selects another partner for the
period of her husband's absence, going back to him on his release
with all her children, who are considered as his. Mr. Thurston gives
the following story of a gang of Koravas or Yerukalas in Tinnevelly:
"One morning, in Tinnevelly, while the butler in a missionary's
house was attending to his duties, an individual turned up with a
fine fowl for sale. The butler, finding that he could purchase it
for about half the real price, bought it, and showed it to his wife
with no small pride in his ability in making a bargain. But he was
distinctly crestfallen when his wife pointed out that it was his
own bird, which had been lost on the previous night. The seller was
a Korava." [728] In Madras they have also now developed into expert
railway thieves. They have few restrictions as to food, eating cats
and mice, though not dogs. [729] The Yerukalas practised the custom of
the Couvade as described by the Rev. John Cain, of Dumagudem: [730]
"Directly the woman feels the birth-pangs she informs her husband,
who immediately takes some of her clothes, puts them on, places on his
forehead the mark which the women usually place on theirs, retires
into a dark room where there is only a very dim lamp, and lies down
on the bed, covering himself up with a long cloth. When the child is
born it is washed and placed on the cot beside the father. Asafoetida,
jaggery and other articles are then given, not to the mother but to
the father. During the days of ceremonial impurity the man is treated
as other Hindus treat their women on such occasions. He is not allowed
to leave his bed, but has everything needful brought to him.

"The Yerukalas marry when quite young. At the birth of a daughter
the father of an unmarried little boy often brings a rupee and ties
it in the cloth of the father of a newly-born girl. When the girl is
grown up he can then claim her for his son."

NOTES

[1] _Tribes and Castes of Bengal_, art. Kumhar.

[2] Gods and demons.

[3] _Hath_, hand and _garhna_ to make or mould.

[4] _Gora_, white or red, applied to Europeans.

[5] _History of the Marathas_, edition 1878, vol. i. p. 26.

[6] The above description is taken from the Central Provinces
_Monograph on Pottery and Glassware_ by Mr. Jowers, p. 4.

[7] _Golden Bough,_ ii. pp. 299, 301.

[8] _Rajasthan_, ii. p. 524.

[9] _Orpheus_, p. 152.

[10] The sacrifice is now falling into abeyance, as landowners refuse
to suppl