MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. ' 327 



the soil, aud the assessment, when once fixed in a putta on the CHAP. Xlli, 



report of the subordinate revenue official, who probably bases his PART I. 



opinion on the description of pi-oduce that may be raised thereon, revenue 



is not, I believe, ordinarily disturbed. Formerly, however, it History. 



was the practice at the approach of harvest for the taluk officials 



with the curuums to make a tour through the different villages, 



" and form an estimate of the probable outturn of the crop on each 



field from its appearance, rating it as first class if it promises to be 



abundant, and as second class if otherwise. The highest rate 



levied is on lands cultivated for potatoes, which pay 7 rupees per 



vullam (bulla) for first-class ground, and 5 rupees for second-class. 



The next rate in the scale of assessment is applied to lands 



bearing wheat, which pay for first-class ground Rupees 3-8-5 and 



for second-class Rupees 2-5-7; barley, which pay for first-class 



Rupees 3-8-5 and for second-class Rupees 2-5-7 per vullam, and 



the same for poppy, vendium, mustard seed, garlic and onions. 



The lowest rate applies to raggee, samee, koralley, peas, shen- 



nugee and tenney, all of which pay Rupees 2-0-11 per vullam for 



first-class land, and for second-class Rupees 0-14-1 per vullam." 



— Odchterlony's Memoir, 



(h.) The Graziers — The Todaa. 



Claim of Todas to lordship over plateau — nature of claim — its extent — conditions 

 operating against it. — Restrictions on purchases of land from Tddas. — Claims 

 of the Tddas partially admitted. — Occupation of lands by Eui-opeans attracts 

 attention of Court of Directors. — Change in policy of Madras Government. — 

 Grants made without mention of T(5das' claims. — Settlers continue to purchase 

 from the Tddas. — Sir Frederick Adam's action. — Mr. Sullivan's views — endorsed 

 by Government— approved by Court of Directors. — DiflBculties in carrying policy 

 into effect. — Matters still unsettled in 1839, and Court of Directors interfere. — 

 Mr. Conolly's views. — Mr. C. M. Lushington strongly opposes policy of 

 Government. — Marquis of Tweeddale refers questions to the Court of Directors. 

 — After further report from the Collector of Malabar the Court's despatch, 

 1843, settles questions finally and orders payment of compensation for Ootaca- 

 mand to Todas. —Manual of Land Rules to be prepared — provisions of the manual 

 relating to the Tddas — rescinded by the Waste Land Rules. — Present revenue 

 system. 



Thus far I have treated of the cultivating tribes. I now turn to Tddas' claims 

 the graziers— the Todas. The fact that they, relatively to the over plateau. 

 : Badagas at least, the principal cultivating tribe, were the earliest 

 I occupants of the plateau, gave rise to pretensions on their part to 

 I lordship over the Hills, pretensions which received for many years 

 fthe enthusiastic support of Mr. John Sullivan, of Mr. Hough, and 

 i of Captain Harkness, but which were as strenuously opposed by 

 some distinguished membei'S of the Civil Service, especially Mr. / 

 S. R. Lushington, Mr. C. M. Lushington, and Mr. Bird. Mr. 



