[136] As Quilon is between 8° and 9° of north latitude this is somewhat overstated.
[137] So Polo says that at Guzerat “the north star rose to the apparent height of six cubits”. This way of estimating celestial declinations appears to convey some distinct meaning to simple people, and even to some by no means illiterate Europeans. I remember once in India, when looking out for Venus, which was visible about two p.m., a native servant directed me to look “about one bamboo length from the moon;” and a young Englishman afterwards told me that he had seen it “about five feet from the moon.”
[138] “Ibi videntur influentiæ oculo ad oculum, ita quod de nocte respicere est gaudiosum.”
[139] “Astrologo.”
[140] Perhaps the good bishop by infernales does not mean infernal, but only inferior. Yet the expression reminds us of the constant strain of oriental tradition, which represents the aborigines under the aspect of Rakshasas or Demons. The reference is to the various forest tribes of the Peninsula, who represent either the Dravidian races unmodified by civilization, (whether Hindu or pre-Hindu), or some yet antecedent races. Dubois, speaking generally of the wild forest tribes of the south, says, “In the rainy season they shelter themselves in caverns, hollow trees, and clefts of the rocks; and in fine weather they keep the open field. They are almost entirely naked. The women wear nothing to conceal their nakedness but some leaves of trees stitched together, and bound round their waists,” etc. (473.) And Mr. Markham describes the Poliars, a race of wild and timid men of the woods in the Pulney Hills, east of Cochin, who are possibly the very people whom Jordanus had in his eye, as being said to have no habitations, but to run through the jungle from place to place, to sleep under rocks, and live on wild honey and roots. They occasionally trade with the peasantry, who place cotton and grain on some stone, and the wild creatures, as soon as the strangers are out of sight, take these and put honey in their place. But they will let no one come near them. (Peru and India, p. 404.) These wild races were no doubt in the mind’s eye of a little Hindu, who, during the examination of a native school by a late governor of Madras (now again occupying an eminent position in India), on being asked what became of the original inhabitants of Britain at the Saxon conquest? replied, “They fled into Wales and Cornwall, and other remote parts, where they exist as a wild and barbarous people to this day!” The little Hindu was not aware that—
“By Pol, Tre, and Pen
You may know the Cornish men.”
[141] This is the practice of certain solitary wasps and kindred species, both in Europe and India (see Kirby and Spence, Letter xi., etc.). The spiders, etc., form a store of food for the use of the larvæ when hatched.
[142] “Venas lapidum.”
[143] The most remarkable operation of white ants that I have heard of was told me by a scientific man, and I believe may be depended on. Having a case of new English harness, which he was anxious to secure from the white ants, he moved it about six inches from the wall, and placed it on stone vessels filled with water (as is often done), so that he considered it quite isolated and safe. On opening the case some time after he found the harness ruined, and on looking behind he saw that the white ants had actually projected their “crust” across the gap from the wall, so as to reach their prey by a tubular bridge. Here is engineering design as well as execution! The ants have apparently a great objection to working under the light of day, but that they “incontinently die” is a mistake.