Todas and Irulas
The Irulas live on the lower slopes of the Nilgiri Hills and have few relations with the Todas. They are called Erl by the Todas, and, according to Mr. Thurston, they are saluted in the same way as the Kurumbas. The Irulas are among the people mentioned in the remedial formula used against the effects of the evil eye, and are evidently regarded as having some magical power, though they are not feared in the same measure as the Kurumbas.
The name of the Irulas only occurs once in my collection of Toda legends, in the story of Kuzkarv, where they are associated with the Kurumbas. Atioto, who is the special deity of Kwòdrdoni and Pedrkars, is said to have a temple of which the priest is an Irula. This is probably an Irula temple to which the Todas make offerings. [[643]]
[1] Mav is also the Toda word for sambhar. [↑]
[2] According to Harkness, “each burgher, hamlet, or village” gives about two quarts (p. 108), or (p. 135) half a bushel to the ti and half a bushel to the other Todas. According to Breeks (p. 9), the gudu is about one-tenth, one-eighth, or one-fifth of the gross produce. [↑]
[3] It is possible that the elucidation of this point might also help towards the explanation of the Badaga account of the Toda clans. [↑]
[6] According to Breeks, the Kotas who supply the Todas are known as muḷḷu Kotas. [↑]
[7] The Kotas are agriculturists as well as mechanics, and, according to Breeks, they are quite as efficient as the Badagas in this occupation. They also keep buffaloes, though chiefly or entirely for their own use. [↑]
[8] It is perhaps noteworthy that some of the Kurumbas of Malabar are still noted for their cleverness in collecting honey, and are known as Tên or honey Kurumbas (Fawcett, Bull. Madras Museum, iii, p. 9). [↑]
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE CLANS OF THE TODAS
In this chapter I propose to give a short account of each of the Toda clans with any special features which characterise its ceremonial and social organisation. The chapter will consist largely of detail, much of which may be thought to have no great interest, but it seems desirable to put on record as full an account as possible of the condition of the people at the time of my visit. A certain amount of folklore will be included, those tales being given which are specially connected with the history of a clan.