Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 5, 1894.djvu/39

Rh and energetic of speech and gesture; skin very dark; Maravans are fairer. Ordinary dress, a small loin-cloth, and turban. Men wear a couple of ear-rings in each ear.

The Kullens of Madura are divided into East-country Kullens and West-country Kullens. Those of the west say they were separated from the others by the King Tirumal Naik, in consequence of one of their number having stolen something from the palace, of which they were the watchmen.

There are eight tribes in the east, and the same number in the west. Those of the east will not intermarry with those of the west, but they will eat together. It is curious that the South India Railway now divides them.

The tribes of the west first. The Paramalli Nâdu Kullens are divided into eight tribes—perhaps tribe is not the right word. The divisions may be inter-tribal. I am unable to decide. The names not exclusively Tamil, or even Dravidian in origin, are those of the head village of each tribe, or whatever it is. It is important, because thereon depends whether their marriage is exogamous or otherwise. A man or woman of one of the eight tribes must marry into one of the others. Men marry between 15 and 25, girls over 10. Bridegroom goes with music to the bride's village, bearing material for a feast, and remains there feasting for two days. On the third day he brings the girl home quietly. The marriage token is unique. It is made of twisted or plaited hair of a bullock's tail, or it may be of horsehair. It is tied round the bride's neck by the bridegroom's sister. The bridegroom is bound to provide some article of food for his wedding feast which he has stolen, and this unfortunate necessity sometimes separates him from his bride, the police taking care of him instead.

A woman may leave her husband whenever she likes. The fine idea of the spiritual union of the Hindu marriage is quite foreign to the Kullens, as well as to all the earlier races of South India. So important is this, that I will