5S The Neilgherry Moimtai?is. [No. 34, 



lomed the nucleus of the numerous tribe now recognized as the chief 

 and most important portion of the Hill population. 



Their villages, which have been already described under another 

 head, are scattered all over the plateau of the Hills, excepting the 

 portions to which I have already adverted, as inhabited exclusively 

 by the Todars, viz. the northern and western parts of the Toda- 

 naad" Division, and the north-eastern angle of the " Parungenaad" 

 called " Kodanaad ;" and with the exception of these tracts, a small 

 extent of pasture land in the vicinity of four Todar Munds which occur 

 near Coonoor and HoolicuU, and the lands in the possession of the 

 Kothers, they may be said to arrogate to themselves a right of direct 

 proprietorship over the whole of the lands comprising the Hill plateau. 

 They admit the fact of their holding it under tribute to the Todars, 

 and render to them the goodoo," or free will offering, in acknow- 

 ledgment of the feudal position of this tribe ; but at the same time 

 they consider the land so far alienated from their possession, that 

 they, its present holders, are empowered to dispose of it to stran- 

 gers by sale, gift, exchange, or otherwise ; which they according- 

 ly do. 



They pay the " goodoo" to the Todars resident in their respective 

 ^* Naads" or Divisions, who according to their statements pay an an- 

 nual visit, after the harvest is gathered into the various Burgher and 

 Kother villages, and demand the contribution in kind which is ren- 

 dered according to the circumstances of the inhabitants, the owner 

 " Goodoo" often ex- ^ ^^^h house giving usually 1 cundagum = 



totted by the Todars. 20 kollagums ; and those less opulent from ^ 

 to J cundagum according to their means. Sometimes the offerings 

 of the poorer inhabitants are not considered sufficient, and some- 

 times they refuse to give any thing at all, when confusion ensues; 

 the Todars, according to statements made to me by some of the Bur- 

 ghers, entering their houses and laying them under contribution by 

 force. If such occurrences really do take place it seems likely that 

 Government interfer- interference of the civil authorities of the 



^^ce aeems called district will, before long, become necessary either 

 to legalize the exaction of the '* goodoo" or to 

 put a stop to it ; since, as the law seems at present to stand, a Burgher, 

 from whom a Todar might attempt to enforce its payment, would have 

 a clear right to the protection of the police, who would be bound, on 

 an «ppaal being made, to treat the Todar as a trespasser. 



