retained their original 'distance pollution,' while the latter have risen so far in social scale as to claim equality with the Brahmans.
(5) The custom of burying their dead, partiality to the worship of Kali and other village deities, and the entire absence of Vishnu worship seem to connect them with the pre-Dravidian or aboriginal Naga tribes.
Thus it will be seen that the claims of the Kammalas for Brahmanhood are not based upon any recognised Veda, Sastra, Itihasa or Purana, and that their arguments in its favour are opposed toto cælo to customs and usages prevalent at any period of Indian history.
Now with regard to the food of the Eyina tribe of hunters, the 'Ten Tamil Idylls' and the Puranânuru say that they ate pork and the flesh of the wild cow and freely indulged in spirituous liquors.
எயினர் தந்த வெய்மானெறி தசைப்
பைஞ்ஞணம் பெருத்த பசுவெள் ளமலை.-Pur.
(The new white rice boiled with the flesh of the swine just killed by the Eyinas.)
எயிற்றியாட்ட வின் புளிவெஞ்சோறு
ஆமான் சூட்டின மைவாப்பெறுகுவிர்.-Sir.
(Thou shall get the hot rice cooked by the Eyina women with sweet tamarind and roasted beef.) Even after a lapse of nearly fifteen centuries we see no change in the food of their Paraiya descendants. Some of them are said to eat frogs, a strange habit which connects then with the Yanadis of Nellore.
