XXV111. 



" On the 7th May, we started for the great Arnee Moody moun- 

 tain, leaving our camp at 10 minutes to 6 a.m., ascending over a spur 

 of the Kartu Mullay (at the foot of which we were encamped), we 

 then descended on to a fine undulating plateau, and after a walk 

 of about four miles arrived at a beautifully wooded narrow valley, 

 through which a stream, studded with Rhododendrons, was running 

 in a south-easterly direction. This valley rises in its centre, and 

 another stream flows exactly in the opposite direction, viz., to the 

 north-west; the valley is at least 1,200 feet below the plateau, the 

 descent being exceedingly steep and rugged. After crossing the 

 stream, we struck into a well worn elephant path, ascending the 

 opposite slope by a series of short zigzags, these were so perfect and 

 regular that we could scarcely believe it possible they were made by 

 those animals. After ascending the zigzags we diverged from the 

 path leaving it on our left, and reached, by a steep ascent, a mag- 

 nificent plateau considerably higher than the one we had just crossed, 

 and apparently about 7 miles long by 4j miles broad, being by far the 

 most extensive table-land on the range ; it is studded with sholas, 

 and watered by two streams of considerable size, the largest winding 

 in a northerly direction through undulating hills bordered by a broad 

 swamp capable of being converted into an extensive lake. This 

 stream eventually descends into the deep valley previously mentioned, 

 forming a picturesque water-fall. The other stream rises in an exten- 

 sive morass, and takes an easterly course falling into the western end 

 of the Ungeenaad valley ; besides these two large streams numerous 

 smaller ones run into them. 



"This plateau is, I believe, to be nearly if not quite as high 

 as that of Ootacamund. The Arnee Moody itself is separated 

 from it by a deep precipitous wooded ravine. It could only be 

 reached by making a detour to the left or east, descending, into a 

 rather deep valley, and then ascending the left hand spur. The 

 ascent occupied us one hour and ten minutes fast walking. Its sum- 

 mit is full 1,500 feet above the plateau, and consists of a narrow ridge 

 about 300 or 400 yards in length running north-cast and south-west. 

 A range of hills extends for some distance to the west, with open 



