TODAS

[s. 754] : These people, who live in the Nilgiri in India, are generally looked upon as a remnant of the primeval race of Mysore, existing, like driftwood, on the heights above a changeful world. They belong to the Dravidian race which has peopled the land from time immemhills orial. A description of their characteristics is given by one of tlie mi ionaries as follows: The Toda is striking in appearance, with well-marked features, hazel eyes, and an abundant growth of wavv hair, hanging to its full length in well-oiled The single unbleached cloth which ringlets. envelops him often presents a study in sepia, as he never washes his cloth, and rarely himself, from birth to death. Tho fine in physique, the tribe is numerically small; yet not so small as to preclude the existence of at least five castes, observing the usual social restrictions. The form of marriage known as polyandry is still The odorous abode of the Todas consists of scattered “munds” or villages of from three, to five pent-roofed huts, fashioned after a style of The hut, architecture peculiar to the tribe. twelve feet square, has a capacity which is truly marvelous, for the accommodation of relatives of both sexes and all ages. The only ventilation is derived from the diminutive doorway, two-and a-half feet by one-and-a-half; and the mode of ingre and egre can scarcely be called dignified. It has been said, in regard to the religion of the Todas, that there exists “a partiality to the regard of light apart from fire as, par excel The bell lence, the manifestation of deity.” worn by a succe ion of sacred cows is revered as Only members of the priestly the “chief god.” clan are permitted to tend the sacred buffalos, — — and officiate as “pujaris” or priests to the BellOf god, a uming the title of “sons of the gods.” recent years the simple faith of their forefathers has become adulterated with Hinduism and a umes the form of the worship of spirits which are feared as capable of evil. Content if he may know enough to tend his father’s buffalos in the pastures, the Toda recks not of personal improvement or social duties. In true Eastern placidity he lives, in hope that, at the end, the “Lord of life” will receive him into “the other district,” as he calls the unseen world. There he believes he will dwell under conditions similar to the present, for the buffalos slain at his decease are supposed to supply him with milk and ghee in the new life; and the coins burnt with the body are intended for the keeper of the thread-bridge, which the soul must pa on its pilgrimage tho they mostly fall into the hands of the more mundane village sweeper. A curious feature of the Toda social system is their custom, still preserved in some degree, of demanding and receiving a dole of grain at harT he grain vest from the surrounding farmers. is demanded as tribute for the use of the land. But it is now given as charity. The name of this curious people is sometimes written Todar and Todawar. TOGOLANT): A German po e ion in West Africa, lying on the Gulf of Guinea, and having an area of 33,160 square miles and a population estimated at from one to two millions. The coast line is but 32 miles, the country widening to several times that dimension in the interior. It is situated between the French colony of Dahomey on the east and the British Gold Coast Colony on the west, and extends back from the It was declared a German coast some 250 miles. The coast chmate is protectorate in 1884. unhealthful for Europe ans; the interior hilly and Good roads conwell watered with streams. nect Lome, now regarded as the capital, with Misahohe and Atalcpame, and there is a narrow gage railway between Lome and the Little Popo. Telegraphs connect the chief towns and extend into Dahomey and the Gold Coast Colony, thus providing cable communication with Europe. The German Government is represented by the Hamburg and Bremen traders, settled in the seaports, who cannot as yet vie with the village — chiefs and fetish priests in influence over the people. The tribes between the Ogun and Volta Rivers belong to the Ewe family, and from them the region takes the name “Eweme.” The North German Mi ionary Society has 4 stations in To go land and the Basel Society 1 and the The whole force of mi ionaries and 1. native workers is 170, with 69 schools and about WMS 3,500 communicants. 755