OP THE NILAOIRI DISTHICT. Ivii 



in the February following at Coimbatore I was nearly brought to the 

 brink of the grave by the same disorder. In March I ascended the 

 Neelgherry, weak and debilitated ; in a few days my appetite was 

 restored, and I soon recovered health and strength, since which period 

 I have not had a single day's sickness. 



My followers and servants, without exception, had all the fever of 

 the low country, and some of them ascended the hill suffering under 

 its effects ; in a few days they also completely recovered (bark was 

 administci'ed to them), and except in two instances there have been no 

 relapses. The coolies employed under my orders joined me on the 

 22nd April, the very day, it will be seen by the register of the thermo- 

 meter, on which the rains commence that usually fall here about that 

 season, and though they were exposed to severe winds and rain for 

 several nights Avithout cover there were but seven or eight of them 

 comjjlaining of bowel-complaint or slight agues, and as the weather 

 cleared up all of them recovered, and on this day amongst my followers 

 of all descriptions but three are taking medicine. 



I have been particular in my inqniries relative to the diseases of of tlie dis. 

 the natives, and whether or not epidemics or infectious maladies arc cases of the 

 ever prevalent amongst them ; the result has been most satisfactory ; vrhethe'r'thcv 

 their appearance indeed bespeaks them not a sickly race ; no epidemic or tlio iuhabi- 

 was ever known amongst them but the small-pox, of which they stand taints below 

 in much fear, and which occasionally makes dreadful ravages amongst ject to fever, 

 them and causes a great waste of population. The scourge of the low 

 lands, the cholera morbus, has never extended to these hills. More 

 instances of fever have occurred in the hills within the last two years 

 than was ever known before, but I believe for one case of fever hero 

 more than thirty occur below. 



The hills produce a variety of grains. Pulses and other articles The resources 

 which are subjects of exportation, such as wheat, barley, peas, natchey, ofthecouutry. 

 and a variety of small grains, onions, garlic, ghee, honey, bces'-wax, 

 dammer, sandal-wood, hides, and rattans, some pepper and excellent 

 opium are amongst their productions ; the inhabitants reserve grains, 

 &c., just enough for seed and for their own subsistence, so that 

 nothing can be obtained hei'e for money excepting milk and ghee. 



The soil is uncommonly good — generally a fine, rich dark vegetable Nature of 

 mould mixed with red earth. It is perhaps not too bold an assertion ^'^^ ^'^^ '^"^^ 

 to say that almost all European productions would grow here when adapted for 

 we consider its advantages of climate, soil, and the great facility of the growth 

 obtaining water for the purposes of irrigation from inuumei-able and of *j|'J"fjl.iean 

 inexhaustible springs and rivulets gushing on all sides from the 

 hills. 



The face of the country, as far as I have seen, is uneven hills and 

 bottoms, for they are too confined to be called valleys, but the hills to 

 their very summits are generally covered with a fine soil, and their 

 ascent is not so abrupt or steep, but they might easily be suljjected to 

 the labors of the plough. Unlike the other hilly regions of India, there 

 is very little jungle (and to this and to its elevation nuuit be attri- 



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