This scholarly work, authored by Edgar Thurston (former Superintendent of the Madras Government Museum), offers an exhaustive ethnographic and anthropometric study of the indigenous tribes inhabiting the Nilgiri Hills and Madras City. Originally published in the late 19th century, this reprint preserves a landmark study of the Todas and Kotas, detailing their unique social structures, religious rituals, and physical characteristics.The text provides deep insights into the pastoral life of the Todas, famously centered around their sacred buffaloes and holy dairies, as well as their practice of fraternal polyandry. It contrasts these customs with those of the Kotas-the artisan community of the hills-who served as blacksmiths, carpenters, and musicians for their neighbors. Thurston utilizes extensive measurements, ranging from cephalic indices to limb proportions, to formulate a comparative analysis of these tribes alongside the Brahmans, Pallis, and Pariahs of Madras. Rich with historical photographs and descriptions of "green" and "dry" funeral ceremonies, the book serves as a foundational record of South Indian cultural heritage and human diversity.