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96
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[APRIL, 1874.
served; all the Todas gathered round, closely wrapt in their mantles, and looking, in the dim light, like an array of spectres; the dawn was appearing in the east, and the moon had just gone down behind a high black distant peak, from the side of which a bit of her southern limb still projected. Then a tall figure stept silently into the circle, and lifting a chatty with both hands above his head, dashed it to pieces upon the stone, and every man, woman, and child present, in swift and speechless succession, stooping over the stone, touched it with their foreheads, and, hurrying down the hill, vanished like ghosts into the shadows beneath. The dawn was widening, faint twitters began to arise in the woods, and the hoarse belling of a stag came up from the valley's below. Far around stretched the wild peaks and ridges of the mountain-land, looking dim and unearthly against the pale morning skies; and westward, through deep ravines, glimpses were caught of the wide regions of Malabar overspread with an ocean of white level mist. More strongly than ever was the conviction borne upon the mind that here had been witnessed rites that, with but little change, may have prevailed "in the dark backward and abysm of time" the only vestiges of which survive in the flint knife or mysterious cromlech.
of Travankor and Orissa, and the Kurumbas and Irulas of the Nilgiris. A large concourse of Todas was gathered by the circle to which the kerds and cloths, several vessels formed of large joints of bamboos filled with grain and ornamented with bunches of white cowries and a few silver coins, rattans bent to resemble buffalo horns, a bow and arrows, ornamented umbrellas, two or three large knives, and some other things had been brought. Three or four fires were lighted within the circle, and the various objects placed on them and carefully burnt, except that the coins were detached from the grain vessels and removed after the fires had begin to blaze: The women sat around in groups wailing and sobbing, with forehead pressed to forehead, and the men raised a long-drawn monotonous howling cry of hêh-hey-hêh-hah. I may here remark that though late accounts of Toda funerals speak of Kot as attending with their rude music and taking away the dead buffaloes, none were present at this funeral; nor do I know how the carcasses were disposed of. When all the objects had been consumed and the fires sunk into embers, the ashes were scraped together and put into a hole within the circle near the entrance, over which a stone was rolled. The moaning and lamentation ceased, and a dead silence was ob
ANECDOTE OF RAO MALDEVA OF JODHPUR.
BY MAJOR W. WATSON, ACTING POLITICAL SUPERINTENDENT, PAHLANPUR.
Rao Mâldeva, it is said, when a young | beard would grow. Immediately on placing man, had no moustache or beard, and therefore his hands as directed by Mâhâdeva, a magnificent none of the neighbouring chieftains would give moustache and flowing beard sprang forth. him a daughter in marriage. He endeavoured Mâideva, after performing his adorations, to contract alliances in many places, but in returned to Jodhpur, and, there collecting an vain. He particularly endeavoured to obtain a army, marched straight upon Jesalmir to be daughter of the Bhâti Chief of Jesalmir, but avenged on the Bhâti. On arriving at Jesalthat chief refused. Râo Mâlde va, feeling mir, the opposing forces fought for one day weary of life, determined to perform penance of with doubtful success; but on the next a severe description, and should this fail, to day the Bhâti Chief made overtures to the perish among the glaciers of Kâilâsa. He Râo, saying that he had refused him his repaired, therefore, to the Himalaya mountains, daughter as he had then no beard or mousand there, entering a cave, was most assiduous tache, but that now he had so fine a moustache in his devotions. Mâhâdéva, at last moved by and so flowing a beard he would give him a his earnest prayer, became visible in the shape daughter with pleasure. A truce was accordof a Jogi and desired him to ask a boon. ingly concluded, and R&o Mâldeva, entering Mâldeva demanded a beard and moustache, Jesalmir in peace, was married to the Bhâti's and Mâhâdeva directed him to put his hands to daughter, whose name was Umâ. The Bhâti his upper lip and chin, and moustache and bestowed on his daughter, who was of singular Ind. Ant. vol. II. p. 276.
