400 PULNEY HILLS : Chap. XXIV. 



been made lighter and more advantageous. In 1837 it was 

 enacted that there should be no mcrease of land-tax on 

 account of the growth of more valuable crops ; in 1852 it 

 was ordered that no ryot should pay an additional tax on 

 account of improvements made by himself, causing an 

 increased value ; ^ and, dm-ing Lord Harris's administration, 

 considerable reductions were made in the land-assessment 

 in nearly all the Madi-as collectorates. These reductions, 

 independent of the boon conferred on the people, have been 

 attended by the most successful results, in an increasing 

 revenue, and in the extension of the area of cultivation over 

 lands which were formerly waste. 



Dindigul is about forty miles from the foot of the ghaut 

 leading up to the Pulney hills, and relays of bullocks were 

 posted for me every seven miles, with a man running in 

 front of the cai't Avith a blazing torch. Passing through the 

 \dUage of Periacolum, romid which there are many large 

 tanks and extensive rice cidtivation, we reached the jungle at 

 the foot of the Pulney hills at early da\Mi. The path, which 

 is only practicable for ponies and pack-buUocks, leads up a 

 ravine for half the distance, and then corkscrews up the steep 

 sides of the mountain. The range looks very imposing from 

 the plain, but not equal to the Neilgherries at the foot of 

 the Coonoor ghaut. After resting under a clump of trees I 

 commenced the ascent on foot, driving an unhappy sheep 

 before me, which was to be sacrificed on the summit, where, 

 at this time of the year, there are no residents, no market, 

 and no means of procuring any supplies. 



The ascent is exceedingly beautifid, but the undergrowth 

 is thick grass, and the vegetation is not nearly so luxuriant 

 as at similar elevations on the Neilgherries. The trees are 

 chiefly Leguminosce, and at an elevation of 3000 feet chincho- 



^ " This is an assurance which no pri- 1 England, has obtained.' — East India 

 vate tenant in any counhy, not even in | Comjxinij's Memorandum, 1858, p. 17. 



