XV111. 



in 1824, they then appeared to have had a superior breed of black 

 cattle; the distinctive color has disappeared, but the hill cattle are 

 still superior to the ordinary run of cattle on the plains ; sheep are 

 said not to thrive on the Shervaroys and are therefore seldom met 

 with. 



"Yercaud, the principal settlement, is situated on the southern 

 portion of the hills, or that nearest Salem, its average elevation is 

 about 4,500 feet above the sea ; the houses are scattered over irregular 

 undulating hills. There are several good roads traversing the Settle- 

 ment forming pleasant rides and drives." 



" Until lately there were only two ghauts leading to the high 

 ranges, viz., the ghaut from Salem on the southern, and the Mallapo- 

 ram ghaut on the northern side. The former is six miles in length ; 

 some portions of it are very steep, it might be much improved and 

 shortened, but a road for wheeled carriages could not be made except 

 at a great expense ; by this ghaut all supplies, &c, are brought from 

 Salem. The northern ghaut leading from the Railway Station at 

 Mallaporam (eight miles from the foot of the hills) to Yercaud, vid 

 Nagalore, is at present an unmade bridle-path, but the gradients are 

 easy, and it might be made into a carriage ghaut." 



"A bridle-path has recently been opened down the valley lead- 

 ing to Athoor, a few miles to the west of Mallaporam. The Railway 

 at this place (Athoor) approaches to within two and a half miles of 

 the foot of the pass, the pass itself being only five and a quarter miles 

 to the Green Hills and eight miles to Yercaud; the gradients are easy 

 with the exception of one small portion, and a good bridle-road could 

 be constructed at a moderate expense. The only difficulty I noticed 

 to its being made a carriage road was the ascent of a steep spur about 

 two and a half miles from its summit ; could this be surmounted, a 

 carriage road vid Nagalore and Mallaporam would not be required. 

 By ascending the Athoor ghaut, the summit of the Shervaroys can be 

 reached from Madras with the greatest ease in twelve hours, an im- 

 mense saving of time compared with the hitherto used route, vid 

 Salem, where the traveller had to remain one night on the plains, or if 

 he attempted to make the ascent, seldom reached his destination 



