it is very late, it is time you returned home,” said my first friend.  “No,” I said, “now I have found you I will not leave you.”  “No, no,” he said, “you must go home.  You cannot leave the world yet; you are a father and a husband, and you must not neglect your worldly duties.  Follow the footsteps of your late respected uncle; he did not neglect his worldly affairs, though he cared for the interests of his soul; you must go, but I will meet you again when you get your fortnightly holiday.”  On this he embraced me, and I again became unconscious.  When I returned to myself, I found myself at the bottom of Col.  Jones’ Coffee Plantation above Coonor on a path.  Here the Sannyasi wished me farewell, and pointing to the high road below, he said, “Now you will know your way home;” but I would not part from him.  I said, “All this will appear a dream to me unless you will fix a day and promise to meet me here again.”  “I promise,” he said.  “No, promise me by an oath on the head of my idol.”  Again he promised, and touched the head of my idol.  “Be here,” he said, “this day fortnight.”  When the day came I anxiously kept my engagement and went and sat on the stone on the path.  I waited a long time in vain.  At last I said to myself, “I am deceived, he is not coming, he has broken his oath”—­and with grief I made a poojah.  Hardly had these thoughts passed my mind, than lo! he stood beside me.  “Ah, you doubt me,” he said; “why this grief.”  I fell at his feet and confessed I had doubted him and begged his forgiveness.  He forgave and comforted me, and told me to keep in my good ways and he would always help me; and he told me and advised me about all my private affairs without my telling him one word, and he also gave me some medicines for a sick friend which I had promised to ask for but had forgotten.  This medicine was given to my friend and he is perfectly well now.

A verbatim translation of a Settlement Officer’s statement to

—­E.H.  Morgan

Witchcraft on the Nilgiris

Having lived many years (30) on the Nilgiris, employing the various tribes of the Hills on my estates, and speaking their languages, I have had many opportunities of observing their manners and customs and the frequent practice of Demonology and Witchcraft among them.  On the slopes of the Nilgiris live several semi-wild people:  1st, the “Curumbers,” who frequently hire themselves out to neighbouring estates, and are first-rate fellers of forest; 2nd, the “Tain” ("Honey Curumbers"), who collect and live largely on honey and roots, and who do not come into civilized parts; 3rd, the “Mulu” Curumbers, who are rare on the slopes of the hills, but common in Wynaad lower down the plateau.  These use bows and arrows, are fond of hunting, and have frequently been known to kill tigers, rushing in a body on their game and discharging their arrows at a short distance.  In their eagerness they frequently fall victims to this animal; but they are supposed to possess a controlling power over all wild animals, especially elephants and tigers; and the natives declare they have the power of assuming the forms of various beasts.  Their aid is constantly invoked both by the Curumbers first named, and by the natives generally, when wishing to be revenged on an enemy.