458 MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



CH. XXVII. been aided from the farm and that six more families were desirous 



Agri^ture. of settling here, he proceeds :- 



" There is every promise of extensive tracts of land now lying waste 



and capable of becoming most productive being brought under 

 cultivation, to the increase of public revenue and to the useful 

 employment of Indo-Britons and others for whom it has become 

 difficult to find occupation." 



On this the Committee remark that they '^ have no hesitation in 

 giving their opinion, founded on the observations they have 

 personally made in their several excursions, that cultivation 

 might be carried on to a very great extent on the Hills. The 

 flourishing appearance of the fields of grain around the small 

 villages of the Native Badagas proves the excellence of the soil 

 and the many flowing and unceasing streams of water from 

 springs on the Hills ensure constant irrigation during the driest 

 parts of the season and when the periodical rains may be scanty. 

 The Committee therefore beg to recommend the adoption of 

 Major Crewe's suggestions as to encouraging colonization to the 

 greatest possible extent ; materials for constructing the most 

 comfortable dwellings for natives are to be had in abundance." 

 The Government approved these suggestions, observing that 

 there could be no possible objection, care being taken that the 

 new settlers have only land that has not been broken up, and that 

 they make to the Todas when there is a mand in its vicinity, 

 the same acknowledgments as the Badagas have made to the 

 Todas ; but that this rule was not to preclude voluntary transfer 

 and purchase of old lands from the Badagas in particular cases, 

 but the general principle should be for the new settlers to 

 occupy new unbroken lands. They at the same time sanctioned 

 the Committee's proposals regarding the farm establishments. 



But the scheme was destined soon to be abandoned under the 

 orders of the Honorable Court and the lands to be restored to 

 the Badagas. The Government however retained the buildings 

 and the gardens immediately adjoining. Subsequently they were 

 leased to the Marquis de St. Simon, the Governor of Pondicherry, 

 who lived there for some time until 1839. In March 1840 Lord 

 Elphinstone, the Governor, arrived on the Hills, and took up his 

 abode at Kaity on account of the greater privacy of the place and 

 of the mildness of its climate. He subsequently purchased the 

 lands from the Badagas and the buildings from Government and 

 continued to reside there occasionally. He built the large house 

 and extended the plantation. On his departure the property was 

 purchased by Mr. Casamajorof the Civil Service, by whom it was 

 bequeathed to the German Mission. 



This was the first and last effort by Government directly to 

 establish a model farm on the Nilagiris. 



