DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2374#0037
MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR. 29
girls, however, continue marriageable after the age of puberty, and CHAPTER. '
all the women are industrious in the labours of the field. The men ^J^~}Lj
take as many wives as they can procure. August 15.
15th August.—I went three cosses to Gubi; which, although a Gubi.
small town, containing only 360 houses, is a mart of some impor-
tance, and has 154 shops. The houses in their external appearance
are very mean, and the place is extremely dirty; but many of the
inhabitants are thriving, and the trade is considerable. It is said
to have been founded about 400 years ago, by a family of Poly gars,
who resided at Hosso-hully, two miles from hence, and who traced
their descent from Ho?iapa Gauda, the hereditary chief of the Nona
JVoculigaru that I lately mentioned. Honapa Gauda lived about 700-
years ago, and his family possessed a country which annually pro-
duced about 3000 Pagodas. They were first brought under subjec-
tion by the Mysore Rajas, who imposed a tribute of 500 Pagodas,.
Hyder increased this to 2500, leaving them little better than renters.
They were entirely dispossessed by his son, and have returned to
their original profession of cultivators; but in their own tribe they
still retain their hereditary rank.
From the pride of two contending sects, the Co?naties, and the Disturbances
Banijigas, Gubi has lately been in a very disorderly state; and has ^ence.
even been in danger of destruction. The former having erected a
temple to a sainted virgin of their tribe, who threw herself into the
flames, rather than gratify the lust of a tyrannic Raja, the Banijigas
took offence, pretending that such a temple was contrary to the cus-
toms of the town ; there never before having been in that place any
such building. Both parties being obstinate, the one to retain the
temple, and the other to destroy it, Purnea last year ordered the
town to be divided by a wall; on one side of which the Comaties
and their adherents should live, and on the other their adversaries.
The Comaties hitherto had on their side some show of reason, as.
they did not attempt to force any one to honour their saint; but
now they became exorbitant in their pretensions; they would not
girls, however, continue marriageable after the age of puberty, and CHAPTER. '
all the women are industrious in the labours of the field. The men ^J^~}Lj
take as many wives as they can procure. August 15.
15th August.—I went three cosses to Gubi; which, although a Gubi.
small town, containing only 360 houses, is a mart of some impor-
tance, and has 154 shops. The houses in their external appearance
are very mean, and the place is extremely dirty; but many of the
inhabitants are thriving, and the trade is considerable. It is said
to have been founded about 400 years ago, by a family of Poly gars,
who resided at Hosso-hully, two miles from hence, and who traced
their descent from Ho?iapa Gauda, the hereditary chief of the Nona
JVoculigaru that I lately mentioned. Honapa Gauda lived about 700-
years ago, and his family possessed a country which annually pro-
duced about 3000 Pagodas. They were first brought under subjec-
tion by the Mysore Rajas, who imposed a tribute of 500 Pagodas,.
Hyder increased this to 2500, leaving them little better than renters.
They were entirely dispossessed by his son, and have returned to
their original profession of cultivators; but in their own tribe they
still retain their hereditary rank.
From the pride of two contending sects, the Co?naties, and the Disturbances
Banijigas, Gubi has lately been in a very disorderly state; and has ^ence.
even been in danger of destruction. The former having erected a
temple to a sainted virgin of their tribe, who threw herself into the
flames, rather than gratify the lust of a tyrannic Raja, the Banijigas
took offence, pretending that such a temple was contrary to the cus-
toms of the town ; there never before having been in that place any
such building. Both parties being obstinate, the one to retain the
temple, and the other to destroy it, Purnea last year ordered the
town to be divided by a wall; on one side of which the Comaties
and their adherents should live, and on the other their adversaries.
The Comaties hitherto had on their side some show of reason, as.
they did not attempt to force any one to honour their saint; but
now they became exorbitant in their pretensions; they would not