388 SITES FOR CHINCHONA-PLANTATIONS. Chap. XXIII. 



few brandies covered with grass, and leaning against the 

 trunk of a tree, with some empty honeycombs lying about. 

 It was the habitation of a family of Mooloo Kurumbers, a 

 wild race who live in the forests, and run away in great terror 

 when any one approaches them. The establishment of the 

 plantation will soon make them alter their haunts fi'om the 

 neio-hbom-hood of Neddiwuttum. 



The magnificent view from this point embraces a great 

 part of Wynaad. Far below there was a small coffee-estate, 

 its bright green contrasting with the more sombre hues of 

 the sm-rounding forest ; and more to the left, though out of 

 sight, is the extensive plantation which, together with a tract 

 of forest on the slopes of the Neilgherries, is owned by 

 Messrs. Ouchterlony and Campbell. 



After passing the night at Pycarrah, we started next 

 morning to examine another site further to the eastward, 

 and overlooking the plateau of Mysore. We crossed several 

 ranges of grassy hills, with streams in the intervening val- 

 leys flowing through thickets of tree rhododendrons, with the 

 gorgeous crimson flowers just beginning to bloom, Osheckias, 

 and a Lasianthus with a beautifid glossy leaf. The hills were 

 dotted with a St. John's-wort with a bright orange flower 

 (Hypericum Hooker ianum). We soon reached the edge of 

 the plateau, overlooking the low country, and looked down 

 on the wide plains of Mysore, M'ith some Neilgherry peaks in 

 advance of us, and a valley between, where there was bright 

 gi-een cultivation, and crimson patches of amaranth, sur- 

 rounding the Badaga village of Choloor. Between the place 

 where we stood and the Choloor valley there w^ere some fine 

 patches of forest on the steep hill-slopes; but they did not 

 offer the same advantages as Neddiwuttum for a first experi- 

 mental cliinchoua plantation. Tliis side of the liills is drier, 

 the soil poorer, and water is less abundant, though it is 

 nearei Ootacamund, and both labour and supplies are more 



