MANUAL OF THE NILAOmi DISTRICT. 



Revenue 

 History. 



that the Badagas aud other hill tribes had never utiUzed streams cnAP. XIII, 

 as irrigants was not disputed, asserting that it would not be PART II. 

 easy to establish " a principle which, conceding their title to the 



land (as Government had done), would deny their right to the water 



which rises in it or flows through it." They also argued that 

 compared with the assessments charged on dry lands in Coimba- 

 tore, the Hill assessments were not low when all the countervailing 

 circumstances were taken into consideration. '' To exclude/' the 

 Board go on to say, ' ' from the advantages o£ irrigation a tract 

 of couutry so favoured by nature as the Neilgherry table-land, 

 fitted for the culture of the mulberry tree, coffee, flax, and other 

 valuable products both of the Torrid and the Temperate Zones, 

 while it would be opposed to all true and enlightened policy, 

 would, the Board submit, be productive of little or no benefit 

 to the inhabitants of the low country. The quantity of water 

 required for irrigation on the Hills is inconsiderable, and even of 

 that quantity .... some portion percolates the earth and 

 falls into the same stream at a lower level. On the other hand, 

 the advantage to the ryots of the plains from an increased demand 

 for their rice and other products on the Hills, consequent on the 

 extension of agricultural speculations prosecuted there, is too 

 obvious to need remark." But whilst holding these views as 

 regards the rights of the ryots of the plains, they also held 

 that a settler should not be permitted to turn the course of 

 the stream, raise a dam, or cut a channel without first 

 communicating with the local authorities, so as to prevent " one 

 cultivator from engrossing water to the prejudice of anothei*, 

 and ensuring to all a fair and equal proportion of this necessary 

 element of cultivation." The Government however did not dispose 

 of the question raised for disposal of land applications submitted 

 shortly afterwards, but determined to await the survey of the 

 HiUs, which was very shortly afterwards taken in hand. In a 

 despatch, however, of the 17th June 1845, the Court of Directors 

 entirely agreed in the \'iews of the Board of Revenue regarding 

 the disposal and control of the streams of the Hills. 



In the manual, after reciting the settlement made in 1836 and Resume of 

 1837 as to assessment on lands in Ootacamand and lands taken up ® i^anua . 

 for cultivation, hitherto used as pasture by the Todas, and declar- 

 ing that the demand on Badaga arable lands had been determined, 

 the Government laid down the following rules, which applied to 

 Europeans or others taking up land for agricultural and building 

 purposes : — 



(1.) Native inhabitants of the Nilagiris to hold on putta lands 

 occxipied and any further lands they may take up for their own 

 cultivation. 



(2.) Native settlers to hold similarly "such lands as they may take 

 up londjide for their own occupancy." 



45 



