessary
in
order to prevent
settlers
them
be sacrificed, but the Government will be deprived of the services of a nation of warriors who in loyalty to British rule are second
to
is
in itself a stronghold.
jamma ryots
when
called upon,
and
the duties of a rural police are entirely discharged by them. Lastly, Coorg
has been excluded from the provisions of the Disarming Act, and a Coorg
in full dress
is
never without
native manufacture.
BRITISH GOVERNMENT.
513
The Superintendent
cises criminal,
civil
of Coorg
is
He
is assisted
by two Assistant
In judi-
matters he
to
is
and Coorg,
magistrates
whom
formerly lay.
anomaly was
re-
moved by
In revenue matters
appeals
lie
Works, Conservation of
istered by the
Each taluk
civil
m charge of
is
a Subedar
and
lias also
is
in
charge of a Parpattegar
matters,
On
From
we have
officials, reserv-
the Raja.
On
for
the
still
to
by the
1862, of the Criminal Procedure Code, and subsequently of other legislative Acts,
XXV of 1868
the existing
The
following
exhibit
The m*
352
ADMINISTBAMON.
crease of the land revenue being entirely dependent on the exertions and
activity of the
Subedars and Parpategars, they shall use their best endeavours to extend cultivation by giving every encouragement to the ryots.
In the months of January and February, the Subedar
ristadars,
in conjunction with the
and Sheevery
vil-
Parpategars,
shall visit
lage in the
They
shall
ascertain
whether the whole of the ryots of the villages are capable of bringing under culture the uncultivated land. In cases where the ryots may not
be able to cultivate the whole of the land which they possess, they shall
be encouraged, and advances shall be
seed, ploughs
made
to
them
The amount
of these advances
shall
be
recovered
the
Parpategars shall
and
to the ryots,
the people and the prosperity of their repective Taluks and Nads.
They
assisted
by the
of the
cultivation,
to the Sube-
dars,
who
shall
and Shanbhoga
shall
arzi
visit
the villages
and send an
state of the
crops
may have
suffered
from any accident, either from the overflow of nallas (streams) or depredations of elephants, &c*
jamabandi accounts
manner. They
stating
an agreement
Mgada)
(instalments of
revenue) from the ryots and remit the amount to the Huzur.
BRITISH GOVERNMENT.
Civil Justice.
353
Whereas it
is
justice in the
has prevailed, and to define the judicial power of the district functionaries,
the following rules
The custom
parties
of the
being highly commendable, the Sarkar will be glad when partheir disputes
ties settle
in this
manner
or
by the
If
arbitration of
referee selected
from among
their neighbours.
an adjustment cannot
be effected by
functionaries.
this
to hear, try
and determine on
suits as
their
own
to
responsibility,
for
may
be preferred
them
the
amount or the
may
appeal to
the Parpattegars.
The
jurisdiction
of the Patels
is
amount above
villages.
limited,
The Parpattegars
bility causes
may hear
own
evidence,
appeals
They
shall try
on
their
responsi-
50 upon recorded
and
all
shall
be investiga-
ted through a Panchayat, which they shall convene for that purpose. The
Parpattegars shall take cognizance of all
respective nads.
civil suits
Parpattegars
lie
to
In hearing
assisted
and determining
civil suits
the Parpattegars
shall
be
the Parit
which
may be
The Subedar
on
his
shall try
;
and
settle
own
responsibility
sum
in litigation
may
be above that
sum and
354
a Panchayat and
settle
ADMINISTRATION.
them.
The Suhedars
assisted
by
in
of the
to
in which it
may be
received,
Cutcherry.
cutcherry
these,
may
more
all
specific duties,
shall
hear
the
its
own
200
to
Rs. 1 ,000 upon recorded evidence. All causes above Rs. 1,000 and not exceeding Rs. 3,000 shall be in-
quired into
and
settled
by a Panchayat, which
will
be convened by
assisted by a Panchayat,
make
ings to the
its
orders into
shall
in writing the to
keep registers of
Cutcherry and preserve in regular order the records connected with that
cutcherry, distinct from
shall
The
shall be
their relations
Panchayats assembled
The
the
name and
plainant as well
on
ed and
case.
all
such circumstances as
may
elucidation of the
The Parpattegars
or Subedars
may
BRITISH GOVERNMENT.
355
The complainant
shall be directed to
to send relations
and identifying
his
makes
his
be read over to
On
plaintiff.
the delivery
of the
state therein
a copy of
it
The
reply within
a prescrib-
a copy of
it
shall
be furnished to the
plaintiff
Afterwards the
list
and the
they
of the witnesses
whom
wish to produce.
with
The
taken
and they
homes or
then
respective employments.
shall
country.
In cases where the defendant may neglect to attend at the cutcherry on the day appointed,
notwithstanding he
is
quiry shall be
not.
If
it
made whether
the
ant and that he has wilfully neglected to give his attendance at the
.
house, intimating,
yet
hje
had neglected
which was preferred against him; that a time, however, of 10 days would
still
he failed to do
so,
the
ex parte.
make
his appearance to
time fixed in the notice, the Panchayat or the functionary shall examine
the vouchers and decide the case ex parte,
356
ADMINISTRATION.
Where Panchayats
to abide
are
is
passed,
Whenever a case
is
is
investigated
passed,
if
he shall be asked
and
if
have been used to bias the Panchayat or that the decision was
he shall be required to produce evidence to that
obligation
effect
may be
If this
the proceedings, together with the witnesses, to prove the corruption of the
if it
should happen
at the
cutcherry
of
the latter, the Subedar shall send them to the Daryaft Cutcherry.
But
in cases
the Panchayat fails to bring forward witnesses to prove his allegation, the award shall be carried into effect.
is
preferred against an
individual
who
is
not
is
residing,
the Parpattegar
may be
residing,
to send
him
in order to answer
The same
rule is applicable to
may be
may be
residing
report the
circum-
stance to the Huzur, which will take measures, by writing to the European
officer in
advisable.
shall
merchants.
When
Parpattegars or Subedars
practi-
BRITISH GOVENRMEHT.
357
may
belong, and also one or two of a caste different from that of either of
the parties.
The same
Appeals against the decision of a Parpattegar shall be made to the Subedar within 30 days from the date on which the award may be
passed and given to the party
;
and
Provided,
The expense
the party by
of
summoning
they are
first
instance
by
whom
summoned
passed,
Criminal Justice.
The Gauda
is
authorised
to
reprimand or ador
monish an offender
He
shall seize
tegars.
The Parpattegar
10 days, or
fine
in
a sum not
any
person,
of 10 rupees.
men-
whom
fine in
they shall be
The Subedar
1
30 days, or
ceeding
10 to 30 rupees,
358
ADMINI8TEATI0N
Offenders accused of thefts not attended with violence, and of which
than
is
within the Subedar's powers, shall be sent for trial to the Daryaft
Cutcherry.
is
empowered
to sent-
fine not
exceeding 20 rupees.
This Cutcherry
may
release persons
on
bail.
Daryaft Cutcherry
all
highway or gang robberies, arson and murder, &c, after they are
assisted by the
Panchayat, shall
make
en-
and
finding
who
less
shall
shall
in
no case be
than
The
members
as far as the
number
five,
which shall be
Daryaft Cutcherry.
In the event of
challenged shall be
member who
is
The majority
civil
of the
Panchayat shall
to render
it
or criminal
cases,
officers of
Government
is
prohibited in
sentence of imprisonment.
One
to sentence
an offender
;
to
perform
the second
to
made
to
work
in the prison
and
the. third
is
to pass
may
BRITISH GOVERNMENT.
359
to the Sube-
of each
Nad
shall
send in monthly
manner
shall send a
own award.
and custom
is to
The
police
of the taluks
and
Patels.
The
their
all
utmost care
acts in
and attentiou
to prevent disturbances,
assaults,
and
other
Daryaft
may be accused
and the
The Patels
their villages their guard
of the village
villagers shall
conjointly protect
They
shall
always be on
so that
may be
If
village,
committed.
in
resi-
and
if
the
Patel be not satisfied with his answer, he shall send him to the Parpattegars.
If any person in the village behaves improperly, the Patel shall per-
suade him to correct his conduct and give him the admonitions that
may
seem
necessary.
If
any
the Patel
and the
villagers
If the robbers be
found
and
if
The
But
if
the Sarkar
have reason to believe that the robbery was committed through the
negligence of the Patels, they will incur the displeasure of the Sirkar and
be punished accordingly.
