Irulas
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 ive a wild life on the lower slopes of those hills. At the 1901 :ensus this branch of the Irulas numbered 1915, while the total if so-called Irulas was returned at 86,087.
See J. W. Breeks, Primitive Tribes of the Nilgiris (1873)- Nileiri Manual, i. 214-217; North Arcot Manual, {..248-249.
Note - this article incorporates content from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, (1910-1911)
