who claim to be next to the Brahmins, although they are of Sudra origin, were under the impression that the Shanars were becoming too prosperous and advanced. The Vellalans gathered together from their various villages, descended upon the unfortunate Shanars, killed a number of them and burned their houses. Having administered what they considered a necessary lesson to a lower caste, the Vellalans returned to their homes, leaving the Shanars to understand that the lesson would be repeated if they did not mend their rapid ways and advance more slowly.
In the old days the native ruler would not have troubled himself over a caste affair that did not materially affect his revenues, and the Vellalans would have gone unpunished. It was a surprise to find that the English Government disapproved of their action to the extent of punishing the ringleaders. To prevent a repetition of the assault, a punitive force of police was placed in the disturbed districts. The indifference of the villagers to events outside their own little world is great, but it is nothing compared with the ignorance of the jungle tribes of the hills, which is almost incredible.
As an illustration of the ignorance of some of the inhabitants of Tinnevelly, Bishop Caldwell used to tell the following story. The King of South India, seven or eight hundred years ago, was called the Pandyan. A descendant of his, a petty landowner, lived at Singampatti, not far from Courtallam. The bishop met some of the hillmen one day ; and out of curiosity he asked them who governed the country at the present time. The reply was—'The Pandyan.'
'Where does he live?'
'At Singampatti.'
'What about the white men? Have they nothing to do with the government of the country?'
