Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 8.djvu/80

KORAMA, OR KORWA. In a note Colonel Harvey adds:—"A full report from myself of this very extensive and most enterprising race of robbers was printed by the Government of Bombay, in No. 1 of Selections from the Police Branch of the Judicial Department; and they have also been frequently noticed in other reports from the Government of India, as in the case of the murder at Ballary of the magistrate, Mr. Ralph Horsley, of the Madras Civil Service. A very large number of them appear in our register." We have not the report above alluded to at hand for further quotation of the habits and depredations of this very mischievous class of dacoits and burglars; but though nothing is mentioned of their evil practices in the official report attached to the Photograph, there is no doubt whatever that the Korwas or Koramas hold a very high rank among the classes who are habitual and hereditary dacoits, not only in Mysore, but in the Deccan generally, and especially in the territories of His Highness the Nizam.

In addition to other occupations, the Korvas are usually village musicians, playing upon the native pipes and drums, in which some are very clever. The melodies are hereditary, passing from father to son, while occasionally new ones are invented. These pipers play at weddings, funerals, and on all occasions of domestic festivity. They also attend the village temples and processions; in short, are constantly in requisition. The pipes, though in fact reed flageolets, have tones precisely similar to bagpipes, and many of the airs resemble Scotch and Irish, and have equivalent distinctions and appellations. The pipes play the airs, and there are tenor and bass drones as accompaniment, which are tuned to the key of the piece. It is to be regretted, we think, that this national music is not collected and preserved; for much of it is characteristic and pathetic, as well as joyful and amorous. We may add to the Korwa occupations, the dressing of hand in ill stones, in which they are considered adepts.

All Korwas do not intermarry. There are separate gotes and divisions, who only marry with each other; and the distinctions are curious enough, pertaining to differences in occupations, as well as in crime. Thus Korwa dacoits do not intermarry with Korwa burglars. The former attack houses with lighted torches and in arms, and do murder if necessary; the latter quietly dig a hole through a mud wall, creep in, and steal what they can without violence. The former worship and take with them upon their expeditions the sacred axe dedicated to Kali; the others do not use it. Thus there are degrees of dignity even in these fearful hereditary crimes, as well as of hereditary leadership; and the people at large may be well thankful to the British Government for the repression, in a great measure, of the atrocities committed by these and other miscreants, to whose depredations former native governments were indifferent.

It is to be regretted that the Photographic illustrations of the people of Mysore end here; for there are many classes in that province which differ from those elsewhere, and are interesting in very many respects.—M. T.