Money

The Todas use the ordinary Indian currency. In their legends and ceremonies there is frequent reference to the panm, or four-anna piece.

Among the coins used by the Todas at the funeral ceremonies there are many of considerable age with Arabic inscriptions, and the earlier visitors to the hills describe the Todas as possessing old Venetian gold pieces. In the legend telling how the kaltmokh of the Nòdrs ti dispersed the invading Coorgs (p. 114), the boy made use of a small gold coin called pirpanm, which he had in his possession.

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The Calendar

The Todas have twelve months, each of which begins with the new moon. The first month of the Toda year is Tai, which begins with the new moon in October, so that this month usually includes part of October and part of November. Some of the chief Toda ceremonies, such as that of teutütusthchi [[591]]and the more important ceremonies of erkumptthpimi, take place soon after the new moon marking the commencement of this month, and these ceremonies were sometimes said to signalise the beginning of a new year. The following are the names of the Toda months, with the periods of our year to which they approximately correspond:—

Tai October—November
Emioti November—December
Kûdrl December—January
Alâni January—February
Nalâni February—March
Âni March—April
Âtheri April—May
Âdi May—June
Ovâni June—July
Peritâthi July—August
Tudeivi August—September
Kirdivi September—October.

Each month has thirty days. A record is kept of the number of days from one new moon to the full moon, and from that to the next new moon. The full moon is counted as being on the fifteenth day after the new moon, and the new moon as being on the sixteenth day after the full moon.

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The Week