Ootacamund and Anglo-Indian Life 335 



settlement, where buffaloes were objects of worship, 

 and a deity called "the Hunting God." Todas believe 

 that after death the soul goes to Oru-now, " the great 

 or other country/' and they are full of superstitions. 

 Polyandry is practised, a woman marrying all the 

 brothers of a family. It is an interesting race, but 

 rapidly becoming extinct ; milks, curds, ghee (rancid 

 butter) and a few grains, scarcely constitute a stimula- 

 ting diet calculated to produce a thriving population. 



None of the many cairns found on the Nilgiris and 

 opened by indefatigable archaeologists have produced 

 more than funeral urns, vases of burnt bones, weapons 

 and images. So the veil is unlifted from Toda history. 

 They themselves say that their ancestors were Autoch- 

 thones. 



The history of the Blue Mountains is only one of 

 raids by various chiefs from the plains, who controlled 

 and taxed the hill tribes for a time. The first English- 

 men to explore them were Mr. Keys and Mr. 

 MacMahon of the Survey Department ; they were 

 enchanted at the climate and the beauty of the table- 

 land. Following them, in 1821, a collector built the 

 first English house on the plateau, and suggested the 

 Nilgiris to Government as a much-needed sanatorium. 

 Such was the birth of Ooty, now the headquarters 

 of the Madras Government for six months, and the 

 headquarters of the Madras army and Commander- 

 in-Chief throughout the year. 



In May and June there is a constant round of balls, 

 theatricals, dinners, races, gymkhanas, polo, tennis, 



