Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 10 (2nd edition).pdf/321

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NILGIRI HILLS. 309 (2) domestic servants, inn and lodging keepers, 1738, or 1'91 per cent. ; (3) commercial class, including bankers, merchants, and carriers, 1177, or 1'3 per cent. ; (+) agricultural and pastoral class, including gardeners, 22,031, or 23.5 per cent. ; (5) industrial class, including all manufacturers and artisans, 3613, or 397 per cent.; and (6) indefinite and non-productive class, comprising all male children, general labourers, and persons of unspecified occupations, 21,112, or 23'19 per cent. The languages spoken are English, Kánarese (with its dialects, Toda, Kota, and Badaga), and Tamil. The number of the Hindu population returned as 'others' (12.5 per cent.) are all aboriginal tribes belonging to the Nilgiris. Of their number (33,582) Badagas are returned at 24,130; Irulars, 946; Kotas, 1065; and Todas, 675. The increase noticeable in the decade since 1871 is mostly due to immigration, the coffee and other plantations of the District attracting large numbers of coolies from the neighbouring Districts of Malabar (1416) and Coimbatore (7524), and from the Native State of Mysore (21,231); and although the majority return at the end of the season, a small proportion remain. Of the total population of 91,037, the Census returned 51,351, or 56+1 per cent., as people born in the District; while elsewhere in the Madras Presidency were found 1189 Nilgiri people. That is to say, 2:26 per cent of those born in Nilgiris had migrated. The balance of enigrants and immigrants left a gain of 38,494. The emigrants had gone almost exclusively to the neighbouring Districts of Malabár (108) and Coimbatore (475). The principal towns areUTAKAMAND (Ootacamund), population (1981) 12,335, including Lovedale; Cooxoor (Kúnúr), population 1778. WELLINGTON cantonment, population 1725. The local districts (nid) are PARANGANAD, population 18,116; TODANAD, 11,557; MEKAXAD, 12,740. The large majority of villages do not contain above a few hundred inhabitants cach; and even these are groups of scattered hamlets rather than villages. Utákamand and Coonoor are municipalities. Hill Tribes.—Five hill tribes are found on the Nilgiris--the Todas, Badagas, Kotas, Kurumbas, and Irulas, the first three being peculiar to this range. The most interesting of all these tribes are the Todas, who are described by Ochterlony as “tall, well-proportioned, and athletic.' Their bold, independent carriage,' he continues, and finely moulded and sinewy limbs attest that they are sprung from no effeminate eastern race; while the aquiline nose, receding forehead, and rounded profile, combined with their black bushy beards and eyebrows, give them a decidedly Jewish aspect. Their dress is as peculiar as their habits and appearance, consisting of a single cloth, a sort of toga, which they wear after a fashion well calculated to set off to advantage their muscular forms, being disposed about the person like the plaid of a