Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/43

1827.] they make toddy from the Erpatree flowers, &c.

moulo gotzere teiaro koriba modda

erpi phoungha mhranuta kallu teiari gia manju

they put (the flowers and fruit ground small) into water for four or five days—and then boil—and then take off the spirit

(phullo phallo) chair panchi dini panire bottere rukhibo tein potche randibo tein potche moddo karibo

char panch din sideruji itininju dau vajininni dau kallu eheneju

what is the use of the kissi tree?

kissi gotza ki peyti ki asowathei

kissi mhranu anni veygierru

we use the bark to make strings

lohi douri pain noutchu

amu nossu doruki vattiki onum

After making out the list of words and questions, I took every opportunity of interrogating any Khond whom I met, and it was amusing to see his astonishment when I spoke to him.

On returning to the low country the only Khonds I met with, were some young children that had been preserved from sacrifice by the Collector. To one of these I addressed myself, asking his name in Khonds; speaking fast, at first he did not understand me, but on pronouncing more slowly and distinctly, he instantly called out his name.

In the preceding vocabulary the numerals are derived from the Sanscrit: the Tamil numerals are quite different. Some few of the words have been explained in Mr. Stevenson's list. In the rest there is a tolerable sprinkling of words, which are synonimous with Teluga or Tamil words. The Udiya dialect is seen at a glance, to be derived from the Mágadha, or Bengal and Babar dialects, if not from the Hindustani, to which it has a frequent resemblance, some times amounting to identity. But I look upon the Udiya (or Wodiah) to be more modern than the Khoond speech. The word for milk may be noted as being in Udiya, the same as in Telugu, and nearly the same as in Tamil, while Pádú, as the Khoonds have it, shews a variation, which would give a different sense in Tamil; and yet it is probable that the word in all three dialects is originally the same. It will not perhaps, be expected, and I know not that it would answer any really valuable object, to pursue as mutate an examination with this list as with that of Mr. Stevenson. It may suffice to say that the same general result is indicated; which is, that the Khoonds have words peculiar to themselves, and others which are found in the low-land languages of the peninsula.