THE NEILGHERRIES. 113 



with the Western ghauts by a precipitous ridge. The 

 highest peak, Dodabetta, is near the centre and 8,640 

 feet above the level of the sea, — the greatest elevation 

 south of the Himalaya, and about 500 feet higher than 

 the Pedrotallagalla of Ceylon. Below, the mountain 

 is well wooded, rhododendron and creepers abound along 

 the zigzag route, and even at the height of 7,300 feet, 

 where Utakamand or Uty is situated, there are splendid 

 tall trees and a rich vegetation covers the undulating 

 ground ; here grass grows as luxuriantly as it does in 

 the mother country. The climate is excellent, the 

 lieat seldom exceeding seventy-five degrees in the 

 shade, and there are glorious views all round. Conoor 

 is another sanitary station within easy reach. 



People are very sociable at these hill stations, and 

 many families do not return to Bangalore until July 

 to prepare for the races which take place towards the 

 end of that month. The latter are kept up for four 

 or five days, and they are generally very good sport; 

 even the natives take much interest in them, and it 

 is amusing to watch their ingenuity in providing 

 platforms and standing-ground. A favourite position 

 of theirs is to squat upon the rails of a ladder by 

 leaning two or three against each other. This is the 

 gay season at Bangalore, and there is no lack of feast- 

 ing and dancing ; besides there is a first-rate club to 



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