Riddles
The Todas are very fond of riddles, which they call werat. The following are examples:—
Mers Udder illâth without karthti, milks, poi mouth illâth without ûdti? drinks? Mâ, Rain, neln. earth.
I.e., What is it that gives milk without an udder, what is it that drinks without a mouth? Rain, earth.
Urk In (or to) village mers udder illâth, without, kâdak in forest kal leg illâth, without, athinu? what is it? Kûdi, Hen, pob. snake.
Kerûd Little mokh son perûd big aiu, becomes, perûd big mokh son kerûd little aiu? becomes? Kûdr, Horn, kevi. ear.
This riddle depends on a comparison of the horn and ear of the buffalo. The horn of the calf is very small, the ear is relatively large.
Pûv Flower pûvadi, does not blossom, kaim berry kaimadi? does not ripen? Tâf. Fern.
Wûrâdr Whole year nolm, days, mokh son pachtam, begetting, pîr ârchtam, pregnant, ithithanithi this is custom ank? to it? Pishkimän.
Pishkimän is a tree which bears flowers or is giving fruit the whole year round. [[600]]
Puzhárḍnûdr Calls out if adetpoloḍthi? why that says no? Kûdi Cock kûgili. crows.
What is it that calls out and no one replies? The cock.
Neln Earth tiri goes round kai, fruit, pon sky tiri goes round pûv? flower? Eln. The tip-cat game.
Mudâl First pîr pregnant vatvai, who becomes, pin later marsvati; is delivered; pin later pîr pregnant vatvai, who becomes, mudâl first marsvati? is delivered? Tâmi, A grain, kodj. barley.
Tami or samai (patm) is the grain from which patcherski, one of the chief Toda foods, is made. It shows above the ground later than barley, but is reaped earlier.
I did not hear of any mechanical puzzles or tricks used by the Todas, and it was quite clear that they had no knowledge of cat’s-cradle.