10 MANUAL OP THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



CHAP. I. an additional proof of this assertion, as is also the character of 

 General EQUch of the soil, which is well suited to carry heavy timber. 

 Description. There has been some speculation as to whether the grassy 

 downs and hollows lying to the west of Doddabetta were ever 

 covered with forest, which has been cleared away for cultivation 

 or pasture. This, however, is very improbable, as the character 

 of the soil, with its thick subjacent layer of cold gravelly clay, 

 has doubtless been hostile to the growth of large vegetation, but 

 at the same time it is probable that some of the protected valleys, 

 which have long been relinquished to the herds of the Todas, 

 were at some earlier era cultivated. This hypothesis rests 

 mainly on the facts that some of the sholas do not bear the marks 

 of great antiquity,^ whilst the lands of the valleys are often 

 smooth and even, as if the surface had once been levelled by the 

 plough.^ It is, however, to be remembered that the present 

 park-like appearance of the higher plateau, with its downs and 

 woodlands, is also, in a great measure, due to the annual recurrence 

 of fires which sweep over the hills, burning the grass and outlying 

 scrub and even the smaller sholas, and checking the larger woods 

 in their persistent eif orts to extend their domain further along the 

 sides of the valleys. 



Such is a brief description of the principal natural features of 

 the district. The following chapter deals with subjects of a 

 more artificial or administrative nature. 



1 The age of some shola trees is said to be not less than 800 ye^rs. 



2 Some inquirers have thought that they can trace in mounds on the plateau 

 remains of ruined villages. 



