Online Encyclopedia
Make a correction
Your email address will not appear on the site. Note, comments may take some time to be approved.
Back to article:
IRULAS (" Benighted ones," from Tamil, iral, " darkness ")
Your email:
Article name:
Article content:
IRULAS (" Benighted ones," from Tamil, iral, " darkness "), a semi-Hinduized forest-tribe of southern India, who are found mainly in North Arcot, Chingleput, South Arcot, Trichinopoly, and the Malabar Wynaad. The typical Irulas of the Nilgiris live a wild life on the lower slopes of those hills. At the 19o1 census this branch of the Irulas numbered 1913, while the total of so-called Irulas was returned at 86,087. See J. W. Breeks, Primitive Tribes of the Nilgiris (1873) ; Nilgiri Manual, i. 214-217; North Arcot Manual, i. 248-249.