MANUAL OP THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 185 



tracts along the Kistna river, than to the common and meaner CIIAP. IX, 

 animal of the plains.^ PART I. 



Dr. Pope derives the name from the Tamil word Toru-van, a Ethnology. 

 herdsman. Mr. Metz and Dr. Caldwell doubt the correctness of _^ ■; ~~ . 



. . . . ^ ^■ 17 Derivation or 



this derivation, the d m Toda being the dental, not the lingual a, the name 

 and not related to the Tamil r or I. They consider the correct T<5da- 

 derivation still unknown. 



The Todas surpass all the other tribes in physique and dignity physical 

 of bearing, but they are not so tall as the Badagas. Still they character. 

 may be spoken of as tall, the height of the men averaging 5 feet 

 3*30 inches, that of the women 5 feet 0'25 inches. Their features 

 may best be described as European, with Roman noses and bright 

 hazel eyes, good teeth and an abundance of rather coarse but 

 glossy black hair, which is worn in a crop by the men and in long 

 thick ringlets by the women. The expression of their counte- 

 nances is open, fearless, and agreeable, and their smile invariably 

 pleasant although rather vacant. Those who are interested in 

 the lost tribes have been attracted by the peculiar noses of the 

 Todas. Their faces have sometimes a general resemblance to the 

 Jewish type, but nothing in their customs or traditions connects 

 them with the Jews. There is, however, a pastoral simplicity about 

 them, when seen with their herds or in their homes, which agrees 

 with our preconceived ideas of the primitive Hebrews. But it is 

 rather beside the other races of the Nilagiris, than as compared 

 with the natives of the plains, that the Todas appear to great 

 advantage.^ Though admitting that they are a hardy, fine-looking 

 race, as might be expected from their simple mode of life and the 

 bracing mountain air they breathe. Dr. Caldwell remarks : — 



" It is also certain that many of the statements that are commonly 

 made, both in conversation and in books, respecting their physical 

 characteristics are mere romance. As regards size and strength of 

 body they will not bear comparison with the natives of the North- 

 West Provinces, or even with the Telugu farmers and palanquin- 

 bearers. The supporters of the Celtic Indo-European origin of the 

 Tudas, are wont to rest the chief weight of their theory on the Roman 

 noses of their proteges, but aquiline noses are not unfrequently met 

 with amongst the people of the plains, though they have not had the 

 good fortune to attract so much of the notice of tourists ; and, after 

 all, the nose which is most commonly seen on the Tuda face is not an 

 aquiline, but simply a large nose. Even if it were universal, it 

 would reveal nothing respecting the origin of the Tuda, for physio- 

 logy makes little account of noses, but much of heads and the shape 



* Dr. Shortt thinks all the breeds identical. 



^ The good food which the Badaga is now able to secure is improving his 

 physique. 



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