Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 8.djvu/139

 BADAGA MEN. (439)

BADAGA WOMEN. (440)

N the preface to his work, Mr. Breeks records "that the Badagas, although the most numerous tribe of the Neelgerry hills, not being an aboriginal race, do not come within the scope of his observations. They are Hindoos chiefly of the Siva sect, and are supposed to have emigrated from Mysore, and settled upon the hills after the breaking up of the Vijava Nugger kinrdom about three hundred years ago. According to the last census they numbered 19,476 souls. They are an agricultural race, and cultivate various cereals of rather a poor sort. They hold their lands under Government at very easy rates, and of late years many of them have acquired considerable wealth and own large herds of cattle. They pay a sort of tribute in grain to the Todas. Their language is a corrupt form of Canarese."

In Mr. Gover's work on the folk songs of Southern India, we find many curious and interesting particulars of the Badagas, interspersed with translations of their folk songs. These songs have descended to the Badagas by oral tradition from very remote periods, and display a tenderness and depth of thought in religious subjects, which surprise as much as gratify the reader. Mr. Gover maintains that the vocabulary of the Neelgerry tribes is almost pure Aryan, and "presents the most startling affinities with the grand Teutonic stock." Though not so high as the Todas, the Badagas are the most numerous and prospe1ous tribe in the Neelgerrv hills; they are decidedly musical like the Kotas, and Mr. Gover observes "are always ready to sing at both marriage or death." Their instrument is a flute with sufficiently numerous and well—placed holes to render it easy to produce what may fairly be called melody. In the evening gathering in Badaga villages, men, women, and children are there. "Ever as they sing, some