CiiAP. XXVII. BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. 481 



whence the railroad runs across the pLains of the Concan, 

 over an arm of the sea, past Tannah, and through tlie island 

 of Salsette, into the town of Bombay. 



I had now personally examined the Neilgherry hills, the 

 Koondahs, the Pulneys, Coorg, and the Mahabaleshwurs ; 

 and collected information respecting the hills near Coiir- 

 tallum, the Anamallays, the Shervaroys, Wynaad, the Baba- 

 Bodeens, and Nuggiir. After a careful consideration of the 

 conditions which each of these districts offer, and a com- 

 parison of their elevations, climate, soil, and the character 

 of their vegetation, with those of the South American 

 chinchona forests ; I was fully confirmed in the opinion that 

 the momitains of the Indian peninsula offered a splendid 

 field for the cultivation of this new and most valuable 

 product. 



The different species thrive in different localities, and 

 require various modes of treatment, but I am inclined to the 

 belief that one species, or another will thrive in all the hills 

 from Cape Comorin to the parallel of 14° N. This view 

 may prove to be too sanguine, and it may be that the 

 droughts at one season, and the excessive rainfall in another, 

 in several of the hill districts, will prove prejudicial to suc- 

 cessful cultivation. Under any circumstances, however, there 

 can be no doubt that the climates of the Neilgherries, 

 Anamallays, Pulneys, and probably Coorg, are admirably 

 adapted to the production of quinine in these precious 

 trees. On the other hand, it is possible that, under cul- 

 tivation, the chinchonae may be able to adapt themselves 

 to conditions of climate differing as much from those of 

 their native habitat even as the Mahabaleshwur hills, and 

 that their cultivation is capable of far wider extension than I 

 am now able to expect. It would be a source of gratification 

 if chinchona plantations could be established in any part 

 of the Bombay Presidency ; and while Mr. Dalzell, the able 



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