6 As I have already pointed out, this would only happen if the people were of the same clan and sex. ↑
7 My notes do not make it absolutely clear who lights the fire at the funeral of a male. The puntüt is lighted by a man of the same clan, and this is probably also the case with the azaramtüt. Owing to the fact that a woman becomes a member of her husband’s clan, the daughter-in-law who lights the fire at a woman’s funeral will also be of the same clan as the deceased. ↑
8 There was some question as to whether the ceremony did not begin as soon as the fire was lighted. ↑
9 This would seem to indicate that when the fire is extinguished, the objects burnt with the relics are far from being consumed by the fire. ↑
13 Kakoji is the Kota name for a toe-ring worn on the second toe of the right foot by Kota women (see Breeks, p. 123). A similar word is used for bracelets of vine made by the Todas as a game. ↑
14 In some cases Samuel could not give the literal meanings, and has only given the general sense of the kwarzam. ↑
16 As both these funeral laments were obtained from Samuel, I cannot guarantee that the method of spelling adopted is the same as that used elsewhere in the book; this is especially the case with the sign ‘th,’ which, in agreement with the practice customary in South India, was used by Samuel for the lingual ‘ṭ,’ and sometimes for a sound for which I have used the letter d. ↑
17 For the story to which this refers, see Chapter XXVIII. ↑
18 This may possibly be the world of Yama, the Todas rarely, if ever, using the letter y. The word was often pronounced Amanòdr. ↑
19 This is one of several instances in which the initial t of a word is omitted in compound forms. ↑
20 Möditi is the name applied to all the women of other tribes. It is perhaps suggestive that this name should be used for a stone connected with the goddess Teikirzi. ↑
21 Several of those who have witnessed Toda funerals have noticed that barren buffaloes are killed on these occasions, and I believe that it is a recognised custom to use such animals. Pidrvan’s funeral lament begins with a reference to barren buffaloes, and the clause, “in the midst of barren buffaloes you went,” evidently refers to Pidrvan’s skill in catching buffaloes at the funeral ceremonies. ↑