360
ADMIN 1STBATION.
Whenever information
is
may
have been found. They shall examine the body, and ascertain whether
marks of
violence upon
it,
or bruises, the
number
to
of them,
have been
The above
inquiries shall be
made
in the presence of
two or three
creditable persons,
the deceased,
The Subedars
vigilant in
district
frontier
shall be
particularly
may come
to
this
The
The
and they
peace there.
In
revenue officers
promptly
may
die a
natural
servants
the deceas-
it,
sufficient portion of
the
monies, and the remainder lodged in the public treasury until claimed.
Any person who has laboured under the disease The corpse of such person
be thrown into a
river.
shall be caused to
boys or
girls,
the
make
made
over the property of the deceased to his nearest relations, and after
over to them.
But
in defect of relations,
the
man
3G1
An
copy of which shall be kept by the Patel and the other entered in the
dufters.
Existing System.
As
ministration will be described under the main heads of Civil and Military,
the former
Public Works, Public Instruction, and Medical, reviewing the history and
progress of each Department.
Civil
Departments.
in 1S34it is
5,
the
6,
in
1875
7,28;938, or increased
more than
For the
cal statistics
years
it is sufficient
Item.
362
ADMINISTRATION.
1
ca
LAND EEVENUE.
363
chief
Land Revenue.
in the
The
Land Revenue
as
constituted the
source
it still
The
exhibit
the realizations under the various heads which contribute to land revenue
for five years past
:
Head.
J1871
364
iug
ADMINISTRATION.
originally
The Jamma
liable to
be
and
is
who
80
in
1813 had
battis of
gistered.
tis,
100
wet land
bat-
at
paddy
fertility of
the
soil,
it is
100
6, 18,
and 20
seers of
taining
original
256 square
feet,
or a square of one
measure used
To produce then
different
100
kinds of
feet,
fields,
or about 5-87, 4-8, 3-92, 3-35, 2-93, 2-61, 2-35 acres respectively, are
required.
As a fan average,
therefore, 3
acres
may
be assigned as an
Bane
is
fields,
Baiike
is
:
the low
it
swampy
paddy
fields
No
remission of
Jamma
rent
is
ary circumstances,
number of
In these cases, and when the produce of their lands has been
Jamma
It is also
of the
Jamma
a division of the
crop in equal halves between the tenant and landlord), for periods ranging from 1 to 5 years
On
Jamma
ryot has to
battis, called
nasar MniJce, in
JAMMA TENURE.
365
land.
On
the
may
claim as
much
available land as he
failing
may
which
his
Jamma
it.
rent
his
is
He
likewise
may
also
resign
Jamma
land or
Government may,
for
When
is
repeated intimating
land on the
of the soil
given to him.
before the
all
Similarly
when
resigning
Jamma
ryot lays
down
Superintendent a handful
rights to the land.
Ex-
Jamma
and
is
it
be mortgaged.
A Jamma farm
times
it
and
from ancient
These
years
became
their
Government, but
for
many
freedom was merely nominal, and the economy of the Coorg houses
remained undisturbed.
ers rudely disturbed the
of British plant-
Many
slaves ran
away from
their masters,
who, unable to compete with the Planters' cash payments, had no means
of cultivating their farms.
to
by
prayed
Jamma
its
Jamma
It
ryots.
But the
diffi-
and
satisfactorily solved in
1865 by
new
Jamma
up
1st, to the holder of the farm, 2nd, to the proprietor of the adjoining farm,
same
village,
366
ADMINISTRATION.
whilst the subletting
Thus
Jamma
ryot
is
gation to Government,
his
of land.
of distress, to sublet
It is
1
Jamma
00
own
bullocks,
amount
to
Rs. 5 per
100
battis, to
total taxation to
20 per
also
10
acres,
,
hand
as all the
members
of the
subsist
little
However
assessment of the
Jamma
ryots
may appear
and the
Some
on the
Jamma
mance
should
assessment,
being exceptional.
The
100
bound by
their
may
claim remission
to
of their farms
It is estimated
demand amounts
As already
to
twenty farms,
British in
called
Panyas,
1834 amounted to
slaves.
origi-
The
SAGU TENURE.
the others were entrusted to the care of respectable ryots,
367
who were
labourers,
hire,
demanding
their
attendance only
manage-
ment and
control
of, their
family affairs
children's marriages.
Some
of the Panyas
on jodi tenure
to religious establishments.
for
cultivation
difficulty
is
chiefly
held on
sagu
Considering, however,
the
and expense
of reclaiming
waste land for wet cultivation, Government has sanctioned a certain progressive scale of taxation,
according to the
number
of years
such farms
Thus land
year,
and the
full
fourth year.
ted from
10 to 15 years
is
remitted,
15 25 35
above
after
force.
25 35
two
three
four
five
"
50
50
If any ryot
who undertakes
to cultivate
to cultivate
any longer, he
will
be
liable
on relinquishing
his
year,
amount
for
and the
amount of tax
It often
and
five years.
for
a certain
sum
of
money
ward
it
land.
On
name
of the
first
same
will
be
368
ADMINISTRATION.
may be remarked,
is
levied
120
battis
of the Rajas,
and
is
namely,
1,
2,
and 3
An addition, at least in name, to these umbali holdings was lately made at the recommendation of Captain Cole, who proposed " that a
fixed remuneration in the shape of a
reduction in the
assessment on the
for the
be allowed to him as a
Gaud-Umbali
effects of
advancing
Europeans."
Patels
most of them fixed the umbali on the hereditary lands of their houses,
and
in
so
that these
holds.
free-
is
the
of the Patels in
Half of
its
original assess-
in
100
battis, as
if left
from
Jamma
land.
it is
Like this
the
uncultivated,
at the
disposal of
may
when 5
belongs.
liable to three
additional
taxes
100
battis
DHTJLI PADDY.
369
feast at the Rajas'
the Coorgs
who assembled
at the Huttari
and Gauri
it
was
The
house-tax
is
pay,
according to their
caste
or
trade,
originally of
an eleemosynary character
who
first
pretended to be
an
paddy
{dhuli,
After
1834 the
rule was,
to
pay
no refuse
and
Government I
paddy
but
for
50 and upwards,
li batti of paddy.
In Gadi-nad
to every
seers in addition
rupee paid for the land rent instead of the dhuli paddy tax.
1868
The paddy thus collected amounted in 1835 to 3,323 battis, and in 69, when this impost was commuted into a money payment of Es.
33 7
price of
per
batti
or 120 seers,
this being
the average
market
paddy
it
3,
an increase of nearly
in the land
is
revenue.
into
fields
For dry
ground,
land
divided
and pieces of
each of the latter measuring from one to two cawnies, and the former
comprising from one to eight tundus.
size
situation,
is
no mention
made
however,
the
receive one-sixth of
When
pieces of dry
is
called Txola-Tcula
or family
field.
The house-
tax
is,
47*
370
ADMINISTRATION.
The
ries
routine of collecting
Fraser in
1834
in his
General
now
to pay
'
February
4
4
3
March
April
,,
May.
On
Nad
the
Jamabandi
made
days in each
and
The business
consists gener-
ally of little
to the
ryots the
detailed statements
amount
of
As head-quarters move
on, the
Superintendent
is
accompanied by
On
files
of stalwart
on the border
to
receive
On a bamboo
flowers,
words are interchanged, local wants discussed, and the Queen's honoured
representative marches on to his encamping ground,
which
is
always the
difficulty
in
considerable.
To counterbalance these
scale of
regulated by the
lain
first
time are
is
different.
WASTE LANDS.
371
the
first
The land
years,
so cleared
is
realized in four
in each year.
years, at a progressive
payment
amount
With regard
Waste
have
or exclus-
ive occupancy
exist,
(b)
and
its
stated.
III.
No
lot shall
the
for
maximum
IV.
of land,
Every
lot shall
lot touches
a public road, the length of the road frontage shall not exceed one half of the
depth of the
V.
lot.
No
authorities.
Before a title-deed
is
Government Surveyors.
VI.
If
II,
he shall
to deposit with
lot
and of marking it out with boundary marks, unless the land has been already
The Superintendent
will
the survey
shall
pay any
deficiency.
sum
VI
within six weeks from the date of demand, his application shall be null and
void.
VIII.
shall,
On
as soon as possible, cause the area of the land applied for to be estimated
authorities.
by the taluk
He
IX
being given.
372
IX.
ADMINISTRATION.
The advertisement
and
shall be in
and
conditipns of sale.
itself,
of the Superintendent
Office.
