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)

PRIESTHOOD.

63

forest, which has before been named as the place for the
performance of his austerities, dives into its darkest parts,
and seeks out a spot, untrodden by human feet, in the
vicinity of a pure stream, unpolluted by human touch.
He then peels off some of the bark of the sacred Tiurr, and
soaking it in water, compresses a liquid from it, of which
he swallows a portion, and daubing himself ever with the
remainder, bathes in the stream. This rite he performs
three or four times each day. In the evening he partakes
of a little of the parched grain, or such like hard fare as
he has brought with him, and in a state of nudity lies
down to rest, exposed to every inclemency of the weather.
On the eighth day of his purification, a black garment
is brought to him, in texture like the coarsest sackcloth,
four cubits in length and about one and a half in breadth,
and this he fastens round his waist. He is now no longer
addressed by his former name, but by that of Pol-aul, and
the whole of the Tudas of the district assembling, escort
him to the Teriri.

He is bound to lead a life of celibacy, and though one
in the married state may accept this office, he must not,
after his purification, see or converse with any of his
family; but entirely divesting himself of all worldly
thoughts, dedicate the whole of his time to the contem-
plation of the Deity. No other Tuda will now presume
to touch, or even to approach within ten or twelve paces
of him ; and should they see him, on any occasion of his