XXX. 



of the Arnee Moody ; but one important question to be solved is the 

 amount of rain-fall during the monsoons ; this has not yet been ascer- 

 tained, though from the appearance of the sholas.the moss and lichens 

 on the trees, &c, I am of opinion it is not much greater than that on 

 the Pulnies and considerably less than the fall to the westward of 

 Ootacamund. The area of this range is of such limited extent that 

 there can hardly be any great difference in the amount of rain at one 

 spot or another, and there is reason to suppose the whole hills would 

 be quite habitable throughout the year. It is to be regretted that 

 I failed to reach this part of the hills on my first attempt, for had I 

 then succeeded, I could have remained some days in the vicinity 

 and thoroughly explored the country, but the second excursion was 

 so late in the season that I was obliged to hasten back to my head 

 quarters and prepare to leave the hills before the heavy rains set in ; 

 had the Tooracadavoo river become flooded and impassable, there was 

 no possibility of obtaining supplies from the low country. 



"With the superior advantages of the Nielgherries and Pulnies, 

 it will probably be many years before any extensive settlement is 

 formed on the Annamullays, unless the country is opened up by roads, 

 then the thousands of acres of land suitable for chinchona, tea, and 

 coffee, would soon attract planters to these lovely hills. 



"The only approaches to the hills that I am aware of, are — 

 ist, from Kotoor on the north, up the valley of the Tooracadavoo to 

 Michael's valley; 2nd, from Dhullee or the north-east over the Appia 

 Mullay ridge ; and 3rd to ascend the hills from the south-eastern side, 

 vid the valley of Ungeenaad on to the Coomarikul plateau or the 

 plateau beyond Kartu Mullay. I believe a road could be made for 

 wheeled carriages up either the Tooracadavoo or the Ungeenaad 

 valleys without any very considerable difficulties ; but I question if it 

 would be advisable to construct anything more than a bridle-path over 

 the Appia Mullay. The advantage of this latter route is the being 

 able to secure a safe halting place half-way up on the Appia Mullay 

 ridge ; whereas both the other roads pass through more than twenty 

 miles of dangerously feverish country before safe halting ground can 

 be reached. 



