Methods of Wearing the Hair
There are various methods of wearing the hair, each of which has its special significance. The ordinary method for men is to allow it to grow to a certain length, so that it forms a compact mass, as shown by the first man of [Fig. 61], or as in [Fig. 15].
When a member of a clan dies, all the men of the clan tie their hair in knots in front till the funeral ceremonies are completed. This is called mad tutvai, “head (or hair) who [[575]]rolls,” and the second man in [Fig. 61] is wearing his hair in this fashion, a girl of his clan having died not long before, whose second funeral ceremonies had not yet taken place.
Another method of wearing the hair is shown by the third man in [Fig. 61]. This method is called mad nadrk vai, “head (or hair) long to who.” It is adopted by anyone who has made a vow. In [Fig. 62] another man is shown in the same condition, but his head has a different appearance owing to the fact that he has tied two locks behind in order to keep the long hair away from his face. This tying back has no other significance.
FIG. 62.—TILIPA (12) WEARING HIS HAIR LONG ON ACCOUNT OF A VOW MADE AT A HINDU TEMPLE.
Women wear their hair as shown in Figs. 3 and 11, in long ringlets, and there do not appear to be any differences in [[576]]the method of wearing the hair under different conditions corresponding to those of males.
After a funeral the Tarthar division of the Todas except the Melgarsol shave their heads, and this may also happen in connexion with vows made at the Hindu temple at Nanjankudi or elsewhere.
The hair of a child is shaved about the third month of life (see p. [332]), so that the head has the appearance shown in Figs. [63] and [64]. The head is shaved on the top and sides, and in a strip from the top to the forehead, so that three locks are left, two in front, called the mîkuti (? meikuti), and one behind, called the kut.
In the case of a girl, there is some difference in the method of shaving according to the position of the child in the family. If a girl is the eldest of the family, she wears three locks like a boy, but younger girls and the eldest girl, if she should have an elder brother, wear only the two front locks, the mîkuti.