ArrENDIX TO THE MANUAt 



Their 

 appearance. 



butcd I tliiuk its tcmporaturc of climate and salubirity of air), and all 

 that is required to bring the country under a more complete system 

 of cultivation is the protection of the ryot against the tyranny and 

 oppression of the heads of villages, more extended population, and a 

 free market. 

 Division of The region denominated the Neelgherry is divided into three nauds 



into NaudTor °^ ^^^^^^'^^^^3, tlie Todur Naud, Mekenaud, and Purganaud. These are 

 Districts. inhabited by a race of people differing in language, appearance, and 

 (loubtless in origin, and divided into twelve castes, the principal and 

 most -marked being the Todewars, Kothewars, and Burghers. 

 Todcwara. These appear to be the aborigines of the hills ; they are acknowledged 



lords of the soil by the other castes by the universal practice 

 prevailing amongst them of presenting to the Todewars a certain por- 

 tion of each crop yearly. The Todewars themselves never engage in 

 the labors of agriculture ; they have large herds of buffaloes with which 

 they range from pasture to pasture, and subsist entirely on their 

 produce and on the tribute of grain presented to them by their vassals. 

 The Todewar is fair and handsome, with a fine expressive counte- 

 nance, an intelligent eye, and an aquiline nose ; his appearance is 

 Tnanly, being tall, strong- built, and well set up ; his limbs muscular and 

 finely proportioned. It is not uncommon in a circle of twenty Todewars 

 to find perhaps two or three above six feet high. Their hair generally 

 eui'ls, and some of the women have natui*al ringlets which many a fine 

 lady might envy ; but this is their only chaiTn, possessing no other grace 

 nor beauty. Men and women go bareheaded and barefooted. A 

 single cloth which envelops their persons is the dress common to 

 both sexes. 



A singular custom prevails amongst this caste, the brothers of a 

 family having but one wife in common. They serve her on all occa- 

 sions, and carry her on their shoulders when she journeys or chooses 

 to visit. She selects whom she pleases as her companion at bed and 

 board ; in short her sway is universal in the family, and her orders not 

 to be disputed. Neither the men nor women ever wash their clothes 

 which they wear until it drops off" from age and filth. 



Amongst this people it is to be feared the practice of female infanti- 

 cide prevails. I have had information on this head which leaves me 

 little room to doubt the fact ; they themselves disavow it if questioned, 

 and accoixnt for the comparative paucity of the female sex by 

 declaring that amongst them more men than women are born ; it is 

 my intention, at a future period, to prosecute further inquiry into 

 this subject with a view of submitting some plan if possible for its 

 prevention. 

 Kothewars. This is esteemed a low caste — the paria of the hills, and none of the 

 other castes will eat with them or even cuter their houses. They are 

 the artizans, being carpenters, braziers, silver and iron smiths, chuck- 

 Icrs, and chatty-makers ; they are also the musicians and dancers, 

 in which amusement the women never engage ; their dress is the same 

 as the Todewars — a coarse loose cloth which they also never purify by 



Singular 

 customs 

 amongst the 

 Todewars. 



Female 

 infanticide. 



