ii2 SIR VICTOR BROOKE CHAP. 



at any time ; in fact, their only dress is a long white 

 sheet thrown round them. They have a decided 

 Roman cast of feature, are tall, well made, olive - 

 coloured complexions. The women are beautiful ; 

 many a Belgravian maiden would covet their eyes, 

 teeth, hair, feet, and hands. The men are handsome, 

 with long curly hair, jet-black. Their sole occupation 

 is herding immense flocks, or rather herds, of buffaloes. 

 These animals are nearly wild, and will charge a white 

 man in the most savage and inconsiderate manner. The 

 Todas live in small wigwams (huts) in total darkness ; 

 their habits are simple and primitive to a degree ; they 

 consider us trespassers, and themselves as the only 

 lawful inhabitants of these charming hills. When first 

 I went to my hut they had never seen a white man, so 

 I allowed them to bring their young ladies, who seemed 

 extremely anxious to see such a curious sight, and let 

 them have a good stare, which I returned with decided 

 interest. They consider me their protector, as they 

 say, * When the great hunter is here, we fear no tigers 

 for our herds ; at a wave of his hand the striped 

 demons vanish ! ' They consider tigers as devils sent 

 to persecute them by one of their gods. To go back 

 to our bit of mutton. These Todas came to me on 

 my arrival, saying that two tigers were doing them 

 immense harm, killing buffalo after buffalo a tiger and 

 a tigress. The tiger they described as an immense 

 animal, and the tigress as a most savage, cunning 

 brute that they very seldom saw, though she did more 

 harm than her more reasonable spouse. I promised that 

 I would set to work and do my best to rid them of 

 either one or both. I demanded one buffalo to be 

 given me as necessary to accomplish my purpose. 

 This they willingly acceded to. I then set to work 

 and made myself thoroughly acquainted with the 



