344 MANUAL OP THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



PART II. 



European and other Immigrants, 



Absence of restrictions on acquisition of land by Europeans. — Policy of Lord 

 Amherst's Government. — Rules promulgated. — Orders of Madras Government 

 regarding acquisition of lands on the Hills. — Mr. Lushington encourages settle- 

 ments of Anglo-Indians. — Rates on lands in the Melnid prohibitive — Mr. Sullivan 

 proposes changes — determination of Government — subsequent modifications. — 

 Radical changes in the policy of Government in 1842. — Rules in the DehraDoon 

 despatch. — Manual of Land Rules to be prepared. — Right of settlers to use of 

 water. — Resume of the manual. — Modification in 1858. — Redemption of land-tax 

 sanctioned. — Causes of variety of tenures on the Hills. — Discussion on land policy 

 of Government of India after the Mutiny — Lord Stanley's despatches — Lord 

 Canning's Resolution — action of the Madras Government — discussions in Parlia- 

 ment.— Waste Lands Bill. — Nilagiri Land Rules sanctioned. — Debate in the 

 House of Commons. — Changes in the Rules and their causes. — Auction system 

 called in question. — Appointment of a Committee of Inquiry and results. — Table 

 of Sales of Waste Lands. — Absence of Tope Rules. — Firewood allotments. 



CHAP. XIII, It remains for us now simply to trace the liistory of the land 

 PART II. in connection with immigrant settlers. When Europeans first 

 Revenue ^^'^^ ^P ^^^^^ residence on the Hills no rules had been laid 

 History, down, or the policy of the East India Company indicated, in 

 Absence of regard to the acquisition of lands by Europeans, more especially 

 restrictions by their owu Servants. As will be known to covenanted civilians, 

 of lanTby '^'^ their covenant, whilst containing severe restrictions against 

 Europeans, trading, i.e., privately competing with their employers in the 

 trade of the country, is silent in regard to the acquisition or owner- 

 ship of land. Consequently when Mr. Sullivan, who was the 

 first purchaser of land on the Hills, acquired the Stonehouse, 

 and subsequently other properties, there were no restrictions 

 on transactions of this nature. Believing strongly in the 

 Todas' right to the uplands, he purchased direct from them, 

 and his conduct in so doing was never questioned by the Govern- 

 ment of the day ; so far from so doing the Government about 

 ten years later purchased his properties from him, accepting 

 his titles as valid. Other original settlers followed the course 

 adopted by Mr. Sullivan, and many of the oldest properties in 

 Ootacamand were acquired in this way. For some time no 

 assessment was demanded by Government. For several years 

 such land alienations were confined to the cantonment of Ootaca- 

 mand ; but during the rapid development of this station under 

 Mr. Lushington's Government, in consequence of the increasing 

 number of applications for land and the disorder and indefinite- 

 ness that existed in relation of many of the properties already 

 acquired from the Todas, the Madras Government towards the close 



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