182 THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY. [June, 1873, I believe a few fig-leaves are used to satisfy very sensitive feelings, but practically the people are naked or nearly so.—Report by L. Ashlmrner, c. s.i. THE COORGS. Regarding the custom of polyandry said by Mr. Burnell * to be followed by the Coorgs, I feel constrained to state that its existence at any time is far from being proved. Whether polyandry may have occurred occasionally in former times, or may do so in these days, is of course a different ques¬ tion altogether. The Coorg custom of several nearly related families living together in the same house is certainly connected with its jxjcullar temptations. In bygone times, however, there was the custom of so-called “ cloth-marriages.” In these a man gave a cloth to a girl, and she accepting it becamo his wife without any further ceremonies; he might dismiss her at any time with¬ out being under the least obligation of providing either for her or the children born during the connection. This custom was abolished by one of the Lingavant RAjas, who, being unable to ob¬ tain as many girls for his harem as he wished, from wanton solfishness put a stop to it. The Rev. G. Richter in his Manual of Coorg (p. 41) says1 tiger-weddings’ take place among the Coorgs. As this idea seems to spread, I take the liberty to mention that it has been wrongly inferred from the name given to a festivity, the name being nari-mangala. In translating mangala in¬ to English its possible meaning marriage was hasti¬ ly adopted, whereas in this case it means nothing but joyful occurrence; nari-mangala —tiger- feast. This last meaning of mangala has also as part of the Coorg compounds ettdmangala, bullock-feast,andmane-mangala, house-feast. Merkara, 13fA March 1873. F. Kittel. ON ATTRACTION AND REPULSION. No. II. Translated by E. Rehateek, M.C.E, Mcsnawy of JeUdl-al-dyn Rtlmy, 2nd Duftur. J 'j {J ijf I ^ •ybJlb J6 U^ijy
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toy* w-*)Ue Lo ^ |j toS yi lj*} p* lj«> J 43 jU oxib lj Lfjj jV jU»| b Ij jS y^mU I j3 ay*. jy y rtj> >y rHjj3 v** y ySmU JJJ S* U | jj yO & jif y*m 15 jl jlj 1 rH ji J*5 Jd f***- j* <^bel& 0f r y obi j*3 uf Clj* oajjf , ym G jy y •> uT j iy U^} j|A Ijtb lyifyo ajf y**U (•A yo ye j*. to) U j All things attract each other in the world, The heat allures the heat, and cold the cold, A foolish portion fascinates the fools, The well-directed the remainder lure ; The igneous attract the hell-destined, The luminous draw on the sons of light; Also the pure attract the immaculate, Whilst the melancholy are courting pain; The Zangi from the Zangi friendship seeks, A Roman with a Roman gently deals. With closed eyes you are dismayed indeed Because the light of day rejoiced the eye; The cyo’s assimilation caused your grief, It longfcd quick to join the light of day. • If eye again be thus dismayed to you, The heart’s eyo you have closed ! Wljy not indulge That heart-proclaiming bent of your two eyes Which longs for infinite brilliancy P When absence of those mundane fickle lights Distressed you, your eyes you opened ! Thus separation from eternal lights Dismay will bring to you; then cherish them ! When He calls me I must investigate, Am I to be attracted or repelled P
- Specimens of S. Indian Dialects, No. 3, Kodagu, pref. p. iii.
