Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-01-05
THE LATEST PEOPLE
IN WHOLE WORLD
Some Stories of a Small Hill
Tribe in Central
India.
MEN DO NOTHING AT ALL
Mat Little Is Found Necessary ia
Merely Prolong Existence Falls
to the Lot of the Slovenly
Squaws.
From the chicago Tribune.

from the chicago tribune,
In these days Of push and energy IL
bounds strange to talk OF people as being
lazy, and still the Todas. a hill tribe. OF
India, are the LATEST people in the world.
The Todas are not ashamed of theirrepu-
tation 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 In
dolent 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 telling trees. They will not
till the land. considering this unnecessaryis
labor. To make housekeeping 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
numbers, furnish them with skins for
clothing and the hut, and the meat Is used
as food. But milk ts 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 mon are chosen from the
class OF ''peiki'' or sons Of God" They,
are the priests and practice celib-acy. Al
though the priests tend to the cattle. each
householder owns hislcattle.
Much as these men dislike the caring for
their cattle, they find farming a less dig
nified calling. Some years ago they went
to war with their neighbors. this Badaga
and Kotas, as they might be able to levy q
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 IL away, but they will not Gull
Itiyate Ii at any price.
The building of bamboo huts does not In
terest them any more tina the c~ultivating
80 Ala ali "a 4AAy x,a ln fGlo taoL a N III, hxs E
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 ann af-
ford one wife alone, but ever this does not
worry them; two or three brothers manage
to support one wife. Indolent and slothful,
they sit lfstless for hours, unconcerned
about all things. What they know they
know we'll; they are intelligent within GER
tain narrow limits, but they are too lazy to
increase their store of knowledge. What
ever has to be done must be cared for by
the woman and children.
Strangely, their appearance does not dis
close this most marked characteristic.
They are tall and well proportioned. They
look like Roman senators, as they walk
wrapped in skins resembling the ancient
toga. Their appearance Is not only prepos-
eessing, but bold and self-reliant.
Many an amusing story is told of this
email nil tribe, numbering ABOUT 4U men.
An American missionary was working
among them, when one day he saw some
women and boys building q hut OF bamboo.
He inquired why the men were not per-
forming this labor. and one woman exc
planned: 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: mo. no: me no work:
man has boys and wife to work"
The Toda meant what he said. Although
the missionary argued. and finally horse
whipped the native, he could not get him
90 build a 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 regiment. The officer
gave the native skins and silks until the
Toda promised TO become an English sol
der. 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 SOL
diers 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 soldiers-ike
work. Me stay here and rest; me be Toda,"