Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 8.djvu/60

GAULI. Mysore, and even to Cape Coinorin. They mingle with no other class, and appear to have never changed their habits and profession from the earliest time. Elsewhere Gaulis are orthodox Hindoos, as far as their very limited knowledge extends, though they have many ancient, probably aboriginal, customs in the worship of local sprites, demons, &c., and the places they are believed to frequent. They also employ Brahmins at domestic ceremonies, and worship Vishnu or Siva, or their incarnations. But the Gaulis of Mysore are now Lingayets, a heretic theistic sect, which sprung up in the twelfth century, and which will be described in a separate article. It will be seen that the figure in the Photograph wears a twisted handkerchief round his neck, which contains the mystic object of Lingayet worship, which will be hereafter explained. Gaulis, wherever found, do not trouble themselves with much clothing: a dhoty round the waist, a handkerchief round the head, and a coarse black blanket over all, completes the usual costume, except at festivals, when both men and women produce gayel and richer garments, with gold and silver ornaments.