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.
Poetry and Music
I have given two samples of Toda poetry in the chapter on funeral ceremonies. These are the chief occasions on which songs are composed, but they are also made when a new dairy is being built, and may be composed and sung on any festive occasion. The general name for compositions of this kind is kunedsti, and certain men have special reputations as composers. The most noted of recent times was a man named Mervoin belonging to the family of Kiugi.
Of those now living, Teitnir, whose two funeral songs I have given, is a noted composer, and I was told of six other men who were especially gifted in this way.