Castes and Tribes of Southern India

Castes and Tribes
of
Southern India

By
Edgar Thurston, C.I.E.,
Superintendent, Madras Government Museum; Correspondant Étranger, Société d’Anthropologie de Paris; Socio Corrispondante, Societa, Romana di Anthropologia.
Assisted by K. Rangachari, M.A.,
of the Madras Government Museum.

Volume I—A and B
Government Press, Madras
1909.

List of Illustrations.

I.[a. Skullof Tamil man. b. Skull from Aditanallur.]
II.[South Indianboomerangs.]
III.[a.European skull. b. Hindu skull.]
IV.[LingaBanajiga.]
V.[Diagram ofnoses.]
VI.[Agamudaiyans,Madura district.]
VII.[ĀradhyaBrāhman.]
VIII.[Dolmens nearKotagiri.]
IX.[Badagas.]
X.[Badagagirls.]
XI.[Badagatemple.]
XII.[Badagas makingfire.]
XIII.[Badaga funeralcar with the corpse.]
XIV.[Badaga funeralcar.]
XV.[Bairāgis.]
XVI.[Gazula Balijawith bangles.]
XVII.[Balija bride andbridegroom.]
XVIII.[Kambla buffalorace.]
XIX.[Kambla racingbuffaloes.]
XX.[Pūkārepost at Kambla buffalo races.]
XXI.[Bedar.]
XXII.[Billavatoddy-tapper.]
XXIII.[Brāhmanhouse with marks of hand to ward off the evil eye.]
XXIV.[TeluguBrāhman with rudraksha coat.]
XXV.[SmarthaBrāhman (Brahacharnam) doing Siva worship.]
XXVI.[PadmanābhaSwāmi.]
XXVII.[DikshitarBrāhman.]
XXVIII.[MādhvaBrāhman.]
XXIX.[Fuel stack atUdipi Matt.]
XXX.[OriyaBrāhman.]
XXXI.[KonkaniBrāhman.]

Preface.

In 1894, equipped with a set of anthropometric instruments obtained on loan from the Asiatic Society of Bengal, I commenced an investigation of the tribes of the Nīlgiri hills, the Todas, Kotas, and Badagas, bringing down on myself the unofficial criticism that “anthropological research at high altitudes is eminently indicated when the thermometer registers 100° in Madras.” From this modest beginning have resulted:—(1) investigation of various classes which inhabit the city of Madras; (2) periodical tours to various parts of the Madras Presidency, with a view to the study of the more important tribes and classes; (3) the publication of Bulletins, wherein the results of my work are embodied; (4) the establishment of an anthropological laboratory; (5) a collection of photographs of Native types; (6) a series of lantern slides for lecture purposes; (7) a collection of phonograph records of tribal songs and music.