The sun., 1905-10-01
LATEST MEN IN THE WORLD.
Stories Told q . Hill Tribe q India.
From he Chicago Tribxms.

From he Chicago Trbxns.
In these days Of push and energy II sounds
strange to talk Of people a. being lazy, and
still the Todas. . hill tribe Of India. are the
lsziost people In the world.
The Todas are not ashamed Of their repu-
tation and are free to confess that they know
Of nothing so foolish and stupid - work.
Their one and only pursuit is the raising Of
buhaloee; 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 fellin 9
trees. They will not till the land, consider
ing this unnecessary labor. To make house.
keeping easier. all their natural 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 cloth
ing and the hut. and the meat is used - 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 pursuaded to do this labor. These men
are chosen from the class Of ~peiki" or sons
Of God" They are the priests and practise
celibacy. Although the priests tend to
the cattle, each householder owns his cattle.
Much as these men dislike the caring for
their cattle they find farming less disnined
calling. Some years ago they went to war
with their nelghbors. the Badaga and Kotas.
as they might be able to levy Q tar Of ono
eighth on their grain products. When their
grain grows scarce they live on roots and
berries. They will sell their land or give II
away. but they will not cultivate It at any
price,.
The building Of bamboo huts does not in
forest them any moro than the cultivsting
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 Oft en- 30 lazy that they cannot afford one
wife alone, but even this does not worry
them: two or three brothers manage to sup
port one wife. Indolent and slothful. they
sit listless for hours. unconcerned about all
things. What they know they know we'll;
they are intelligent within certain narrow
limits, but they are too lazy to increase their
store OF knowledge. Whatever has to bs
done must be cared for by the women and
children.
Strangely, their appearance does not dis
close this most marked characteristic. Thsy
arc tall and we'll proportional. They look
like Roman Senator's. as they walk. wrapped
In skins resem bling the ancient toga. Their
appearance Is not only progressing. but
bold and self-reliant.
Many an amusing story L. told Of this ssnall
hill tribe. numbering about 900 men. An
American missionary was working among
them. when one day he saw some women
and boys building q hut OF bamboo. He In.
quire cd why the mon were not performing
this labor. and one woman explained: Illus.
band mine don't work: me and boys build
house.
The missionary made no further comm snt,
but when the hut was built he told the husband
that he must build another hut. - he could
not live In a homo made By women and
children. But the SUI psised Toda answered:
NO. no. mono work. nj q has boys ID wife to
work.
The Toda m cant what he said. Although
, the missionary argued. and finally horse-
| whipped the native. he could not get him to
An equally amusing story is told BY On
| 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 regiment; The ofleer leYe
the native skins and silks until the To4a
} promised to become an English eoldlsr. 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 thnt soldiers work. he said:
me no be an English soldier: me be Toda.
Me no work; me no like work"
when the EnRlish oficer tried TO peyguads
they dS be Ensiish soldiers like work. Ne stav
! homo and rest; me be Toda..