wreaths, and gold ornaments. Behind him stand his armour-bearers, in front the sacred house lamp on a heap of rice poured into a brass dish. First each member of his house—men, women, and children—then all his friends one by one step up to the bridegroom, strew a handful of rice from the brass dish over his head, give him from a brass vessel a sip of milk to drink, and in making obeisance drop a silver coin in his lap. This money is given with a view to defraying the impending expenditure on a sumptuous dinner given to the whole company. A dance round the tiger concludes the tamásh, and the night wears away with singing and feasting. Sometimes one sees children with the ornament of two tigers' claws joined together by silver or gold and suspended round the neck as a charm to keep off the evil eye. (41-42)
Black bears are found; their flesh is not eaten, but pieces of their skin are attached to the necks of horses and cows to keep off the evil eye. (44)
The otter-hound is eaten by the Yerawas tribe. (44)
The flesh of the Bandicoot rat is eaten by the Holeyas, Kurubas, and Yerewas. (45)
The hare is universally eaten. (47)
The porcupine is eaten. The quills are thrown away because of the belief that if kept in the house their presence will cause quarrels amongst the inmates. (47)
The cow is held sacred. (48)
The bison is killed without hesitation, but only eaten by lowest classes. (49)
The pig and wild hog are eaten. (51)
The owl is greatly dreaded. (54)
In the neighbourhood of Subramanya peacocks may not be killed, as they are believed to be the vehicles of the god residing there. [Elsewhere it is killed.] (60)
The cobra or hood snake is kept and worshipped in demon temples. (62)
The bones of the patte-kolaka snake are strung together and worn as a charm against sores or swelling of the glands. (63)
