MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT- 



S2l 



tent, which might have necessitated its abrogation. It has been CHAP. Xlli, 

 urged that the rates fixed on ryots' lands are extremely low when __ 

 compared with the rates paid under the Waste Land Rules, but Revenue 

 this is only partially true, especially when it is considered that the H^sroinr. 

 greater part of Badaga cultivation is on grass and scrub land as 

 opposed to forest. Moreover a Badaga, whilst cultivating yearly 

 one acre, is compelled to pay assessment on, say, four acres, and 

 in this way his assessment is virtually quadrupled.^ Thus for 

 land with 8 annas assessment he practically pays 2 rupees an 

 acre, or the maximum rate on forest land held under the Waste 

 Land Rules. The system adopted is akin to that of Tippu Sultan 

 referred to earlier in the chapter, by which the ryots were com- 

 pelled to pay for all arable lands, whether cultivated or not. 

 The completion of the survey of putta lands, begun in 1870^ at 

 the request of the Commissioner, will soon put an end to the 

 advantage which the hill cultivators have possessed under the 

 settlement of 1863, and will test the question whether or not 

 their lands as a whole are too heavily assessed.^ A Badaga now 

 clings to his land though he may derive little profit fi'om it, 

 because he fears it may be alienated for ever under the Waste 

 Land Rules if it comes to the hammer for arrears of revenue. 

 Meanwhile the well earned fruits of his labour on plantations and 

 roads, and even at handicrafts, provide him with the means of 

 paying the Government demand. In this respect his position 

 compares most favourably with that of ryots in remote taluks in 

 the plains. There can be little doubt that the whole land question 

 of the district requires thorough and systematic treatment, and it 

 will probably be found advisable, on completion of the survey, 

 to have a fresh settlement of the country ; and it would be well, 



^ The survey of the Mekanid increased the occupied area 80 per cent., but 

 probably not more than one-third of this area is yearly cultivated. The fallow, 

 however, has its value as grazing ground. To estimate rightly this increase, the 

 home-farm lands, a fairly well fixed quantity, should be deducted. 



* I would here remark that the resolution of Government when this survey 

 was begun, to demarcate the lands found in the possession or occiipancy of a 

 ryot as his, although the area might be much greater than that entered in his 

 putta, was a direct infraction of Mr. Grant's survey and settlement approved 

 by the Secretary of State, which restricted the Badagas to the lands at that time 

 ascertained to be in their possession, some 29,000 acres. It is well that the 

 finality of the previous settlement was forgotten or ignored. 



^ Quite recently the following rules have been approved by Government for 

 dealing with excess in demarcation : — 



1. In cases of unauthorized occupation of primeval forest, title-deeds for the 

 portion which has not been planted should be absolutely refused, except in special 

 cases to be submitted for the orders of Government ; retention of the area actually 

 planted might be permitted, unless there is some strong ground for prohibiting 

 further cultivation, on payment of the average auction price for similar land 

 sold during the year, or dui'ing a series of three or five years, as may be thought 

 most equitable with reference to the circumstances, such as enhancement of 



