Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-03-22
THE SLOTHFUL TODAS

lHE Nl1OIHfU UL lODAS
THEY ARE THE LATEST PEOPLE IN
THE WORLD.
A Hill Tribe of India Whose Men
Who Are Proud of Their Reputa-
tton For Downright Indoleace.
i In these days Of push and energy 1t
j sounds strange to talk of people as be
ing lazy, and still the Todas, 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 SO foolish and
stupid as work. Their one and only
pursuit Is the raising Of buffaloes 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
idea of property is only restricted to
the hut, its contents and live stock.
The Duffaloes, 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
bor. These men are chosen from the
class Of 'peiki'' or sons Of God"
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
less dignifed calling Some years ago
they went to war with their neighbors,
the Badaga and Kotas, as they might
be able to levy 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 cuiti
vate it at any price.
L
interest them any more than the culti-
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
ligent 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 characteris-
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 40C
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 We're 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 8
home made by women and children
But the surprised Toda answered: mo
, no. Me no work Nam has boys and
! wife to work"
The Totla meant Vtiat he said. AL
though the missions ~ srgued and final
, ly horsewhpped tfe native, he coult
!. not get him to build hut.
An equally amusing story IL told by
an English officer. T.e was SO taker
5 by the handsome .arance of one OF
. the natives he W.. led to take him tt
England and place him in his own regi
? ment. The officer gave the nativs
. skins and si-Ss until the Toda prom
4 ised to become an English soldier. HI
was delighted with the officers bright
gay uniform. He did not feel be(
> about leaving his country. his wife inc
! children, but when he was told tha
soldiers work he said:
me no be an English soldier; me b.
. Toda. Me no work; me no like work.
: When the English officer tried to per
suade him he made answer: TAX,
wife and boys; they be English sol
. diers-like work. Me stay home ant
J. rest; me be Chicago Tribune
Ine Living.