Indian Antiquary Vol 08

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 50

36
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY,
(FEBRUARY, 1879.
ENGLISH.
Koi.
Plural. Potkengu
Koi. Singular. Potke Vēku Vanusu Lonka
Bush Root Finger Low ground
Edki
Ş Bôru
Elevated ground Mitta (Tel.) Sleep Dust
Vanusku Lonkângu Bôrka Mittangu no plural.
ENGLISH.
Singular. Plural. Fever
Edkingu Flesh Avungu
no plural. Name Peddêru
Peddéku Mouth Pavaru
Panku Skin
Tölu (Tel.) Tólku Tail Tôka (Tel.)
Tókângu Tooth
Pallu (Tel.) Palku Bone Tsula
Tealângu Knife Kaseru
Kaseku Forehead Nudaru (Tel) Nuduringu
In February I bope to take a tour in the Bästar country, when my vocabularies can be enlarged and compared with the words used in the very heart of the tract inhabited by the Kois.
Food
Cup
Unzôru Dummaramu Döda Ginne (Tel.) Kussiri Pitta (Tel.) Kil Kalla (Tel.) Ollu (Tel.) Gunde (Tel.)
Vegetable Bird
Fish Stone Body Heart
Ginnengu Kussirangu Pittångu Kilêngu. Kalku Olku
Gane
CUSTOMS OF THE KOMTI CASTE.
BY MAJOR J. S. F. MACKENZIE, MAISUR COMMISSION. It is generally believed by other castes that figure of a cow is made of flour, and into its when a marriage takes place in the family of a stomach they put a mixture of turmeric, lime, Komti some member of this family is obliged and water, called wokale. This is evidently to go through the form of inviting the Madi- meant to represent blood. After the cow has gas of the place. If the Madiga s were to been worshipped in due form, it is cut up, and hear the invitation the Komti would certainly to each different family is secretly sent that be assaulted and treated roughly; for the portion of the cow which according to custom Madigas look on the invitation as an insult they are entitled to receive. For example, the and unlucky. In order to prevent the Mâdigas family called Komarla varu receive the hcaring the invitation, the Kom ti takes care horns, the Guntla the neck, &c. I need hardly to go to the back of a Madiga's house at say that the Komtis stoutly deny having any a time when he is not likely to be seen, and such customs, which they say they have, through whispers, into an iron vessel commonly used the ill-will of other castes, been credited with. for measuring out grain, an invitation in the I cannot discover the connection between two following words :-"In the house of the small such different castes as the Komtis and ones (ie. Komtis) a marriage is going to take Madigas, who belong to different divisions. place; the members of the big house (i.e. Madi- The Komtis belong to the 18 pana division, gas) are to come."
while the Madigas are members of the 9 pana. The light to kindle the fire used during the One reason has been suggested. The caste Komti's marriage ceremony must be obtained goddess of the Komtis is the virgin Karfrom a Madiga's house; but, since the nika Amma, who destroyed herself rather Madiga s object to giving it, some artifice has than marry a prince because he was of another to be used in getting this fire.
caste. She is usually represented by a vessel I also find that it is the custom to obtain the full of water, and before the marriage cerefire for barning Kå may - the Indian Cupid, -at monies are commenced she is brought in state the end of the Holi feast, from a Madiga's from her temple and placed in the seat of honour house. The Madigas do not object to giving in the house. the fire-in fact they are paid for it.
The Madiga s claim Karnikâ as their There is said to be another queer custom goddess; worship her under the name of M & haamong the Komtis, and one from which some tangiz, and object to the Komtis taking of the families deriye their distinguishing name. their goddess. After the marriage has been completed, the Bangalore, October 1878.