OP THE NiLAOIRI DISTRICT. Ixi 



are a series of plain green undulating lulls denominated Mullanaud 

 affording extensive rich pastures, no part of it being cultivated ; the 

 broad valleys formed by these green ridges are somewhat extensive, their 

 bottoms in general mai'shy, and the nullahs or mountain streams work- 

 ing their way through them in a variety of serpentine courses become 

 however confined on approaching the fall or exterior of the mountain, 

 which to the north presents a bold face of stupendous precipices, rising 

 in most places almost perpendicularly from the table-land of Davaroy- 

 patam ; to the east and south thay are seen to slope down in irregular 

 woody ridges from an elevation of about 5,000 feet in some parts 

 presenting bold rocky precipices. Most of the narrow streams have 

 their sources in the main chain, flow down on all sides in devious 

 windings, and where arrested by rocks fall in small catai'acts, eventu- 

 ally discharging themselves into the Moyar on the north, the Bhowany 

 on the south ; the streams of these rivers unite near the village of 

 Pungar, three miles from its eastern base. The surface is formed of 

 innumerable ridges, perfectly open, covered with a short stunted grass, 

 yet not entirely devoid of wood, being fringed with groves of forest 

 trees ; these are seen at the head of ravines not unfrequent along the 

 streams in the valleys and a few on the summit of the ridges to the 

 eastward ; towards the west in Mullanaud they are very extensive, 

 covering the whole side of the hills to one or two square miles. In 

 the eastern portion of Parunganaud many of the lower slopes are over- 

 run with a low jungle, principally by a plant which bears a delicious 

 fruit in great abundance, much esteemed by the natives, and called 

 the TJwivtalmn, in taste and flavor not inferior to a gooseberry. The 

 southern hills in Maikanaud are overrun with a long grass intermixed 

 ■with fern and other wild shrubs, and the exterior slopes and deep 

 valleys on all sides with a variety of forest trees. Around the southern 

 base the bamboo grows in great profusion, and, on the table-land of 

 Davaroypatam, along the foot of the mountain the teak, blackwood, 

 and sandal appear to thrive. 



It is divided into three Nauds, viz., Parunganaud, Maikanaud, and Divisions and 

 the Thodawanaud, and contains IGO hamlets or villages independent of vinago3. 

 the temporary habitations of the Todawars in Mullanaud with a popu- 

 lation of above 4,000 souls. Parunganaud lying on the east is by far 

 the most populous. Next to it is Maikanaud occupying the south-west 

 portion and Thodawanaud including Mullanaud to the west, though the 

 largest division is far inferior to the others including the Thodawar 

 population. The hill hamlets are in general small, composed of from 

 two to twenty houses, arranged in one or two lines, sometimes forrning a 

 street; they are built of mud and covered with thatch, low and excessively 

 filthy, the entrance or doorway generally facing the east and situated 

 on the slopes of the lower ridges. These arc extensively cultivated 

 and well attended to ; some of the neighbouring ridges yearly undergo 

 it partially ; the most extensive tracts are cultivated by the Badagas. 

 Each division has its Cotter village ; this being a very low class, they 

 are under the necessity of herding together, which gives their villages, 

 from having a larger number of cottages, a respectable appearance, and, 