The
sale,
and
may
necessary,
until
it
has
X.
The Superintendent
shall send
and time
cant
in
XI.
will
An
much
VI as
may
saleable
ascer-
XII.
On
it
shall
be discretional with
the Superintendent to proceed with the sale of the lot or not, as he considers
best for the public interests.
XIII.
all
The upset
acre, to include
survey expenses.
payment
otherwise the
amount
of deposit shall be
sale proceeds.
XIV.
or of
lot
exclusive occupancy, or of any other right incompatible with the sale of the
price,
subject to
assessment after four years from the year of sale of one rupee an acre, and after
twelve years of two rupees an acre on the whole area.
XV. The successful bidder shall, immediately on the sale being declared, pay down 10 per cent of the price, and the residue of the purchase money shall
be paid
in full within
30
days.
The
:
sale shall
XVI.
of the lot,
1.
The
if
and
WASTE LANDS.
2.
373
of his purchase
lot
pending survey.
3.
boundaries of the
lot,
previous to the
down
to
objections to
the
particulars
4.
of the property.
shall
If the purchase
purchase money from the day of sale until the purchase shall be completed, without prejudice nevertheless to the right of resale reserved
by
if
If the
above conditions, or any of them, his desposit money shall be forfeited and
retained by Government, and the Government shall be at liberty to resell
the necessity
who
XVII.
and
for liquidated
damages,
clusive occupancy or of any other right incompatible with the sale of the land
shall
be preferred to the
lot or
any part of
it,
the
Superin-
tendent shall postpone the sale of the lot until such claim shall be disposed of
in
due course
XVIII.
of law.
fire-
and
ment.
XIX.
As soon
by survey, a grant
shall
have
i less
than the
of his
purchase money
in excess of the
374
excess beyond
yield
ADMINISTRATION.
shall revert to
up
possession thereof.
XX.
may
at any time
sum
equal to
assessment of two rupees an acre on the whole area, and the lands so redeemed
shall thereafter
all
of the State on
On payment
owner
of
the land shall be furnished with a deed in the form annexed to these Rules
and
marked
XXI.
B.
may be
XXII.
all
shall
continue subject to
XXIII.
prietors,
The
existing
and customary
in existing
ning through or bounding lands sold under these Rules, are reserved and in
XXIV.
Nothing
contained
in
these
debar the
at
Oowle,
or
otherwise
FORM A.
By
this
(1).
day of
money or sum
of Rs.
The
said Secretary of State hereby grants to the said A. B., his heirs,
situated in
the
of the
Excepting and always reserving out of the said grant, to the said Secretary of State in Council, his successors and assigns,
to
all
land. as by
And
it is
hereby declared, and the said A. B. for himself, his heirs, re-
presentatives and assigns, hereby agrees that the Government revenue assessed
WASTE LANDS.
on and hereafter payable in respect of the said land
is
375
as follows
From
18
the
18
to
30th April 18 annually one rupee per acre on the whole 18 two rupees annually per acre on the whole
area.
to
18
no
assessment.
From
the
area.
From
Govern-
And
way
ment or any
through or bounding any part of the said land, and that the said A.
heirs, representatives
and
assigns,
shall
dam up or
also shall
and
will at all
own
cost, the
boun-
Coorg, for and on behalf of the said Secretary of State, and by the said A. B.
the day and year
first
above written.
FOKM
The same throughout
however, beginning with
substituted
:
:
A.
(2.)
;
as
"
Form
A. (1)
instead of the
third paragraph
And
it is
the following
is
" Which said parcel of land shall henceforth be held by the said A.
his heirs, representatives
B.,
and
assigns, freed
all
claim in
respect of
Government revenue"-
FOKM
By
this
Bbetween the
Secretary of State
day of
for India in
eration of
Kupees
State hereby absolutely and freely releases to the said A. B., his heirs, representatives and assigns, all Government
accruing for
in the
taluk
and
comprised within
the
following
boundaries,
(give the
survey
boundaries) and such parcel of land shall henceforth for ever be held by the
said A. B., his hejrs, representatives and assigns, free of any
Government
rent.
Form A.
Coffee.
arose,
With the
year
186566 a new
After
376
ADMINISTRATION.
deliberation
much
was
finally resolved in
October 1863
of
excise
maund
28
lbs.,
or
one rupee per cwt. of clean coffee, and to substitute an acreage rental on
the following terms
:
From
From
the
first to
is
the fifth to the twelfth year one rupee per acre on the whole
area, except a certain proportion of waste grass land.
From
area,
The
following
is
a copy of the Amended Rules for carrying out the Halat or excise duty.
ed at one
II.
May 1860 are liable to be assessrupee an acre on the whole area from the 1st May 1864. Unsurveyed estates, held free since 1st May 1860, to he assessed acSurveyed estates held free since 1st
if
more
All
cultivation,
whether cultivated or waste, to count for assessment from date of grant, or the
land to be given up and the grant resigned.
IV.
Cardamom
May
in that year
when the
still
rent ceased.
waste,
Cardamom
plots
taken up
for
and
will
66,
May
1866, or
VI.
Cardamom
will
be assessed (as
if
on the fifth
Cardamom
All lands
now
liable to
area in acres, as returned last year, unless corrected by the tenants at time of
assessment, which in each case will be subject to adjustment on survey,
VIII.
In all cases of adjustment of rent,
first
COFFEE.
IX.
377
title-deed are ready for
In
all
cases
handed
over.
X.
Every
title-deed should
have entered on
its
represents.
XI.
Nad
XII.
The Bane-lands
]
ermanently fixed
to
them
unless
when
XIII.
towns,
if
XIV.
felled, to
and about
to
be
XV.
The
Settlement-Office to
the
Nad
reached them
or not.
Superintendent's Office,
W. H. KERR,
Superintendent.
May 1864
:
the Halat
since
48*
378
CD
ADMINISTRATION.
Sfc,
c
S
S5
SURVEY.
379
a land tax in the
coffee
Survey.
Owing
to the introduction of
Depart-
ment was
and
is in
Madras Revenue
Survey in 1862.
Survey, Madras.
their mapping,
now been
surveyed,
it is
and when
that
computation, &c,
are completed,
anticipated
It is
not
by the Government of
India.
Down to 1875
applications
veyed, and'8 of these forests, with an area of 28,204*66 acres, detailed and
mapped
except in one village where there was a frontier boundary dispute, and the
topographical survey nearly completed in one taluk, Yedenalknad
;
while
all
Cardamoms.
est
Until
lately,
department,
transferred
revenue,
states
and amounted
in
1869
70
to
Rs. 32,796.
Lieut.
Connor
source
that
Linga
Raja's
time
the
80,000 as
To
ference between these returns, the natives say that the item in
the the
but the
profit
made by
Hukumnama
of August 1834,
promulgated in para 31
* Since discontinued, as the results did not shew that the area of occupied lands had been extended beyonl what was entered in the accounts, or the State defrauded by concealed cultivation.
380
As some
shall as
ADMINISTRATION.
of the ryots are in the possession of
deliver
their
hithertofore
whole produce to
They
maund
second
sort,
15 Rs.
the
cardamom
selling their
cardamoms
sum
Statistics of
1834
35
the entry
it
43
for
sank
185657, when
the
cardamom
jungles
The
revenue
may
be perhaps accounted
by Capt.
employed in superin-
cardamom grounds
but
it
may
This arrangement must have weakened the control over the most
in the
mar-
beyond
Malabar.
control of the forests in Coorg
for the Province of
is
Forests.
The general
vested in
An
Assistant
Conservator
forests
in immediate
are
situated
almost
south-east Coorg.
(
consist of
teak
tosa),
and blackwood
and other second
dalhergia latifolia
matti
(terminalia
tomen-
class timber.
the forests on the ghats are, with but slight exceptions, evergreen, and
from
their position
among
ber-producing forests.
Several of
them are
forests
were in
1868
69
of ten years, at
30,000.
From
FORESTS.
381
floated,
and
is
20 per
The
forests
are
more
cordi-
is
scarce,
well
grown.
is
found in 5 out of
The
first
made
to
license
and passport
system.
The
who was
to exercise
By
were
strictly
reserved
rates.
eleven kinds of trees other than the eight referred to above, were given
at certain rates to traders, and at half those rates to
men
became necessary
and
to
demarcate them,
while the Conservator visited the range more frequently, these 'rules
1871, rules
for
management and
At the same
lines of
time, a
list
of
the general
boundary
By
the
State Forests being entirely under the control of the Conservator and
his officers.
