Audiobook Thurston, Edgar Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 7 of 7

This seventh volume of the comprehensive regional survey focuses on various communities, tribes, and occupational groups beginning with letters from T to Z. The text examines the distinct practices, traditional trades, and social organization of populations such as the Tiyans, Todas, and Togatas. Considerable attention is given to economic activities like toddy-drawing, carpentry, and coir production, alongside complex matrimonial rituals and inheritance laws. The authors meticulously document domestic ceremonies, religious beliefs, spirit worship, and funeral rites across diverse geographic regions. Throughout the work, the persistence of ancient traditions is highlighted in contrast to the gradual shifts brought about by changing social conditions. The volume provides detailed records of physical measurements, linguistic nuances, and local governance systems, particularly noting the role of hereditary headmen in caste disputes.