370 JAKATALA. Chap. XXTI. 



is tlie military station of Jakatala, the finest barracks I ever 

 saw in any part of the world. It is well sheltered by high 

 hills from the cold north winds to which Ootacamund is 

 exposed, as well as from the south-west monsoon, and is in 

 every respect admirably adapted as a sanatarium for soldiers 

 and their families. It has been maintained that the children 

 of Europeans cannot be reared even on the hills of India, 

 though upon what grounds this extraordinary assertion is 

 based I have not yet learnt. The strongest arguments against 

 this idea are the fresh rosy cheeks and rude health of the 

 boys and girls in the Lawrence asylum, and of the boys and 

 young men at Mr. Pope's^ and Mr. Nash's schools in Ootaca- 

 mund, who present a striking contrast to the children on the 

 plains. The bracing climate of the upper plateau of these 

 hills appears to me to be perfectly well adapted for European 

 colonists : it has all the advantages with none of the disad- 

 vantages of England, and there are no influences which can 

 be detrimental to English constitutions. At the time of our 

 visit a battalion of the 60th Kifles, and a number of con- 

 valescent soldiers from other regiments, were stationed at 

 Jakatalla. The quarters for the men are built round a 

 large quadrangle, with an upper story, and airy corridors for 

 exercise in wet weather. Beyond are the married quarters 

 for ninety couples, each with two comfortable rooms and a 

 little garden ; and there are also a hospital, library, school- 

 rooms, substantially-built skittle-alley with brick arches, fives- 

 court, and swimming-bath. The officers are quartered in 

 bungalows on the surrounding hill-slopes, or at Coonoor. It 

 would be well if the whole of the European troops in the 

 Madras Presidency were permanently quartered on the Neil- 

 gherry and other hills as soon as the railroads are completed. 

 Many of the married men might be permitted to cultivate 



The great Tamil scholar. 