Unauthorized
felling or lopping,
forest products of
fire to forests,
of cattle,
made
punishable
by
fine
382
six
ADMINISTRATION.
Provision
months.
was made
The
was
Finally,
ed
sale of timber,
sandalwood or
No
;
trees
served,
sale of all
now on
gives the
65
to
1871
72, exclus-
Description of wooJ.
ABKAEI.
383
384
ADMINISTRATION.
Beer, wine and brandy
Iu 1866
67 the
its
by Government was
introduced.
entirely discontinued
system
The
who
distillery is situated at
manufacture within
and pay
for the
monopoly a
still-head duty.*
this source is
distillers, for
fer-
mented
liquors
is
In 1870
71
to
the sale of
European liquors
were doubled, and the Government monopoly in the sale of ganja and
opium farmed
increased from
a contractor.
In 1873
1
74 the
still-head
duty was
Pis. 1
40 to Rs. 10
;
per gallon.
54,867
in
187475 58,344
in
187576.
on imports and exports
collection of duties
on the Mysore Frontier was discontinued, and the Sajar Chaukis withdrawn, from the 1st October 1845.
namely,
tax, levied
The proceeds
of the former
Stamps.
The
Stamp Act
Piules
were introduced
in
1861
62.
Previous to this, fees were levied in the Daryaft Cutcherry and Superintendent's court, but no fees or costs of any kind were leviable in Parpattagars'
first
named courts
rise
gave
to
much
* It is assumed, says Mr. Richter, that no other native liquor is prodnced in the country ; but there can be no doubt that many ryots dfetil a superior article from rice for feasts and home consumption in general.
Mr. Bowring, in connection w ith the introduction of the Sadar D''stillery system into Coorg, while admitting that it could be carried into effect, made the following observations : " The imposition of any check upon the supply of spirits in Coorg will to a certain extent defeat its own object, and encourage the keeping of illicit stills, which in a mountainous country, with the distilling material at their doors, may be periodically erected and used with facility and success, the process being easy and all signs of the still removed before any discovery can be effected. 1 think private distilleries on the Sadder system might be attempted, but I wish it to be remembered that the people of Coorg are different from any race in India, and as, all the inhabitants are accustomed to the daily consumption of spirits from their youth, they will continue the use of it under whatever system may be introduced."
LOCAL FUNDS.
trouble in collecting them, and they were not infrequently evaded.
385
The
sum
thus imposed as fees in 1861 was Rs. 746 up to August, when the
introduced.
The
head in 1870
7 1 was owing to the transfer of the sale proceeds of Court Fee Stamps to
the head
Law and
Office.
Justice.
Post
There
are two
offices for
Her Majesty's
Post,
one at
in
1864
in
at
Amatti in 1871.
taluk kasbas.
Telegraph.
The Anche
or Local
the
The
main
line
Cannanore.
A branch
line to
Local Funds.
from
tolls at
is
Those
the ghats, bridges and ferries, pound dues and the like.
cess,
There
no road
men
the old plough tax was revived for the purpose, and yields Rs. 5,200
lands,
and
2 annas a plough
Municipal Funds.
before
1
No regular
870,
since
when
two
municipalities,
one at
Mahadeopet (Mercara) and the other at Virarajendrapet. The Committee for each town is composed of 9 members, 3 of whom are ex officio, and
the remainder influential residents who are representatives of their class,
selected, as vacancies occur,
Commissioner.
The income
on
articles
&c.
In
187374
:
Mahadeopet at the
following rates
Exempt.
B.
1
Do Do
do do do
500
1,000
3,000
do do
2
3
Do
Do
do
49*
386
ADMINISTRATION.
The
as under
receipts
:
LAW AND
Or
collecting the items
JUSTICE.
387
may be
:
stated
187576.
3,02,189 1,71,130 1,76,955
Civil Charges
Law and
Legislation.
Justice-
Though
specially
made
applicable to
it.
Down
Coorg.
to
specially applied to
Name
or Subject of Act.
xvm
vin
XIX
XXI
of
XV
XIII
XXVII
XXXI
XLV
XXV
VI
XV
XVI
VII
...
...
Whipping Act
Tolls
...
Registration Act
X
XIV
XX
I
,,
XXV
II
XV
XVIII
VII
X
XI
.. .,
1866 1867 1868 1868 1869 1869 1869 1870 1870 !T0
New Stamp
1866 1867
1868
...
...
1870
XVI
W70
l
XX
XXIII
XXVI
I
X
XXIII
XXXI
I
IX
VQ
To
Indian Coinage Act ... Prisons ... Cattle Trespass Excise ... Pensions and Gratuities
1871
Law
of Contract
388
LAW
by rotation from among the most
people,
COURTS.
389
various classes of the
intelligent of the
of a rupee
sitting.
It exercised
Es.
200 to 3,000,
jurisdiction
Taluk
in its character
in force in
the'
powers of a
powers of a
full
In the Superintendent's Court, the Superintendent of Coorg exercised original jurisdiction in civil matters extending from
Rs. 3,000 to
District.
made
A
the
XV
The Court
court,
appellate
in all its
This
office
was
first
instituted
in
1856 by
With
came
the 1st
December 1868
Its
XXV
and
in
of
1868
into operation.
define the
Coorg, and
it
arose
whose powers
it
was necessary
As a necessary
rise to
some
ne
CIVIL JUSTICE.
391
392
Rs. 500 in value.
ADMINISTRATION.
and
are uncontested.
the plaintiff and
in
Of the contested
suits,
ed for default 121, withdrawn 93, compromised 23, decreed on confession 460, decreed exparte 631 (of which 563 were by Subadars), dismissed ex parte
4.
of suits
was 24 days
in contested,
and
9 in uncontested cases.
1
There were
sioner's, of
06
civil
Commiswas
4 modified,
of appeal cases
The progress
At
first
want
spe-
and no
agency was appointed to carry them out, there being only a single
official
European
at that time.
But
it
are no large commercial towns in Coorg, and that coffee estates are not
often bought
and
sold.
The Coorgs
lands ever to part with them, hence the mutations of landed property are
not frequent.
In 1869 the Government of India decided that the sanlands and coffee grants should be registered.
nads for
jamma
The
effect
of this order in
187071 beyond
On
of 1871
was brought
ry registration
in
all
common with
assignments
of land
made by Government.
The
year:
CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
393
394
ADMINISTRATION.
Crimes against
1867.
1868,
1869.
1870.
1871.
1872.
1873.
HU.
1875.
Justice
68
Laws
Total..
CBIMINAIi J06TICE.
395
jail
modern
require-
ments
loose.
Brahman
convict,
it is
said,
influence that he
made
for the
the peons
discharge his
man
the
It
to the
happened
to turn
guard
peon carrying the load while the " swami" walked coolly up.
was also
discovered that he employed the peons to fetch his wife after the jail had
The
daily average
was as
Year.
396
ADMINISTRATION.
PUBLIC WOBKS.
397
Public Works.
Before the annexation of the country in 1334,
little
deserving the
name of public works may be said to have and jungly nature of the country favoured a
in former times
existed.
The mountainous
which
small
policy of exclusion,
Province
and accordingly we
were the
defiles passing
pass, neither
of which were anything better than tortuous tracks, suitable only for pack
bullocks.
rainfall,
little
and
still are,
none.
Of public
work deserving
officers'
of any
quarters
regiment
there stationed).
This work
in 1812,
is
stated
to
have been
in
and finished
1814.
The
palaces of Nalknad
1838
39 undertook
in length
to
line of
103 miles
view
move with
2,500
feet,
was the
first
a noble
monument
of the genius
of Lieutenant Fast (of -the Madras Engineers) who died at the age of 25,
his
simi-
At a
later date,
owing to the
difficult
Tellicherry
and
" The pious who praise Almighty God, by whose grace It tears the following inscription. was constructed after the removal f the rugged hill top, shall enjoy eternal
i
398
Mangalore,
it
ADMINISTRATION.
line
through South
Ghat with
very,
com-
worked out.
to the year
Down
Works
for Coorg.
Officers of the
Ghat
while
of the
shared between them the communications, &c, of the northern and eastern portions of the Province.
