shrine most frequently exceed that period for so expensive a ceremony. They first consult the Demauno, and have recourse to the Cherreen, and Satane, both of which must agree with what the Demauno perscribes, before this festival can be held: when thus ordained, the suppliant must provide about a dozen hogs, as many goats, about three score seers of rice, two of red paint, fifteen of oil; about twelve rupees must be expended in spirits, and some scores of cooking pots, dishes, and cups for drinking, laid in, as well as a few peacock's tails, a fan, three bamboos, nine score natária trees, and some red stones, which are ground for paint, and also some charcoal: thus prepared, the suppliant sends strings, with knots numbering the intervening days, with invitations to his relations, and neighbouring chiefs. On the day appointed, some thousands assemble and are variously employed: some grind the red stone for paint, others charcoal to mix with oil, while a great number are occupied in stripping the bark off the natária, which is effected in one piece of four cubits long by bruising it; three bamboos are then made straight by oil and fire, and are of the same length with the natária bark; a fat hog, grain, and several pots of spirits, are sent to the workers. The red stone and charcoal being ground, are mixed separately with oil, and a quantity of hog's blood added to both: the barks of the natária have about a cubit of the lower end of each blackened with the charcoal, another cubit is left of the natural colour, and above it one cubit is painted red;

caps

caps of wood are fitted on the bamboos, and necks made in them; on one of these, four score and an half of barks are bound with twine dipped in oil, on the second, three score are bound, and on the third, one score and a half; the heads of these three are ornamented with a profusion of peacock's tail feathers, thus prepared, they are called CHUMDAH GOSAIH, and carried to the suppliant's house, where for the workmen a hog is dressed with grain, that they may be feasted for their trouble: a hog, two pots of spirits, grain and salt, are presented to every chief, for himself and vassals, who honors the suppliant with his company; as much is also given to his own relations, and a like quantity to the relations of his wives, and meat and drink is distributed to all assembled: the women, who dress these provisions, exclusive of their daily hire, have a hog given to them that they may eat together, as they are not allowed to feast with the men.

THE Chumdah-bamboos having been brought about evening, and placed against the suppliant's house, he and the Demauno rub the ends on the ground with oil, and mark them with red paint, when the latter, with a hen's egg and a handful of rice, prays, observing the usual ceremony, that CHUMDAH GOSAIH may be propitious to the suppliant, who follows his example, and also makes an offering of a cut hog, which he sacrifices so that the blood may fall on the bamboos, the largest of which, or one with the greatest number of barks pendant to it, he presents to one of his relations, the second in size to one of his wive's

relations, and the third to any volunteer. The three persons thus favoured, support the Chumdahs by cloth tied round their waists, and balance them with their hands, dancing as long as they can: when fatigued, they are relieved indiscriminately, without any distinction; and this amusement with music continues all night: in the morning the Demaunɔ and suppliant pray at the middle supporter of the latter's house, with the usual forins, when a cut goat is brought as an offering, and sacrificed by a relation: hence they repair to his field, taking with them the Chumdah, and again pray near the stump of a tree, where a small space is brushed and washed for the purpose, and a branch of the muckmun planted, in addition to the egg and rice deposited there by the Demauno and suppliant; a shrine for KULL GOSAIH is washed, rubbed with oil, red paint put on it, and bound with a red silk thread, and placed close to the muckmun-branch, when a goat and two hogs are sacrificed by a relation, that the blood may fall or be sprinkled on the shrine Chumdah and branch; for this office, he gets a rupee and a turban: the offerings being dressed are eaten with grain: the party having feasted return, bringing with them the Chumdahs, which are carried five times round the suppliant's house, and then placed against eaves, where they remain five days, at the expiration of which, a seer of takallone is served out to every person who applies for it at the suppliant's house; but four men are stationed at each of the four doors, that every person who goes out with the takallone, may receive a blow

with the open hand, from each of the four men stationed at the door he passes out of: at the conclusion of this ceremony the Chumdah-bamboos are taken into the house, and suspended to the roof; the suppliant repairs to the field, and makes an offering of a hog and prays at the shrine of KULL GOSAIH, whence he returns and sacrifices a goat at the middle supporter of his house, with prayer; these offerings are dressed, and, as is customary, they feast on them.

WHEN the kosarane (a small grain like what the lowlanders call collye) is reaping in November or the beginning of December, a festival is held as a thanksgiving before the new grain is eaten of. Materials for a feast being prepared, a day is fixed by the Maungy, who invites the chiefs of the neighbouring villages: on the day appointed, the two men, who prayed at the Chitaria-festival, proceed to Chalnad to pray, and sacrifice a goat, which, with some kosarane, is an offering at the Nad to CHITARIAH GOSAIH: on their return to the village, the Maungy has his kondone brought out, on which he prays and immolates a fowl during this, the dungareahar, or vassals, repair to their fields, offer thanksgiving, make an oblation to KULL GOSAIH, and return to their houses to eat of the new kosarane: as soon as the inhabitants assemble at the Maungy's house, the men sitting on one side, and the women on the other, the Phojedar presents a hog, a measure of kosarane, and a pot of spirits, to the Maungy, in the name of his vassals, by whom these had been contributed; on receiving them, he blesses his vassals, and exhorts

them

them to industry and good behaviour, after which, making a libation in the names of all their gods, and of their dead, he drinks, and also throws a little of the kosarane away, repeating the same pious exclamations, which ceremony is the commencement of the festivity and drinking, that lasts for several days.

ON reaping the takallone (Indian-corn) in August or September, there is also a festival. Each man repairs to his field, with either a hog, goat, or fowl, to sacrifice to KULL GOSAIH, to whom he prays, and, having feasted, returns home, where another repast is prepared; and on this day it is customary for every family in the village to distribute a little of what they have prepared for their feast, to every house.

SHOULD any person eat of new kosarane or takallone before the festival and public thanksgiving at the reaping of these crops, the Maungy fines the offenders a cock, which is sacrificed by the two preachers at the shrine of Chittáriah.

THE mountaineers are represented to have in general an amorous disposition; their solicitude and attentions, when in love, are said to be unceasing; if separated but for an hour, the lovers are miserable; they conceal their meat to present to each other privately, the lady dresses whatever nice things she can secrete from her parents, to treat her lover with, and he presents her with rings, and beads, and treats her with toddy; they go to market and exchange paun and tobacco, and, on their return, should they perceive an acquaintance, they separate to avoid being seen in company, but by assignation