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)

FUNERAL SACRIFICE. 51

a large multitude. At one corner of the green, we ob-
served, issuing from the adjoining wood, and goaded on
by ten or twelve athletic Tudas, a herd of buffaloes, the
intended victims of sacrifice, which were driven to the
Tu-el,* and there for the present confined.

The bier was now placed on a rising ground in the
centre of the green, when the friends and relations taking
up a little earth, sprinkled it on the body with much cere-
mony, and seating themselves around it, continued their
lamentations. The rest of the assembly dispersed, some
to rear the pile, others to prepare the subsequent repast,
while the remainder collecting in groups, entered into
converse, seemingly unconnected with the passing scene.
At a short distance, crowning the summit of a moun-
tain which overlooked this vale of sorrow, sat some twelve
or fifteen Cohatars, with attenuated forms, unseemly garb,
and hair loose flowing in the wind, looking like harpies
waiting the moment whereon to gorge themselves with
their destined prey, rather than any thing allied to
humanity.

Three or four other Tudas arrived about this time,
and going up to the corpse, sprinkled a little earth upon
it, bent forward, and making the salutation before de-
scribed, threw themselves upon it.

The sacrifice now commenced, but as almost the same

* The area or Byre before mentioned.
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