Till quite
lately,
moreover,
the Madras
Department were
in charge of the'fort
In 1862, an arrangement-was
staff
for
buildings, &c.
profited very
considerably by this
its
change, not
Public
enjoying the entire advantage of the tolls at the foot of both the ghat
roads,
to
the'
main
arteries of
passing through
Between 1857
58
was
and 1861
62, the
Works was
Owing
strong
representations
addressed
1
Government of
lakhs,
and subsequently
lakhs,
which,
been maintained,
construction of
in the
main
PUBLIC WORKS.
verse conditions, have proved themselves
to be but slight aids to
399
traffic.
A main line
relief to
through
traffic
Unfortunately however
the reduction of.the
limit re-
1869
70,
necessitated
budget limit to
lakhs,
duced to
ings,
less
Post
Office,
preventing
possi-
out the
in regard to the
main
lines of
In 1874
75
the budget
to
1,17,000,
and
in
187576
Us.
1,61,000, in consequence of which the work has been resumed and consi-
Both the ghats and their approaches have since 1862(when their condition
was most
much improved
as
regards main-
tenance of surface
Coorg,
and affording
direct
Hassan
District of Mysore.
The
fair
(commenced in June
fair
and a
made from
very useful
short line has also been opened out connecting the Sampaji
Ghat with
Virajendrapet.
to
Ponna-
and a
trace
State)
via Kiggatnad to
Wynad.
Of
Owing
portance
at Virajendrapet.
The
projected
new
for
lack of
400
funds,
after
ADMINISTRATION.
Madras Government
Mercax-a
cers'
;
offi-
70.
very consi-
new
sepoys' lines.
The
in Coorg (ranging
186263
72
76),
maybe
and
also the
small budget
centration of expenditure
operations.
For
ordinary road work, the labour which comes in mainly from Mysore about
March
sufficiency
may
ordinarily be
is
next to
men who
Carpenters, bricklayers,
to
has been found most economical to send both timber and dressDoubtless by the
ed,
so
the Euro-
has to be
to
European
feel-
which
are,
more exposed
to
It is
which
falls
injury has to be looked for and guarded against by attention on the part of the departmental establishment
;
and
to this
may no doubt
in
suffered
when
the southern
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
road, vid
Tittimatti
401
Ghat, Virajendrapet,
and
always proved
feverish.
Public Instruction.
The connection
of
in
in the matter.
and one
at
Virarajendrapet,
with a Canarese
school
at
Hatgatnad.
left
an
endowment
of Rs.
300
in
who
In
to
and
in
Roman
Catholics, tp
which community
all
appropriated
In 1843
it
was proposed
1 1
to redistribute
The Com-
however
school masters
maximum
of salary
entitle
a master to
and deducting
for
By
the appli-
cation of this rule the salaries of all the Canarese masters, except the
one at Mercara, were reduced to Rs. 2^ a month, and Canarese schools were established
of the English masters at Mercara
in the different nads.
at this rate
21
state of matters
to the
and
if
The CanaHindu
51*
402
style
ADMINISTRATION.
The conse-
quence
and
intellectual
in strength
than declined.
not
is
superior, to those of
many
extreme.
There
is
who can
to a low degree of
what passes
now
in this country."
Mark Cubbon
to
assume
May 1856
Coorg
appointed the
officials
But
all
the
were
and to attend
the school.
In 1857 the
and from
this
measure may be dated the commencement of any regular system of education in Coorg. Viewing Coorg as a thinly populated country,
hills,
more than
five
was the
fact,
and
and
willing to
each of the six taluks, on the same footing as the similar class of schools
provided for Mysore.
The establishment
but as to the
affiliation
it
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
403
of that kind would for a long time be ineffectual, owing to the distance,
and the
own
country.
"When
force, there
(so called)
Government schools
in the
received
month
Dr. Moegling,
in
charge of the Mercara school, and the subi Mercara English School 3,000 6 Taluk Vernacular Schools 1,440 ... Grants-in-aid 162
altogether Rs,
Total
~^j 4
in Council
directs that
it
be discharged by
one
At the
close of
1860
Dr. Moegling
was compelled by
ill
The
latter
and granting
7.
By
these measures
Government
will
be
extracts.
"
General Sir
Mark
Cubbon, k.
c. b.,
as
we do now. But
as to
steady
devoted manner
in
which
has been
carried on
years,
from
have disarmed
our
fears,
and we most
instruction
by the
there given.
" The great influx of European settlers into our country makes the education of our children appear doubly necessary to
unsatisfactory
and disadvantageous.
404
"
ADMINISTRATION.
The
town, contains but a few Coorg houses, enables only a limited number of Coorg
boys to attend the school.
collect
To remedy
this disadvantage,
sufficient to
we have resolved
to
The Coorg
and pension-
ers are ready to contribute half a month's pay, which, together with the subscriptions of the farmers, will
amount
This
is all
we can
do
we
some
Head Master
of
it
has
first
and as they
children,
we have not
the least hesitation in confiding them also for the future to their paternal care.
The
The proposed
Towards defraying
buildings
it
school house, formerly the Eaja's elephant stable and subsequently a gift
together with
the entertain-
ment
of
European
to those
more favoured
positions,
Government of
has probably rarely happened in India that a whole race has come forward in this manner, putting aside traditional prejudices, to meet
half
selves,
especially
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
acquisition of knowledge."
405
movement might
involve
them
in financial difficulties,
now
termi-
The
petition,
Committee, while
the Girls'
offered to erect
jungles,
was obtained as a
free
gift
from the
estate,
plantation be-
it
The
in 1870.
Owing
to the general
rise in the
rate of
The
1862 seems
to have evaporated.
made
as to the
number
of boarders
that would be sent to Mercara, the Coorgs and other inhabitants with
common
in
some
contiguous to Mercara.
to establish
an Anglo-vernacular school
Virajpet
Hudikgri
in
and Napoklu
in
At
Nad
schools,
406
ADMINISTRATION.
was
In recog-
nition
local
cipal.
however of
Coorg again,
1 Central School
1
and proposed
to
with
'
2 Boarding houses.
Normal
School.
made
in the
institutions noted in
elementary
be in favour of an educational
old plough tax.
On
views in recommending
to
Government,
On
his
the contrary,
he
a
as a barbarous
and
inefficient
mode
of raising
revenue as
and on
recommendation
levied in
many
years past
had been
Mysore
for local
But in
mode
and
the opinion of those bist acquainted with the feelings of the latter on this
subject being strongly in favour of
efficient
its
and
civilized
method desired
it is
of
Government,
Colonel
far better to
carry the
Headmen and
manner
and
proposed by them."
The Nad
to be popular
especially
by Coorgs,
girls
as well as
boys learning in
them
together.
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
407
few
influential
men
in each
nad have
whom
is
com-
is
now well
The
and cost
of Govern-
ment education
at different periods
408
ADMINISTBATION.
Medical.
There are two
Civil Dispensaries,
relief to the
a hospital at
for the
the Jail at Mercara for the prisoners, and the Military Hospital
sepoys and
camp
The Regimental
and a
Medical
Officer
has charge of
the institutions
at Mercara,
The
The income
2,85459
were
contributed by Government, Rs. 461 from local funds and Rs. 1,029 from
subscriptions.
to
Rs. 4,460
14
2,
of
risen,
66,
The
to
311 in-patients
1875
:
76.
Cases treated.
MILITARY.
late years,
409
There were only 6 deaths from
though
it
prevailed in Mysore.
72,
this cause in
1871
and 5
in
1875
76;
years.
Vaccination.
The taluks
15a
month, who
make
their returns
but as he
is
is
he
Hence
of their duties,
inadequate.
The number
of operations
under
410
GAZETTEER.
Ambate
betta.
hill
near Virarajendrapet.
See
p. 3.
Barapole.
'
river in Kiggatnad.
See
p. 7.
Bhagamandala.
of the Kaveri where that stream unites with the Kanake, Head-quarters
of
Tavu nad.
Number
Population,
HUDIKEBI.
411
Fraserpet-
12 27, E. long. 76
road' from
on the
left
Seringapatam to
Head quarters
monsoon head-quar-
Number of houses
Population
412
GAZETTEER.
Iggutappa Kunda.
the Paditora pass.
A
4.
lofty
mountain
in
See p.
lofty
is
Joma Male.
in
A
It
Kadyetnad.
sacred
Male-tambiran, and
overlooks
the
Kodantora pass.
Kaveri.
See
p, 4.
The
See
p. 8.
Kiggatnad
Head-quarters at
Hudikeri.
Coorgs num-
KOBLIPET.
413
The area
of the taluk
is
thus distributed.
Land.
414
Malimbi.
See
p. 5.
GAZETTEER.
hill in
Yelusavira taluk.
Mercara- A
quarters at Mercara.
