340 MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT, 



CHAP. XIII, wLicli they have enjoyed from time immemorial is a fair subject for 

 PART I. compensation, although it is probable that many years will elapse 



before cultivation advances so far as to interfere to any serious extent 



History with the means of feeding their herds ; and in the mean time it is to 



be hoped that the Todas will be brought under the influence of more 



settled habits, and see the advantage of uniting the cultivation of the 

 soil with their present occupation of tending buffaloes. 



" There does not appear to us to be any such similarity between 

 the circumstances of the Todas and those of the inhabitants of Malabar 

 in respect to the occupation of the land as would entitle the former to 

 the allowance of 15 per cent, on the profits of cultivating land by any 

 other party than the actual proprietor, which is claimed by the laud- 

 lords in Malabar. We should rather consider that they would be 

 sufficiently compensated by a payment equivalent in amount to the 

 " goodoo " which they now receive from the Burgher cultivators, 

 especially as it would appear that they have not been in the habit of 

 interposing any obstacle to the cultivation of the lands in their occu- 

 pancy on these terms. In the event of land for which the pasturage 

 tax is paid being brought under cultivation, an equivalent remission 

 must of course be made from the amount of the tax. 



"We are of opinion that the stipulated compensation should be 

 added to the assessment which the land may be required to pay to 

 Government in order that the Todas may receive it direct from the 

 Collector's treasury. You consider that it would be desirable to 

 afford the Todas compensation by the payment of a principal sum 

 once for all as a full equivalent for all claims or interest which they 

 may possess in the land. Our principal objection to such an arrange- 

 ment is founded on the liability of the capital sum so raised being 

 dissipated by the simple race for whose ultimate suppoi-t it is intended 

 to provide. Could the capital be invested so as to yield an annual 

 income to be distributed in the same manner and in the same propor- 

 tions as the compensation which we have sanctioned being made 

 from the Collector's treasury, our objections would not only be 

 obviated, but a fund would be provided for assisting any of the Todas 

 to undertake agi-icultural operations, whenever they may be disposed 

 to do so, with advantage to themselves. 



"With respect to the lands which are in the more pei'manent 

 occupation of the Todas, such as their mands or sites of villages and 

 particular spots appropriated to religious rites, we agree with you 

 that they should be secured from all interference, and their absolute 

 right in them declared. We are further of opinion that you should 

 abstain from making any grant of land in the immediate vicinity of 

 their villages, as it is to be hoped that in course of time they may be 

 induced so far to change their habits as to bring them themselves 

 into cultivation. 



" Before these instructions can be systematically acted on it will be 

 necessary that you should be provided with a detailed survey antl map 

 of the Neilgherry Hills, distinguishing the lands in the occupation of 



