MANUAL OP THE NILAGIKl DISTRICT. 359 



and in lieu thereof to charge a very moderate upset price^ which CHAP. XIII, 

 might be fixed at different rates for different districts of the Hills TART ii. 

 for all comers, subject, of course, to the assessment and stipula- Revenue 

 tions intended to secure the hona fides of the purchasers. History. 

 Waste lands might be subjected to a special rate and valuation 

 with reference to the standing timber." The questions were 

 referred to the Board of Revenue for report, and the Commis- 

 sioner was ordered to form a committee consisting of gentle- 

 men '^ w^ell acquainted with the condition of land on the 

 Hills." The committee constituted under this order consisted of —appoint- 

 Mr. J. R. Cockerell, Major-General H. R. Morgan, Mr. W. G . ^^^^^^^/^J^ ^^^ 

 Mclvor, Captain Campbell Walker, Mr. W. Cotton Rhode, and inquiry and 

 Mr. E. J. C. Brace. Their report and draft of land rules, which ''^'"^*- 

 contained many eminently radical alterations, will be found, 

 with the Board of Revenue's review thereon, in CO., 18th 

 February 1876. This order was not final, but in pursuance of 

 the policy already indicated the Government directed the Board 

 to draw up another scheme of rules, abandoning the auction 

 system, and 'Westing in the Commissioner authority to dispose 

 of individual applications, subject to an appeal to the Board of 

 Revenue." The Commissioner was instructed to have forest 

 reserves defined. The draft i-ules submitted by the Board will be 

 found in G.O., 5tli May 1876. The modification of rules has been 

 postponed by Government, as it appeared that the sanction of 

 the Secretary of State to any vital changes would be necessary. 

 Meanwhile a commission was appointed to settle on forest reserves 

 and the completion of the Nilagiri revenue survey ordered to be 

 expedited. The result has been that the sale of forest lands under 

 the rules has been practically stopped. 



The following table shows the lands sold under the rules since 

 their introduction. It will be observed that the average price 

 does not exceed 7 rupees an acre. The land however includes a 

 considerable area of grass land. Good land may be obtained from 

 Badagas for 10 rupees an acre, but inter se lands are often trans- 

 ferred for much less. 