Coorgs number
MERCARA.
4l5
:
The area
Land.
416
GAZETTEER.
in
who
43 and 433,
respectively.
Muddu Raja on
of his fort
account of
central
site
and
capital,
and
is
of stone,
was
built
by
named by him
was evacuated by
his troops in
to
the Raja of
The
little
strategical
value, being
It
commanded by
hills all
The
fortress is
an
irregular hexagon,
is
built of strong
on the east,
intricate
and
circuitous,
The
brick ic
1
is
81 2 by Linga Raja.
200
feet, with
is
an open space
in the centre,
and
The
building
now occupied by
at Mercara, the
Adto
ministration
In the inner
fort,
855
to
is
a conspicuous
MERCARA.
in masonry, of life size.
It is
417
Raja used to take up his
rifle,
armed with a
and cause
pri-
soners to run across the yard while he fired at them, with the promise of
their lives if they escaped to the elephant, which however seldom occurred.
The
named
ridge
it
after the
Rani Maha-
devamma
131)
runs
along
fort,
by a narrow
parallel.
It
At the further
end of the town, on a rising ground, are situated the picturesque tombs of the Coorg Rajas. A largely attended market is held in the Petta
every Friday, whence the place
is
Fort
is
situated
the
Onkaresvara
officials.
More
on the
site
of
of
of Coorg
for the
reception
European
visitors
(seep. 152).
To the south
public garden
obtained of Coorg
scenery. Municipality,
The
officio
constitution of the
Board
at
p.
385.
The ex
members are
Officer
The
expenditure
1875
76:
Receipts.
Expenditure.
418
GAZETTEER.
Nalknad. The
Rajas.
It is
site
of the principal
was
built
by
Eodda
"Vira
Rajendra
and formed
in those
days an almost
The building
is
storeys.
European
visitors.
an elegant
little
mandapa,
with Maha-
devamma.
Nanjarajpatna.
261*27 square miles.
Area
Head
and population.
NANJABAJPATNA.
419
the Coorgs.
The
influ-
in the southern
Some
rice fields in
is
also carefully
and
is
The inhabitants
bouring Mysore
ragi, various
ryots.
They
and
raise
horse gram,
also
kinds of beans,
tobacco, ganja,
flax,
sesamum and
cotton.
The sandal
The taluk
T'eriyapatna
derives its
name from
Nanjarajapatna, on the
bank of
Raja of
p.
105,
Dodda Virappa
ed him a guard
The area
of the taluk
is
thus distributed
Land.
420
Nanjarajpatna. The
GAZETTEER.
last
resting
place
p.
of Nanjunda or Nanja
(See
105).
19', east
Napoklu.
Mercara.
longitude
Males.
Females.
PADLNALKNAD.
421
The
The north
of the taluk
is
bounded
valley.
in
little
arable,
but plenty of
hilly grass
and
land,
cardamom
is
jungles.
so deficient that
own
in
The
buy
rice for
six
months
and
chiefly rely
on the produce of
their
cardamom and
coffee
gardens.
some
In
its forests,
western declivities of the Ghats, are found the jungle tribes called
Maratis, who live on kumari cultivation
;
Kadu
whose women
of Eve's daughters, change the leaves four times a day. The settled population of this
is
nad
and Kanarese
or sacred
scarcely understood.
forests,
But these
the
to R.
per batti
The area
Land.
of the taluk
is
thus distributed
422
acre of cultivated land
turists
is
GAZETTEER.
Rs. 4
2,
Agricul-
form
of the
and there
is
and continued on
to
Tonkana
from Tala
Palupare or
Pcipare, the
name
said to have
tribe,
but was
Pushpagiri or Subrahmanya
ft.)
hill,
in the
p. 4.
Sanivarsante. A
57',
village situated in
N.
lat.
21 44', E. long. 75
of the Yelusavirasime
Head quarters
taluk.
Number
place.
of houses 105.
Population 663.
The
inhabitants are
mostly weavers.
The
its
large weekly
cutcheny, as well as
place
its
importance.
taetta.
Siddesvara
in
The
name
of a hill
on the eastern
See
p. 3.
frontier
Somavarpet
north of Mercara.
or Nagarur.
A small town
situated
in
N.
lat.
12
Number
of houses 228.
Population.
VIRARAJENDRAPET.
423
Tadianda mol.
The
See
p. 3.
Tala Kaveri.
river Kaveri,
Kaveri
ed wild
feast.
tract.
There
See
is in
an elevat-
p. 243.
Virarajendrapet.
52',
A town situated in N.
lat.
12
1 2',
E. long. 75
Head-quarters of
the
Number
Population.
424
tendent, the Assistant Engineer
GAZETTEER.
The
following
76.
Expenditure.
Market
1,001
.
Municipal fines Sale of, and fines en, stray cattle Mohatarfa (tax on professions) Stamping weights and measures
bale of manure Miscellaneous
Es..
..
YELUSAVERA-SHIME.
425
is
In Araraati-nad
for
is
what
called the
Bamboo
district
page 42),
remarkable
the
luxuriant growth of
its
coffee
plantations,
which but for the devastations of the borer would have been
The area
Land.
of the taluk
is
thus distributed
426
GAZETTEER
Frincipal place, with pojpulationDo&da, Kodlior Kodlipet, 1,345.
It is
is
traversed
throughout
points, as in the
Malimbi
hill.
On
it
from
side.
Manjarabad
for
some
distance,
Some
densely wooded
and
precipitous.
The narrow
valleys
area.
fields yield
seldom.
The seed
is
The
tility
The
soil
of the
and
arid, producing only a few dwarfish shrubs, especially the dwarf date palm
and a
The
soil
cultivated
is
a light
fri-
tobacco, is similar to
that of the
extensively
Kanive hoblis
in
Toddy 'is
I, p.
formed part of the territory of Balam or Manjarabad until the end of the
1
7th century,
when
Nayak, being invaded by Chikka Deva Raja of Mysore from the side of
Belur,
to seize
War
revenue to Mysore.
Hence the
country was called Itterige S'ime or district paying taxes to two parties.
At a
later period,
Haidar
Ali,
in
he obliged
up
this
and
other districts
till
north of Coorg.
it
Yelusavira thus
1803, when
297.
>vas
YELUSAVIRA-SHIME.
427
The area
Land.
of the taluk
is
thus distributed
APPENDICES
APPENDIX
I.
NAMES OF PLACES
shewing the Kannada and ordinary
spelling.
= ghat, m =
(4)
As now
spelt.
(5)
As now
Nanjarajpatna
spelt.
Kannada.
Transliterated.
v v
Nanjarajapatna
Napoklu
Nidta hobli
Nujikal
Napoklu
Nidtada-hdbali
h
r
Nujikallu
Padinalknad
Palupare
T
9
t
Padinalku-nudu
Palupare
Periyambdrfi
Periambadi Ponnapet
Pusbpagiri
Ponnapete
m
h
v
Fushpagiri
Eamswami Kanave
Rampur
Sampaji
Shanivarsante
Rdmasvami kanave
Rampura
Sanipoji
9
v
Shanivdrasante
Siddesvara
m
t
Siddesvara
Somvarpet
Suntikoppa
Surlabiniut-nad
Sdmavdrapete
Suntikoppa
Surlabbi-muttu-Ludu
n
r
-o
Suvarnavati
'
Suvarnavati
Tadiandamol
Tale Kaveri
m m
n
n
v
Tadiyandamol
Tale Kaveri
Tavalagefi-miiru-iiadu
Tavalgeri-mur-nad
Tavu-nad
Titimati
Tavu-nadu
Titimati
TJlugiili
Ulguli-mudigeri-nad
mudigeri-nadu
Virarajendrapet or
Virajpet
t
Virardjendrapete
Yedava-nad
Yedenalknad
Yelusavirshime
c3:sts3c3az&
Yedava-nadu
Yedenalkunadu
c3*rt?fc3d8?s&
Yelusavirashime
APPENDIX
II.
" I
which came to
me
Col.
Wilks says
Keladi in 1499 A. D.
The second
Raja, Sadasiva
(15131545) conthen
subjugated
quered
all
Sadasiva
far as Cassergode,
mark
still
the boundary.
The
inscriptions
commemorating
his
conquests are
river,
"During
Valle,
able
(1582
1627) Pietro
1
della
an Italian
person was
visited
Canara in 1623.
This remark586.
bom
at
Rome
of a Patrician family in
His
On
Valle,
The
Italian
nobleman gives a
full description
of Ikkeri,
visited
Sagar,
by him.
