The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-11-01
THE SL0THFUL IODAS
THEY ARE THE LATEST PEOPLE IN
THE WORLD.

Hill Tribe of India whose Men
win Neither Hunt Nor Work and
who Are Proud of Their Reputn-
uon For Downright Incidence.
In these days of push and energy 1t
sounds strange TO talk of people as be-
ing lazy, and still the Todas, a hill
tribe Of India, are the LATEST people in
the world.
The Todas are not ashamed of their
reputation and are free to confess that
they know of nothing 50 foolish and
stupid as work. Their one and only
pursuit is the raising of bufraloes. They
are far too indolent to follow the chase.
An AK is their only weapon, although
they know how to make others. They
use this for waging war and for fell
ing trees. They will not till the land,
considering this unnecessary labor. To
make housekeeping easier all their nat
ural products are held in common. The
idea of property is only restricted to
the hut, its contents and live stock.
The buffaloes, which they own in
large quantities, furnish them with
skins for clothing and the hut and the
meat is used as food But milk is
their principal diet. They do not even
relish the idea of milking their cattle.
The head mixers are the only ones
that are to be persuaded to do this la
Dor. These men are chosen from the
class of ''peiki," or sons of God"
They are the priests and practice celib-
acy. Although the priests tend TO the
cattle, each householder owns his cat
tie.
Much as these men dislike the caring
for their cattle, they find farming a
less dignified calling. Some years ago
they went to war with their neighbOrs,
the Badaga and Kotas, as they might
be able to levy a tax of One-eighth on
their grain products When their grain
grows scarce they live on roots and
berries. They will sell their land or
give it away, but they will not cult
vate it at any price.
The building of bamboo huts does not
Interest them any more than the cult
waiting of the soil, and they make this
task easy by making the boys cut the
bamboo and their wives build the huts.
1t is not unusual for three families to
share one abode. The men are often
so lazy that they cannot afford one wife
alone, but even this does not worry
them Two or three brothers manage
to support one wife. Indolent and
slothful, they sit listless for hours, un-
concerned about all things. What they
know they know well. They are intel
lgent within certain narrow limits, but
they are too lazy to increase their store
of knowledge. Whatever has to be
done must be cared for by the women
and children.
Strangely, their appearance does not
disclose this most marked characters-
tic. They are tall and well proportion
ed. They look like Roman senators as
they walk wrapped in skins resembling
the ancient toga. Their appearance is
not only prepOssessing, but bold and
self reliant.
Many an amusing story is told of this
small hill tribe, numbering about 400
men. An American missionary was
working among them when one day he
saw some women and boys building
a hut of bamboo He inquired why the
men were not performing this labor,
and one woman explained, Husband
mine don't work; me and boys build
house."
The missionary made no further COM
ment, but when the hut was built he
told the husband that he must build
another hut, as he could not live in a
home made by women and children.
But the surprised Toda answered: "No,
no. Me no work Man has boys and
wife to work"
The Toda meant what he said. AL
though the missionary argued and final
ly horsewhipped the native, he could
not get him to build hut
An equally amusing story is told by
an English officer. He was so taken
by the handsome appearance of one of
the natives he wanted to take him to
England and place him in his own regi-
ment The officer gave the native
skins and silks until the Toda prom
ised to become an English soldier. He
was delighted with the officers bright,
gay uniform. He did not feel bad
about leaving his country, his wife and
children, but when he was told that
soldiers work he said:
Me no be an English soldier; me be
Toda. Me no work; me no like work"
When the English officer tried to per-
suade him he made answer: "Take
wife and boys; they be English SOL
diers-like work. Me stay home and
rest; me be Toda." ."-Chicago Tribune.
Canary Seed.
Perfectly clean seed is absolutely es-