CHAPTER XIX. 

 FISHING ON THE HILL SANATORIA. 



" We care not who says, 

 And intends it dispraise, 

 That an angler to a fool is next neighbour ; 

 Let him prate ; what care we ? 

 We're as honest as he ; 

 And so let him take that for his labour." 



COTTON. 



Pulney Hills. 



ON the Pulney Hills in the Madura district is a sanatorium, about 

 6000 feet above the sea, called Kodaikanal, and in it is a lake, which 

 was stocked by an accident. Mr. V. H. Levinge, afterwards Sir Vere, 

 who made the lake in the site I had suggested when serving under him, 

 had sent, at considerable expense, to. the Nilagiris for English fish to 

 stock it. They died in transit, and the coolies that carried them, not 

 liking to confess it, caught indigenous fish at the base of the hills, and 

 filled up their vessels with them. In the haste to put them out alive, the 

 fraud was not detected by whoever it was that was charged on Sir V. 

 H. Levinge's behalf to put the fish into the lake alive. The whole lake 

 now swarms with them, and they are one of the lesser Barils (Barilius 

 gatensis). This Baril is said by Dr. Day to attain " at least 6 inches " in 

 length. They have been caught in that lake up to 7 inches, but never 

 over 2 1- ounces in weight. Still they are pretty fly-fishing in an enjoyable 

 climate. They rise freely, the whole lake being sometimes covered 

 with their rises just before dark ; but also sometimes not, as, like other 

 fish, they have their times and seasons. They do best after rain. If 

 only you have a light rod, sufficiently stiff for quick striking such tiny 

 weights, you may then take them by the dozen. Use a cast of three small 

 trout flies, as small as you can have them, red and dark flies being 



