MANUAL 



NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



CHAPTER I. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



Geographical position. — Configuration and aspect. — Hill Ranges and Peaks. — 

 Streams and Waterfalls. — Valleys. — Scenery. — Changes in features and aspect. 



The Nilagiri^ District, — as it existed prior to the annexation, on cHAP. I. 



the 31st March 1877, of the tracts known as the Nambalakod, 



Cheramkod, and Munnanad Amshoms,^ hitherto appertaining to Description. 



the Wainad^ Taluq of the Malabar District, — lies between Lati- 



tude 11° 8' and 11° 37' north, and Longitude 76° 27' and 77° 4' Geographical 

 east. Within these limits, rise the Nilag-iri Hills, a vast mountain ^°^^ ^°°' 

 ■ block, comprising two more or less distinct hill ranges, usually 

 known as the Nilagiris Proper and the Kundas."* 



This mountain mass, which may be described as an irregular Configm-ation 

 rectangular triangle, its shortest side, or base, being the western, ^^^ aspect, 

 its longest the south-eastern, and its apex the hill known as 

 Rangasami's Peak, to the extreme east, is a gigantic headland 

 marking the point of union of the Eastern and Western Ghdts, 

 or Sahyadri Hills. These ranges constitute the eastern and 

 western boundaries of the great triangular table-land of the 

 Dekhan, which rests to the north upon the Vindya Mountains. 

 As the Eastern approach the Western Ghdts, they gradually lose, 



' Derived from Nilam (Sans.) blue, and giri (Sans.) a hill— so called from 

 the blue appearance the hills present to people living in the subjacent districts. 



^ Amshom (Mai.), a share, a territorial division. 



^ Lit. the open or champaign country. Bailu (Karn.), a field having water 

 suitable for growing rice, a plain. Nadu (Karn.), a division of a district. 



* So called from a village of that name. It signifies small, or little hill, 

 from Kinnud (Tdda), Sinna (Karn.), Chinnn (Tam.), small. — F. Metz. Kundru 

 (Tam.), Koiida (Tel.), means literally a small hill. — Dr. Caldwell:- 



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