Dom
Francis da
Gama, grandson
of Vasco da
Goa, sent the Portuguese embassy. " Father Leonard Paes, who was descended from the family of
the Kings of Singarpur, and published his Promptuario de Definicoens
Indicas in 1713, says that
* See Vol.
Sivappa (1645
p.
1660) had
collected
enor-
I,
Agenda
Ill,
99, 106.
(2)
mous treasure
after his
His possessions
This
standing army
soldiers.
1672,
of his
Canara
in
great favourite,
" According
Duff {Hist.
Malir.
p. 90),
and
Elphinstoue
many Mogul
ships
and embarked
1664 with a
force of 4,000
men
in
88
or
all
Kundapur, and
Sivaji plundered
The English
factory
Carwar paid
stated by Dr. John Fryer of the English navy, who was then at Carwar These Travels were published in 1698. The two (Travels, p. 394).
Dr. Buchanan,
on the authority
was mad,
enormities.
He
ripped up pregnant
women
to
Virammaji (17571763)
I
the history
correctly
have consulted
first
Thomas de
Life of Venerable Vicar Apostolic of Canara, who died in 1684, and the interesting Father Joseph Vaz, printed in 1745, which give many
about the grants of the Canara churches and other events. 3233) says Jacobus Canter Visscher (Letters from Malabar, pp. and powerful than those the Bednore Prince is much more magnificent This kingdom produces many peculiar commodities, of Malabar.
details
55*
(3)
is
found there in
great abundance,
as
This
author,
all
who
calls
northern India.
(14991763).
A. D.
Sankanna Nayak
I,
Sankanna Nayak
II,
I,
J
month, from
558 to 1570.
of Sankanna
Nayak I,
reigned
1
46 lunar
7.
years, 11 months,
and
II,
and
from 1645 to 1660.
14 lunar
9.
years, 9 months,
20
days,
Venkatappa Nayak
II,
1660
to 1661.
10.
11.
12.
I,
reigned
Basappa Nayak
I,
17 lunar
14.
4 months, 25
days,
I,
Somasekhara Nayak
II,
son of Basappa
years,
Nayak
reigned
25 lunar
4 months, 23
days,
from 1714
to 1739.
(4)
15.
Basappa Nayak
II,
nephew
of Somasekhara
Nayak
II,
AD.
Oct. 1754.
of
Basappa Nayak
II,
years,
II,
reigned
Somasekhara Nayak
III,
to pp.
of the latter house, which contain the following notices of events con-
text.
Venkatappa Nayak,
after overrunning
temple of Subrahmanya, and thence sent a force against the Coorg Baja,
probably Vira Raja, who was compelled to pay a contribution in token
of homage.
Malayalam or Malabar.
to
The
to flight.
The Bednur
Raja prisoner.
(i.
e.
Mr. Bowring Eays (East. Kxper.y. 121) "there are various versione of the descent of the successive chiefs, but the writer hss in his p ossesEion the following grants issued by them, with the
dates attached.
A, D.
1600
1651
Channammaji
Somasekhara Budj Baswappa
A. D,
,,
Jf
Baswappa
1671 1697
(5)
it
in all
When
to
Muddu Raja of Coorg paid him a Venipura. When the latter was ahout
Nayak requested him to ask some favour, to which Muddu Raja replied that he had all he wanted but on being further pressed, stated that the only thing he lacked was a son who might succeed
depart, Sivappa
;
deity of Ramesvara,
and gave
it
to the
flame for a year and a day, by which time he should be blessed with
spring.
Muddu Raja
him a
son.
having obeyed the injunctions given to him, before a year was ended his
wife bore
and
(Dodda Virappa)
07.)
Subsequently,
repaired to the shrine of Subrahmanya, the Raja of Coorg paid her a visit
APPENDIX
III.
(2)
Adaka
(3)
Budugade...
(4)
Karnbadu
...
(5)
Odara
(6)
Saja
Addenda
et Corrigenda.
Vol.
I.
Page 190,
INDEX.
Abercromby,
Lieut., 102, 104, 132.
Sir, R.,
Appaji Raja,
100,
102,
104,
107,
Abercromby,
172.
Ardha Chandra
parvata, 89.
Administration, 312.
-British, 349.
Adverbs, 290.
Agasa, 206.
Agastya, 86, 87, 227, 228.
Asuras, 86.
Agni parvata,
87.
Aimmokkalu, 209.
Airis, 202, 363.
Ajjappa, 262.
Ali Beg, 114.
Amadnad, 167.
Amarasulya,
188, 349.
107,
Bamboo
110,
Districts, 42.
114
119,
Banajiga, 206.
Banavase, 97.
Amatinad, 112.
Ambate
belta, 3.
307,
Amma
402.
Bantwal,
8,
Barakuru, 99.
Barapole, 7.
Barike, 364.
Andani, 10.
Appachanna, 199.
140146, 161.
195.
Basavapj river,
8.
Basavapatna, 125.
Basel MissioD, 273.
Bedar, 206.
Thomas, 180.
108,
110,
Bellare,
119,
12.1,
126,
198.
Bellur, 6, 182, 264.
Belur, 106.
Benganad
hills, 4, 8.
56.
Mr.,
Casamaijor,
172.
Castes,
165169,
170,
list of,
256.
Cattle, 59.
Bettadpur,
Chamundi
hill, 2.
Chandragutti, 99.
Bhadra,
9.
Chandrasekharappa, 132.
8, 88,
Bhagamandala,
Channa
Basava,
167170,
184,
Bhaganda
Bhagavati
189, 194.
Bhagati, 5.
festival,
Channa
251253.
6369.
19S.
3.
Chikka
hole, 9.
Bittangala,
7477.
Botwas, 216.
Choran
hole, 9, 56.
Brahma,
Christianity, 271.
Brahmagiri,
89, 227.
36,
86, 87,
Christians, 217.
Brahma
257.
Lord, 126.
Brahmans,
204,
205,
227,
127,128,
3543,
375.
Ill
Cubbon,
Sir
Mark,
201,
271,
274
402, 404.
135140, 144147,
Dalbhya, 88.
150,
Dalhousie, Lord, 193.
Darji, 206.
164, 165.
Cole, Major, 46, 279, 297, 368.
Davasi'Betta,
1, 3, 9.
273,
Demon
worship, 260.
Civil,
Departments,
Devagiri, 98.
361.
Coorg,
98,
99,
101,
91, 92.
Devambikegamma, 104.
Devammaji, 132, 133, 135, 136, 138
161,
170,
162, 164,
172,
173,
141, 143148,
171, 172,
179, 181,
182,
185,
201,
188, 228,
189,
242,
193,
198, 200,
2,
255, 309,
Dharmma Varmma,
Dhatripura, 87.
88.
geneological table
of,
105.
92, 93,
Dhuli-paddy tax,
the, 369.
Doddana, 299.
Dodda
194,
198,
200204,
246,
208, 210,
Dodda Channammaji,
105.
1
218228,
Raja,
05.
310, 314,329,331,363.
ceremonies at child birth
of,
Dodda Virappa,
100,
104109,
116.
238.
Funeral ceremonies
of,
240.
Drummond, Major,
House
of,
193.
228, 231.
Law
Weddings
231237.
-Jamma, 114.
Coote, Sir Eyre, 110.
Cornwallis, Lord,
116119,
Exports,
list of,
307.
Cotton, 44.
Courts, 388.
Fairs, 309.
Crops, 28.
IV
Fauna, 5084.
Fazal-ulla-khan, 108.
Hajam, 207.
Halasur, 93.
Haleri, 98, 99, 100,
Feres, 25.
Finch, Col., 117.
104, 195,
108,
109
198,
Fire
flies,
77.
135,
136,
194,
196,
303, 397.
Flora,
1549.
Hanuman
Harangal
betta, 3.
betta, 5.
Forests, 380.
Forts, 301.
Fowlis,
Col.,
Harihar, 109.
160, 181, 187.
Haringi, 9, 177, 179, 196.
Harris, Genl., 123.
Hastings, Marquis
of,
Hatgatnad, 401.
24, 49,
12, 14,
Hatte-hole, 9, 56.
Hattur-hill, 3, 268.
302,
Hebbale, 176.
Heggadadevankote, 117.
Ganga,
10.
Ganiga, 20 7.
Gauramma,
Geology,
5.
Victoria,
Heggalur, 97.
Hemavati,
197.
1, 9,
Ghats,
Herbivora, 58.
