Harkness, Henry: A description of a singular aboriginal race inhabiting the summit of the Neilgherry Hills, or Blue Mountains of Coimbatoor, in the Southern Peninsula of India (London, 1832)

'28 VARIOUS TRIBES.

CHAPTER II.

At the foot of these mountains, and for a short dis-
tance within the forests extending from their base into
the plains, live a race of people, commonly known by the
name of Erulars.* They are divided into two classes,
one called Unili,t the other Curutalei.t

Above these, at a height varying from one to two
thousand feet, in the clefts of the mountains and little
openings in the woods, with which at this elevation they
are girt, live another race, calling themselves Curum-
bars. § This race are all of one class.

People answering to the general description of both

* The unenlightened or barbarous, from the Tamil word End,
darkness. It is to be observed that this is a term applied to them by
their neighbours. From the wild kind of life which they lead it is
difficult to ascertain their number, but I should suppose it to be less
than a thousand.

f Signifying the rulers of the people.

J The common people.

§ The wilful or self-willed. Their neighbours, when speaking of
them, usually prefix to their name the term Mullu, a thorn. They are
computed to be about a thousand in number, of all ages.