THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



certain playfulness. It is 

 impossible not to be 

 struck by the taste and 

 simplicity of their cos- 

 tume. Draped in a sort 

 of toga, with one arm 

 and thigh uncovered, they 

 have quite the "grand 

 air "; but it is a pity they 

 do not wash themselves. 

 Mr. J. W. Breeks says: 

 " \Ve could not help 

 liking them. They were 

 extremely amused at our 

 British idiosyncrasies, and 

 laughed at them un- 

 restrainedly, not consider- 

 ing themselves in any 

 way our inferiors.'' Their 

 hearty good-humour and 

 free, jovial manners are 

 no less pleasing than 

 their politeness, affability, 

 and courtesy. Dr. Shortt, 

 writing in 1868, made 

 the sweeping assertion 

 that most of the women 

 have been debauched by 

 Europeans, who have in- 

 troduced diseases to which 

 these innocent tribes were once perfect strangers, but which are no less surely sapping their 

 once hardy and vigorous constitutions. This, however, is untrue. They are sadly addicted 

 to strong drink, and will drink neat brandy out of a mug. 



The women are treated with respect, and enjoy a largo amount of freedom. They tend 

 children, cook the family meals, bring water from the spring, and keep the house in order 

 such as it is. The men tend the cattle and do most of the outdoor work. They are a quiet, 

 undemonstrative, and very domestic people. The entire family, down to the last cousin, are 

 regarded as one household. The men maintain their authority sensibly and without tyranny. 

 But sometimes a woman of superior intelligence may rule her husband. The women mark, or 

 tattoo, portions of the body namely, the arms, chest, and legs; and they wear a heavy metal 

 ring on the arm. Though their intellect is of a very inferior order, and they possess but 

 little force of character, yet what they do know they know well. They may be said to be 

 even intelligent within certain narrow limits. 



The odorous abode of the Todas is called a man/I (village, or hamlet), which is composed 

 of huts (see illustration on page 187), dairy, and cattle-pen. Each mand usually comprises 

 about five buildings, or huts, three of which are used as dwellings. These are usually 

 10 feet high, 18 feet long, and 9 feet broad. The very small entrance, only 18 inches 

 wide, is not provided with any door or gate, but is closed by a wooden plank, which forms 

 a sort of sliding-door. To enter, one has to go down on all-fours, and even then much 

 wriggling is necessary. The hut is built of bamboos closely laid together, and the roof is 

 thatch; only in the middle is the height sufficient to enable a tall man to walk about 

 comfortably. On one side there is a platform where the family sleep. Each hut is surrounded 



'/'A* l'fi//'i<ff-' 'I'lih'xuf the 

 Under-Secretory of state for 



J. It'. Brttks (by Jti /'ltd*. 



KOTA WOMEN, MAKING POTS. 



