Chap. XXI. OOTACAMUND. 357 



muiid is nearly in the centre of the table-land of the 

 Neilgherries, at the foot of the western face of the peak of 

 Dodabetta, and, except to the N.W., the station is completely 

 surrounded by grass-covered hills. Houses are scattered 

 about under the shelter of the hills, with gardens and 

 plantations of Eucalyptus and Acacia Jieterophylla, trees intro- 

 duced from Australia, around them ; and the broad excellent 

 roads are bordered by Cassia glauca bushes with a bright 

 orange flower, honeysuckles, fox-gloves, geraniums, roses, 

 and masses of the tall Lobelia ezcelsa. A graceful white iris 

 is also common. 



This charming spot, now that the roads are planted 

 with tall trees, and the hedges filled with all the fa- 

 miliar flowers introduced from old England, wliile cm-Kng 

 smoke ascends through the foliage, and suggests the idea 

 of chimneys and warm firesides, is as unlike India, and as 

 like an English watering-place, as can be imagined. The 

 tower of the church, seen from many points of view, increases 

 the resemblance, wliich is certainly not lessened by the rosy 

 cheeks and healthy looks of the children, and the fresh 

 invigorating mountain air. But when a few miles from the 

 station, and out of sight of all English associations, there 

 was much that reminded me of the pajonales in the chinchona 

 region of Caravaya at a first glance : and I felt sanguine 

 that all the pajonal chinchona-trees would "thrive in most of 

 the sholas on the Neilgherry hills, while suitable sites for 

 those species wdiicli require a warmer climate would be 

 found in the forest slopes which overlook the plains. A 

 closer inspection confirmed me in this opinion. 



