§0 



EASTERN HINDOOSTAN. 



at the moment in which the advance of General Smith might 

 have cut him and his detachment to pieces *. 

 Great Mount I nqav regain the Choultry Plain. At the diftance of about 



Sr. Thomas. 



ten miles from Madras Itands the great Mount St. Thomas: 

 It is the place of retreat of the moll: opulent inhabitants of 

 the former, from the heats and other inconveniencies of fitua- 

 tion. On the fummit is a chapel belonging to the Catholics, 

 aceeffible by a hundred and twenty-feven fteps, and dedicated 

 to the great Apoftle, but his miracles have long fince ceafed. 

 The air about this mount is peculiarly wholefome and reftora- 

 tive ; it is efteemed the Montpellier of India. Invalids who 

 have labored under the dreadful intermittents of Bengal, and 

 through weaknefs been obliged to be carried to this place 

 from Madras, have, in four days, recovered flrength fufficient 

 to walk to the top without any affiftance. 



In a noted grove called Pop Tope, a few miles diflant, are 

 found abundance of what are called by the 'EngliJJi Braminey 

 kites, the Pondicberry eagle of Latham, i. p. 21, and PL Enl. 

 tab. 416. It does not exceed the fize of our kite ; the body is 

 chefnut colored, the reft of the plumage white, with a dark 

 ftreak pafling along the length of each feather ; the tail is even 

 at the end ; they fly high, and feed only on live animals. It 

 takes its name from being a bird highly venerated by the 

 Brahmins. 



The common Englijb kite, Br. Zool. i. N* 53, is found in 



* Mr. Rennel's Introdudion, xcviii, 



great 



