390 MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



CHAP. XVII. It lies to the nortli-west of Coonoor, on the ridges lying between 

 w„JZr.„ the western and middle streams which meet at the old Coonoor 

 TIES AND bridge. The Native bazaars however, with the Joint Magis- 

 Stations. tj.^^g^g Qq^j.^ and the Police Station, lie on the right bank of the 

 western stream, across which a fine suspension bridge has been 

 thrown at a spot a short way above the bazaar. The hills and 

 ravines in the cantonment were very bare of forest ; the defect 

 however has been remedied, especially in the neighbourhood of 

 the barracks, by plantations of Australian eucalypti. Its climate 

 is probably superior to that of Coonoor, the ghat mists ordinarily 

 not extending in this direction. Its exact limits will be found 

 in notification of lUth May 1865. It is a portion of the Coonoor 

 settlement, and the Municipality is for the purposes of the 

 Contagious Diseases Act under the surveillance of the Canton- 

 ment Magistrate. 



The early history of the proposal to locate European troops 

 on the plateau and the final decision to build barracks have 

 already been related in Chapter XII. 



KdcAGiHi. The only station remaining to be noticed is Kotagiri, lying 



some twelve miles to the north-east of Coonoor and at the head 

 of a fine pass or ravine, in which are many coffee and tea estates. 

 Kotagiri is especially interested in the tea industry, and hitherto 

 may be said to have taken the lead on the Nilagiris in this 

 enterprise. There are but sixteen large houses in the station, the 

 principal being Kota Hall, which stands on the ridge of the 

 ghats, commanding a fine view of the eastern slopes and distant 

 ranges. This house, built in 1830, was once occupied for several 

 months by Lord Dalhousie, who preferred Kotagiri as a residence 

 to the other stations. The little Native bazaar lies on the sides 

 of the valley behind, at the foot of which is a neat, but small, 

 church. The elevation of Kotagiri is at 6,500 feet above sea- 

 level. Its climate, though less invigorating than that of Oota- 

 camand, is colder and more bracing than that of Coonoor. The 

 superior character of the climate is due partly to the greater 

 elevation, but probably in a greater degree to the open character 

 of the country. It is well protected from the violence of the 

 south-west monsoon, but in the early months of the year the 

 easterly winds are felt more here than at Coonoor. The area of 

 the station, having a radius of two miles, is approximately 12 

 square miles, or 7,639 acres. The boundaries of this as of the 

 other stations is marked by large stones and a deep trench. The 

 population of Kotagiri at the last census was 641 only, and, 

 unlike the other stations, it does not promise to increase rapidly, 

 though that of the neighbourhood with the extension of planta- 

 tions is doubtless growing steadily. 



The only public buildings are the Church, the Dispensary, the 

 Chattrum, and the Police station. 



