MANUAL OF THE NILAaiRI DISTRICT. 275 



Thus far I have endeavoured to raise an interest in the CHAP. xi. 

 Nilagiris by connecting them not only with the great race early 

 movements and rehgious revolutions of Southern India, but also History. 

 by collecting such fragmentary notices as link them, however 

 loosely, with the story of the neighbouring countries. But for 

 such scattered rays of light the darkness which envelopes their 

 past would be impenetrable. I now pass on to their story from 

 the time when they first became known to the English. 



