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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MAY, 1897.
a house was a more desirable abode than a boat, and gradually their location night assume a greater degree of permanence, dependent, of course, on the degree of protection we afford them from Malay dacoities.
At present, Oo Pay may rule in Doung, but I doubt altogether luis having the slightest influence elsewhere for good or evil. I do not think that it is generally known hox frequently the Salones visit our villages. I daresay I have seen this year from the window of iny house, by two and three at a time, a hundrel Salone boats on the beach of Mergui. Such frequent commnuication with Mergui would, one would think, make them acquainted in some degree with our modes of government, fuld familarize them with the dreaded word “taxation." As I have elsewhere stated, I consider these people by no means poor ; and though tax them as you may, their revenge contributions coald never amount to much, yet I would tax them on the principle that tax-paying would inculcate on them the necessity of looking beyond the morrow, and habits of frugality are a capital foundation for improvement. The tax or tribute exacted I wonld recoive in kind, so many mats per male per annum, and make Oo Pay responsible for collection. The whole tribe should be annually collected on some certain fixed island to receive a visit from the Deputy Comınissioner, pay their tax, and state their grievances, if any, the revenge collected being spent on articles suited to their use which might at these annual gatherings be distribnted as presents. This would probably prove inducement suflicient to ensure attendance, and if they learn that we do not, with the rest of the neighbouring world, look down on them as wholly beneath our notice, we shall soon find them making efforts to render themselves more presentable and deserving of our favour.
I fear that I have been led to write at too great length on this subject; but it is one I take a considerable interest in, and I can offer no other apology for the lengthiness of my letter,
NOTES ON THE SPIRIT BASIS OF BELIEF AND CUSTOM.
BY J. M. CAMPBELL, C.I.E., I.C.S.
(Continued from Vol. XXVI. p. 104.) Tattooing. - Hindus believe that tattoo marks scare or house spirits. In the Karnatak most Hindu women tattoo on their bodies the figures of the palma or lotus, the sankl or conch. shell, and the chukra or discus, the chief weapons of Vishma. or the origin of tattooing, the Brahman story is that Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnı, told her husband that whenever he left her alone she became frightened. Vislıņu took his weapons and pressed them on Lakshmi's bully, saying that the marks of his weapons would guard her against evil. Following this example, Hindus tattoo their bodies that no evil may befall them.
The Ahmadnagar Kaikidis tattoo basil leaves, lotus flowers, and the names of the gods SriRam, Jai-Râm, and Jai-Jai-Ram, on their hands and feet.43 The Madhava Brahman women of Dharwâr tattoo a small dot on the right cheek and chin and a small crescent with two dots just abore the root of the nose. Some women tattoo their hands. Among the Lingayat Bañjgis of Dharwar women tattoo their brows and cheeks, and their chins, hands, and feet. The print on the brow is a black dot or a crescent with a black dot inside. The marks on the chin and cheeks are simple dots; those ou the arms are single or double snakes.45 In Belgaum, the tattoo marks made by the women of the Maritha Killikctars are lines, ovals and circles, the names of gods, and the figures of the tulsi bush and the frankincense tree.56
12 Information from Mr. Inamdar. "Op. cit. Vol. XXII. p. 65. * Op. cit. Vol. XXI. p. 186.
* Bomboy Gazetteer, Vol. XVII. p. 104. 45 Op. cit. Vol. XXII. . 122.
