Indian Antiquary Vol 23

SR No.: 032515
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 412
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 95

APRIL, 1894.]
THE DEVIL WORSHIP OF THE TULUVAS.
85
THE DEVIL WORSHIP OF THE TULUVAS. FROM THE PAPERS OF THE LATE A. C. BURNELL.
(Continued from p. 49.) BURNELL MSS. No. IV. PART II. - (continuel).
THE STORY OF KOTI AND CHANNAYYA (continuerl). N hearing this, the Balla! caused letters to be written to those who lived in remote
countries; and to the people of the town, he caused a proclamation to be made by the beat of a bell-metal drum, that there should assemble in the town every male who had a tuft of hair on his head; everyone of the tribe called Kolkárs with a stick in his hand; every hunter having a pistol; the bowmen of the tribe called Mugêrs; two hundred men of Edambůr and three huudred of Koda Padi. Accordingly all the people assembled. The two brothers living in Ekkadka Erryaŭgada were then sent for. When they came into the Balla!'s verandah, the Balla ordered them to accompany him to a hunt.
"We have got a sufficient number of men, but we have no hunting dogs; and a chase without dogs is quite useless," said the two brothers.
So it was necessary to write a letter to one Kanda Bulefi, living in a spot called Karmi sale in the town of Ijjya on the ghats. On enquiry the Ballal found that their writer was a clerk named Narayana Rangoji, and he sent a man to call the clerk, who was thus obliged to come to the Balla!. Another man was sent to Buddyanta's land to bring some leaves of a yoning palm-tree. The Balla! caused the leaves to be exposed to the morning sun, and to be taken out of the sunshine in the evening, and by that time, the clerk Narayana Rangoji had come to the Balla!'s verandah. He asked the Balla! why he had been sent for.
"You are now to write a letter," said the Ballal.
The clerk sat on a three-legged stool, and the bundle of palm-leaves the Balla! causeù to be placed before him. The clerk took a leaf from the bundle, and cut off both its ends and preserved only the middle part. He caused oil and turnieric to be applied to it, and asked Balla! what he should write.
The latter dictated thus:"To him who lives in the town of liiva on the ghéts. Whereas the Ballad of Edambůr intends to go hunting in all the great forests, you are required to bring with you about twenty or twenty-four dogs, including twelve of those always kept bound and twelve of those always kept loose. Without the least delay, you should start as soon as you see this letter, in whatever dress you may be at the time, and even if in the middle of your dinner."
After the letter was written, the Balla! enquired of the people of his household who was to be the bearer of the letter, and was told that there was one Bagga. He was paid all the expenses of his journey and of his family during his absence. The letter was tied to the skirts of his garment, and he was advised not to stop at any place, either on account of a storm or on account of the noon-day heat. On hearing the order he set out from the Balla!'s verandah, and, passing the low countries, he came to the spot Karmi Sale in the town of Ijjyu on the gháts. He approached the house of Mallo, and standing at the gate called out: "Mallo! Mallo!”
Hearing the call, the latter came out and said: “Who is it that calls me p"
“It is I and no one else. I, the messenger sent by the Balla! of Edambûr," said Bagga. and gave the letter which had been tied to the skirts of his garment to Mallo.
Mallo opened the letter, extended the leaf to its full length, and read it, and it was to the following effect, namely, that, as soon as he saw the letter, he should start in the dress he was in at the time and from the middle of his dinner, taking with him about twenty or twenty-four dogs. After reading the letter, he went in and called out to a dog named Kasu by its name,