VIZAGAPATAM.
These people worsliip either Jákara or Loddalu, 1[1] who have no regular temple but are symbolized by a stone under a big tree. Sacrifices of goats are made to them when the various crops are ripening and the victim must first eat food offered to it. The hill Savaras, on the other hand, chiefly fear the deity Jalia, who in many villages is provided with a small habitation with a circular thatched roof in which are placed wooden images of household implements and requisites and figures of men, animals, birds, etc. The Kápu Savaras, like the primitive section, have no real marriage divisions, but are taking to ménarikam although the hill custom requires a man to marry outside his village. Their wedding ceremonies bear a distant resemblance to those among the hill Savaras. When a youth among the latter wishes to marry a girl, his parents take an arrow, a white crane's feather and some liquor to the house of her parents, and if these latter at first throw the presents into the street and attack the bringers, they try again until they are peacefully welcomed and matters are put in train, or until the youth, tired of refusals, carries off the girl by stealth or force. Among the Kápu Savaras the preliminary arrow and liquor are similarly presented, but the bridegroom goes at length on an auspicious day with a large party to the bride's house, and the marriage is marked by his eating out of the same platter with her and by much drinking, feasting and dancing.
A death is announced by the firing of guns, the body is burnt, the bones are collected and buried along with the deceased's tangi and other possessions, the spot is marked with a sál post to which a bit of the departeds garment is attached, and a drink and dance conclude the ceremony. This again is a copy of the hill Savaras' rite, but the latter eventually mark the place with a stone. Both sections perform a great annual sacrifice to their departed ancestors on a full moon day in the spring at which a buffalo or goat is slain for every death during the year and the spirits of the dead are entreated not to return and molest the living. Savara headmen are called Gómangos.
The Gadabas are palanquin-bearers and cultivators by profession, number 40,000 persons, and are split into six subdivisions; namely, Bodo Gadabas and Ollár Gadabas, who dine together and intermarry; Parengi Gadabas, whose women do not wear the bustles and chaplets referred to below; Kalloyi Gadabas, who are the only section which will touch a horse (professional palki-bearers naturally have no love for the rival animal) and are contemned by the others accordingly; and Kápu and Kattiri
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- ↑ 1 This seems to be sometimes used as a generic term for the gods as a body.
