324 MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



CHAP. XIII, lands not appearing in tlie puttas of tliis settlement conld not be 

 PART I. obtained by the Badagas except by purcliase in auction undei- 

 Revenue ^lie Waste Land Eules recently sanctioned. No exception appears 

 History, to have been made even in the case of house sites. The Board 

 of Revenue demurred to this restriction, pointing out at the same 

 time that the final rule of the Waste Land Rules expressly reserves 

 to Government the power to grant land on putta as heretofore ; 

 but the Government of the day were less liberally inclined, and 

 resolved not to grant the Badagas any greater privileges in regard 

 to waste lands, even though situated within the inmost circle of the 

 hamlet farms, than were allowed to Europeans and other immi- 

 grants, remarking that the Badagas had been liberally dealt with, 

 and as they acquiesced in the future adoption of the rules, there 

 could be no objection to their being brought into operation. 

 This arrangement, it was thought, would prevent disputes between 

 Europeans and Badagas about lands. But this policy was in 

 marked contrast with that of the Marquis of Tweeddale and of 

 his successor Sir Henry Pottinger. Li the rules issued by the 

 latter in 1849, it was expressly declared that the native inhabi- 

 tants of the Nilagiris should continue as heretofore to hold on 

 putta the lands then in their enjoyment and any further lands 

 which they might take up for their own cultivation ; and this 

 liberality was not confined to the hill-tribes, but any native settler 

 from the low country was allowed to hold on similar tenure such 

 lands as he might take bond fide for his own occupancy.^ The 

 views, however, of the Madras Government found acceptance with 

 the Secretary of State, Sir Charles Wood, who, in a despatch 

 dated 23rd November 1864, expressed his gratification at the 

 result of Mr. Grant's settlement and acquiesced in the restrictions 

 on the Badagas. 

 Effects of the This measure has been until recently virtually ignored, and 

 measure. consequently its restrictive effects have been but little felt ; but 

 there can be no question that had the revenue system of the 

 succeeding twelve or fourteen years been strictly in accordance 

 with rule, and had the rights of Government been secured by an 

 accurate survey, its operation would have produced much discon- 



^ I cannot refrain from quoting the order of Sir Frederick Adam's Government, 

 31st October 1834, when granting compensation for the appropriation by 

 Mr. Lushington's Government of Badaga ryots' lands for the experimental farm 

 at Kaity. It rnns : — " Supposing the rights of the Burghers to be merely a 

 pi-escriptive right of occupancy, that right should not have been taken from them 

 (so long as thoy fulfilled the condition of tenants by providing for the cultivation 

 of the land and paying the Government revenue) without compensation in land or 

 money. Restitution will now be made to them, but something more than i-estitu- 

 tion is necessary to do them full justice ; they should be compensated for the 

 loss of the profit they were accustomed to derive from the land after pajnng the 

 revenue and all charges during the time they have been out of possession." 



