284 MANUAL OF THE NILAiilRI DISTRICT, 



CHAP. XII. Majesty's 34th Regiment. The paper is a careful resume oi all 

 EecTxt *'^^ information then available on the suitability of the climate for 

 History. Eiu'opeanSj and discusses the several localities most suitable for a 

 station. Of Ootacamand Mr. Orton says : — 



" In the Torder village of Wuttacamund I was informed that no 

 death had happened for three years." 



He summed up as follows : — 



"In the event of Government formingan establishment for invalids on 

 the Neilgherries, it will require mature consideration to fix on the most 

 proper situation for that purpose. The neighbourhood of Dimhutty 

 would be most convenient for procuring supplies, &c., by the new road 

 and on account of the Collector's establishment being placed there ; 

 but the country about Codavomoody is much prettier, more cultivated, 

 and populous. The Todiernaad, from its much greater height and 

 coldness, would deserve the preference, were it not to be apprehended 

 that its swamps and woods would be injurious. It does not, however, 

 appear from experience that such is the case. The Toders are a 

 more robust and healthy race than the other castes who occupy the 

 less elevated tract. It is probable that a clean and dry tract may be 

 found equally elevated with the Todiernaad. The country imme- 

 diately west of Sooloor (Sholur) seems to possess all these advantages, 

 and it is close to Mysore and a pass leading down into it. It might be 

 deemed eligible to erect a few small temporary buildings for the recep- 

 tion of sick officer's — similar to some already raised by Mr. Sullivan 

 for travellers — at several different parts of the table-land. The experi- 

 ments of proving, on a sufficiently large scale, the effects of this 

 singular climate on the European constitution would be a highly 

 interesting one in a philosophical point of view, and, if successful, its 

 results would be highly important and valuable." 



Mr. Sullivan's energy, however, virtually solved the question as 

 to the capital of the Nilagiris. In the year following his j&rst 

 visit he seems to have determined on selecting the grand valley 

 of the western slopes of Doddabetta for his residence. The site 

 chosen for his house was a spur projecting out into the eastern 

 centre of the valley, commanding a grand view of the western 

 range, whilst it was surrounded by grassy hills more or less covered, 

 especially iu the hollows, with magnificent sholas or woods. 

 This valley seems to have been a favourite pasture-ground of the 

 Todas, containing two or three important mands, near one of which 

 Mr. Sullivan fixed his house, and hence the settlement obtained 

 its name — Ootacamand. It is strange that the terminations of the 

 names of the four principal settlements of the hills represent its 

 four principal tribes — Ootacamand, the Todas ; Kotagiri, the 

 Kotas ; Coonoor, the Badagas ; and Kolakambe, the Irulas. The 

 Kurnmbamotte is not yet so distinguished. To return to Mr. 

 Sullivan. — To this house he gave the name of Stonehouse, from 

 the material, rouo-h stone, of which it was built. This structure 