Ghat
estates, 42.
Ghat
Ghee
Golam
112,113.
146.
Golla, 207.
History, 85.
Goruru, 110.
Graeter, Mr., 234, 279, 291.
Grama
Hombucha,
Devatas, 264.
96, 97.
Horamalnad, 60.
Horur,
4.
Haidar
Ali,
House
fax, 369.
Humcha,
96, 97,
98,
Huttari
feast, 32,
245251.
j
Kakke-hole,
9.
soDg, 293.
Kakkotta
river, 9.
Huydle-male,
Idiga, 207.
3.
Kalla-hole, 7.
Kallur-betfa, 4.
Iggudappa Kundu,
Igutappa, 258.
Kalnadu, 97.
4,
267.
Kalpavati, 110.
Kalur
betta, 56.
Imports,
308.
Kanake
Ingledew,
Dr.,
135145.
Kanangala,
Inhabitants, 202.
Insects, 73.
Kanive-kadu, 15, 18
KaDiyas, 100, 211.
25.
Ippanivolavade, 264.
Irpu
Kannana, 299.
jatre, 10,
266, 267.
Kantamur-nad, 165.
Iruli bane, 264.
K:\palas,
213.
99.
Isvaramangala, 182.
Karanembau,
Jackson,
Col.,
181, 182.
Kasergod, 8, 182.
Kasyapa, 85.
Kattemalalvadi, 105.
Kaveri, 2,4, 8,
9,
Jambur, 305.
Jamina
tenure, 363.
227,
223,
Jessy
fall, 9.
397.
feast, 242245.
Kavera Muni, 87, 227.
Joma-male,
4,
264.
Justice, 322.
Kenchamman Hoskote,
353,391.
Kere-hole, 9.
196.
CM,
Kadakeri, 264.
3, 9,
61,
79,
212,
99,112,117, 204,
205,
Kadanur
river, 9.
2, 9,
333,349.
228.
Kirindadu, 264.
Kittel, Rev., 257.
Kadyet nad,
Kafur, 98.
Kailmurta
feast,
253, 254.
Kodagu,
1,
92, 312.
Kajur-Bagalu, 299.
Kakabe
river, 9, 258.
Kodantur
pass, 113.
57 *
VI
Lakshmi, 86.
Kolalapura, 97.
Kollekallu, 298.
Konanur, 117.
Kongini, 97.
Land
tenures, 328.
Language, 279.
Konincheri, 264.
Law and
Justice, 387.
Korachars, 214.
Legislation, 387.
Koramars, 214.
Kotangadi, 106.
Le Hardy,
199, 200.
Kote
betta, 5, 9, 56.
Lindsay, Brigadier,
187, 188.
Kotur, 97.
150, 161165,
Lingavva, 195.
Lingayats, 100,
168, 194.
Kroda
257.
172,
Literature, 291.
Euduremukha
Eulputti
betta, 2.
Earnikara Manoon,
Eumaradhari,
8.
Lopamudra, 86,
87.
Kumbal
giri,
170.
Kumma-hole,
Eundada
Eunta Basava,
198.
168,
181,
185, 186,
Madapur, 305.
Mahadevamma,
140.
177.
Lakshmantirtha,
Lakshmaiya, 267.
Mabrattas, 109.
vn
Maki-gadde, 29.
Malabar, 2, 98, 227, 257.
Moegling,
Dr., 102, 274, 276, 277,
Mohatarfa, 384.
Mohioi, 86.
Malimbi
bill, 5.
Mallappa, 133.
Mallayya, 104, 103.
Monk,
Capt., 165.
Col.,
Montresor,
124.
Mallusoge, 116.
Mandaya, 170.
Mangalore,
8, 99,
124.
Moths, 79.
Mountains,
3.
Mubarak
Khilji, 98.
Muddammaji, 132.
56, 60.
Marenad
hills, 3,
Markas, 210.
Mathews,
Genl., 110.
Muddu
Raja,
100,
Matsya
Mattapur-hole,
Maukal-betta,
Mudravalli, 179.
Muhammad
Mausoleums, 304.
Muhammadans, 216.
Meade,
Col.,
406.
Mubammadamsm,
Mukri-betta,
5.
271.
Medas, 214.
Medical, 408.
Melbaugadi, 9G.
MuDi-Kadu,
9.
Muttanna, 146.
Muttaremutta
9, 12,
river, 9.
Mercara,
2,
4,-6,
62, 102,
151,
161,
177, 180,
112.
401,
408.
Meteorology, 11.
Military, 325, 409.
Mill, Col., 180, 186.
Nandagiri, 97.
Vlll
Perambadi
Permmanandi, 97.
Perry, Sir Erslriue, 219.
Perumale-male,
3.
Perumbu-Kad, 156.
Perur,
4. 1.
NayakaB, 98.
Netravati, 8.
Physical features,
Pilgrimages, 266.
Planlain, the, 45.
Neyiga, 208.
Nilammaji, 195.
Nilavati, 93, 96.
Manilla
Hemp,
46.
Nouns, 281.
Nujikal river,
7. 4.
PomLurchchha, 97.
PonnaDgala, 258.
Nurokkal-betta,
Nutmeg, 48.
Onkaresvara temple, 164, 269.
3b5.
Prices, 311.
Outcastes, 212.
Prisons, 394.
Padinalknad,
9,
99,
Pronouns, 284.
Public Instruction,
401
407.
Public Works,
397401.
Padmaraja, 194.
Palaces, 302.
Pallammuri-Kad, 122.
Palli caste, 208.
Palupare, 106,301,302.
Palur, 268, 300.
Panchalas, 210.
Quadrumana, 50.
Rachamalla Permmanandi, 97.
Eain
fall,
13.
Pannimatla Kundu,
56.
Papanashe
river, 3, 7.
Parasu'Rama, 85.
Parasu
Rama Kshetra,
Ramanathapura, 88.
Ramaswami Kanive,
Rampura, 309.
Eatnapuri, 93, 96.
Ratnavati, 93.
Payavur, 269.
Peggadur, 97.
Peile, Mr., 131.
IX
Ravana, 88.
Sirlecote, 192.
Sisila,
97.
Sisukali, 97.
Sisusekharappa, 132.
Siva, 89.
Reptiles,
6972.
and Finance, 361.
land, 363.
Revenue, 351.
Sivachars, 100.
Sode, 105,
131, 140,
142146.
'
Somaiya, 274.
2932.
Srimangala, 4.
Sripura, 97.
Rodentia, 56.
Stamps, 384.
Stamkas, 204.
Stephanas, 223, 274, 276, 278.
Roman
Catholics, 271.
Sagu
Sahyadri, 88.
Subrahmanya,
198, 269.
37, 41, 98, 199,
4,
Sakuuipuram, 121.
Sampaji,
1, 4, 8, 14,
Sanaka, 88.
Sanivarsante, 179, 309, 349.
Santhalli, 5, 9.
Survey, 379.
Suryappa, 169.
Varmma Dhar-
ma
Mahadhiraja, 97.
Sayar, 384.
Sepulchres, ancient, 297.
113,
117,
Tadiyandamol,
Talekaveri,
3, 9.
1, 8,
212, 244.
Tanks, 10.
Tavalgeri, 299.
Siddapur,
9,
Tavu-nad, 204.
Taylor, Robert, 115,
Siddhartha, 89.
Tea, ii.
Telegraph, 385.
Tellicherry, 115, 119, 307.
'
Tigala, 208.
Tiinmappaiya, 227.
121.
Tittimatti, 401.
102105,
109, 112
125,
TodikaDa pass,
119,
-169,
127,
.192,193, 194.
Vira Rajendra Wodeyar, 104,
110,
Tulu
Tulu-nad, 107.
Dddur, 105.
109, 112.
Ugra bDhu,
Ulagulli, 111.
334,368.
Waddar, 208.
Uppanangalla, 182.
Wages and
Wandering
Prices, 309.
tribes,
Uppar, 208.
Uppinangadi,
TJtta
8.
Waste
lands, 370.
Nayaka, 99.
Wattakolli, 308.
Vaccination, 409.
Waugh,
Col.,
179, 187.
Wells, 10.
Welsh,Gecl., 149.
19-6.
Venkatappa, Dalavayi,
Wisemau,
Col.,
Wokliga, 208.
Wynad,
2, 19,
110, 112.
XI
309,312,335,339,341,343,345,
349, 368. Yeravas, 20, 33, 202,. 214.
Zain-ul-Ab-i-diD, 111.