Todas

Todas, aborigines of the Nilghiri uplands, Southern India, now (1894) reduced to 750, but presenting many points of great interest to ethnologists; speak an uncultivated Dravidian language with Telugu and Malayalim affinities; but the type is not Dravidian, being distinguished by tall, robust figures, aquiline nose, retreating forehead, and an extraordinary hirsute development, with full beard, as amongst the Ainus of Japan and many natives of Australia. They are a pastoral people forming two social classes - the Peikis or "Sons of God," a priestly order, and the Katas or Tardas, all rest. (Caldwell, Hodgson, Marshall.)