DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2373#0306
27 S-
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
CHAPTER the same manner as it is above the parts near the sea. Their little
territories are surrounded by high rocks, and separated by woody
ridges, like a perfect epitome of Karnata proper, or Balaghat, as it
has been called by the Mussulmans. The soil is fertile, and the
water in many places being near the surface renders it fit for gar-
dens. Although hill forts are generally reckoned unhealthy, this
seems to be by no means the case on this mountain. The inhabitants
rather look upon the air as more healthy than common, and last year
their cattle suffered much less than those of their neighbours. The
hill seems to attract more moisture than the level country, and to
be more favoured with rain; for a certain field on it annually pro-
duces a crop of rice, without any artificial watering, which in this
arid climate is looked upon as a kind of miracle. There is a spring
of water, which flows from the side of this hill in a small stream;
and, such a thing being here very uncommon, the Brahmans have
conducted it along a gutter formed in the rock ; and where it falls
from thence, have, under a building, placed some stones, which the
obliging imagination of the natives conceives to resemble a cow's
mouth. The place, as being holy, is much frequented; and a rui-
nous temple at some distance attracts to its annual feast about ten
thousand pilgrims.
Even in such a remote place, to which every access is steep and
difficult, I found, that the inhabitants were not protected by their
extreme poverty, but each village was provided with fortifications.
The people said, that, whenever any neighbouring Polygar was
troublesome, the Baydaru, or hunters, were accustomed in the
night time, under pretence of being the Polygafs men, to go and
plunder their neighbours. This they always did by surprise, as
their love for plunder is at least equalled by their cowardice.
Whenever these ruffians are prowling about, one or two men keep
watch in a tower; on the first alarm, all the inhabitants fly to their
arms, and, retiring to the tower, from thence fire upon the robbers,
who in general attempt to carry away the cattle.
Robbers.
, order 1
a:
ir>e
n
in
reservoir
formed, I
amounts
*l)ich i*
the tank
tie man1
which it
oftheori
tk free 1
however,
which co!
almost all
Hie farm
tanks; bu
danger oi
% for
^from
itisdistr
ofland,w
The crc
the!
The
\
w
qu;
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
CHAPTER the same manner as it is above the parts near the sea. Their little
territories are surrounded by high rocks, and separated by woody
ridges, like a perfect epitome of Karnata proper, or Balaghat, as it
has been called by the Mussulmans. The soil is fertile, and the
water in many places being near the surface renders it fit for gar-
dens. Although hill forts are generally reckoned unhealthy, this
seems to be by no means the case on this mountain. The inhabitants
rather look upon the air as more healthy than common, and last year
their cattle suffered much less than those of their neighbours. The
hill seems to attract more moisture than the level country, and to
be more favoured with rain; for a certain field on it annually pro-
duces a crop of rice, without any artificial watering, which in this
arid climate is looked upon as a kind of miracle. There is a spring
of water, which flows from the side of this hill in a small stream;
and, such a thing being here very uncommon, the Brahmans have
conducted it along a gutter formed in the rock ; and where it falls
from thence, have, under a building, placed some stones, which the
obliging imagination of the natives conceives to resemble a cow's
mouth. The place, as being holy, is much frequented; and a rui-
nous temple at some distance attracts to its annual feast about ten
thousand pilgrims.
Even in such a remote place, to which every access is steep and
difficult, I found, that the inhabitants were not protected by their
extreme poverty, but each village was provided with fortifications.
The people said, that, whenever any neighbouring Polygar was
troublesome, the Baydaru, or hunters, were accustomed in the
night time, under pretence of being the Polygafs men, to go and
plunder their neighbours. This they always did by surprise, as
their love for plunder is at least equalled by their cowardice.
Whenever these ruffians are prowling about, one or two men keep
watch in a tower; on the first alarm, all the inhabitants fly to their
arms, and, retiring to the tower, from thence fire upon the robbers,
who in general attempt to carry away the cattle.
Robbers.
, order 1
a:
ir>e
n
in
reservoir
formed, I
amounts
*l)ich i*
the tank
tie man1
which it
oftheori
tk free 1
however,
which co!
almost all
Hie farm
tanks; bu
danger oi
% for
^from
itisdistr
ofland,w
The crc
the!
The
\
w
qu;