some reason not stated) from Ummattur (in the present Chamarajnagar taluk of Mysore), and settled at Malai- kota, the old fort near Kalhatti. Their family deities were Bhujangesvara and Ummattur Urakatti, which are still worshipped as such. They brought with them a following of Bedars and Badagas, and thereafter always encouraged the immigration to the hills of more Canarese people. The village of Bannimara, a mile west of Kalhatti, is still peopled by Bedars who are said to be descendants of people of that caste who came with the two brothers ; and to this day, when the Badagas of the plateau have disputes of difficulty, they are said to go down to Nellialam with presents (kanikai) in their hands, nd ask the Arasu to settle their differences, while, at the time of their periodical ceremonies (manavalai) to the memory of their ancestors, they send a deputation to Nellialam to invite representatives of the Arasu to be present."
Close to the village of Bethalhada is a row of cromlechs carved with figures of the sun and moon, human beings, animals, etc., and enclosed within a stone kraal, which the Badagas claim to be the work of their ancestors, to whom periodical offerings are made. At the time of my visit, there were within one of the cromlechs a conch shell, lingam, bell, and flowers. A number of these sculptured cromlechs at SholDr, MelDr, and other spots on the Nllgiris, aie described and figured by Breeks,[1] who records that the cromlech at Jakata Kambe is interesting as being the place of the yearly sacrifice performed by the Badagas of the Jakaneri grama (village) by their Kani Kurumba. And he adds that the Badagas would seem to have usually selected the
- ↑ Account of the Primitive Tribes and Monuments of the Nilagiris, 1873.
