MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 137 



F. SUBSTANCES USED IN THE PREPARATION OP chap. vii. 

 DRINKS. 



USEFUI, 



N.O. CAMELLIACE^. Plants. 



Thea (species). Eng. Tea,. Duh. Cha. Tarn. Te-ilai, Substances 



The first effort to introduce the tea plant into Southern India was preparation 

 made by the Agri-Horticultural Society of Madras, which imported of diiuks. 

 plants from China in 1857. It is only of late years, however, that 

 much attention has been paid to its culture. At the present time 

 there are numerous plantations on the range situated at elevations 

 ranging from 5,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level. The plants culti- 

 vated are the China, the Assam, and a hybrid, the last-named being 

 usually preferred as being more prolific of leaf. The produce of the 

 Nilagiri tea estates commands fair prices in the English market, and 

 is extensively sold at high rates both locally and in Madras and other 

 large towns in Southern India. The field for the extension of tea 

 culture on the Nilagiris is limited, and the industry is likely to 

 receive a check by the resolution of Government to preserve intact 

 the wooded ravines, locally known as sholas. In 1874-75 there were 

 87,372 lb. of tea shipped from Madras to Europe. 



N.O. KUBIACE^. 



COFFEA Arabica. Eng. Coffee. Btih. Bun, Bund. Tarn. Kapi- 

 kottai. Kan. Kapi-bija. 



Coffee was introduced into Southern India about two centuries ago 

 by a Mahomedan pilgrim, Baba-buden. This man on his return from 

 Mecca brought a few berries in his wallet, and taking up his abode 

 amongst the wilds of the hills in western Mysore, which still bear his 

 name, planted them near his hut. For many years the culture was 

 in the hands of natives, and confined to small gardens. Upwards of 

 60 years ago it began to attract the attention of Europeans, and at the 

 present day there is an almost continuous chain of estates, belonging 

 to Englishmen, extending from the north of Mysore down to Cape 

 Comorin. On the eastern slopes of the Nilagiris the coffee estates are 

 numerous and large, and on the western side the Ouchterlony Valley 

 presents a magnificent expanse of coffee culture, unequalled as to ferti- 

 lity in Southern India. The exports of coffee have not been on the 

 increase of late years, but this may be partly due to the fact that its 

 consumption is increasing amongst the native population, and that 

 much of it is, therefore, used locally. The exports of coffee from 

 Madras ports in 1875 amounted to lb. 33,738,922. 



G. INTOXICATING SUBSTANCES, &C. Intoxicating 



N.O. LEGUMINOS^. substances. 



Acacia Catechu. Eng. Catechu. Bui: Katthah. Tarn. Kashu- 



katti. Kan. Kachu. 

 The Extract made into pellets is chewed with betel-leaf. 



18 



