The poem "Widower's Tango" by Pablo Neruda makes us of the italicized
term "coolies corringhis," which seems from context, like it might be
some sort of tropical fever.  Is that what it is?  Has anyone else
ever heard this term?

Yes, I have heard the term, and I believe "corringhis" describes the
coolies' origins.

In "Shooting an Elephant" George Orwell writes about the death of a
"Coringhee coolie":

"Among the Europeans opinion was divided. The older men said I was
right, the younger men said it was a damn shame to shoot an elephant
for killing a coolie, because the elephant was worth more than any
damn Coringhee coolie. "
http://www.courses.vcu.edu/ENG200-dwc/orwell.htm

The man who was killed was a Dravidian, suggesting he was from the
south of India.

These notes from a course on Orwell say that Coringhee is a "place in
Southern India":
http://aumis.athabascau.ca/engl265/flash_content/support_materials/supportmaterials/essays.htm

Although I spent a while trying various spellings and various maps, I
couldn't locate Coringhee any more precisely. The best I could find in
southern India was Kuringi Street in Pondicherry:
http://www.pondy-central.com/grapevine/msg00016.html

I hope this helps - Leli


Searches:

"Shooting an Elephant"

"Coringhee" and various alternative spellings

Maps at:

UT maps
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/

Maps of India
http://www.mapsofindia.com/

Coolies Pondicherry

---

Clarification of Answer by leli-ga on 21 Oct 2003 09:44 PDT

Perhaps this is where the Indian labourers came from?

"Coringa" on the east coast, about half way up, on this 1882 British map:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/india_1882.jpg

"CORINGA, a seaport of British India" (early 20th century)
http://18.1911encyclopedia.org/C/CO/CORINGA.htm

The Orwell reference was revealing and something that I would never
have come up with on my own.  The response was also very prompt.  I am
impressed with the fact that you also tried to find the exact location
on a map.  I think I will be using this service again.