XXXIV, 



in, and doubtless the hill men have, in their periodical hunts, taken 

 advantage of this and captured, or so disturbed the sambur as to 

 cause them to desert these high lands. Bison come up at times in 

 considerable numbers ; but while I was on the hills, only a few were 

 seen ; elephants cross over from one great forest to another ; but they 

 generally travel during the night, and are therefore seldom seen. 

 The other animals and birds found on this range are similar to those 

 met with on the Nielgherries and Pulnies. 



" It is worthy of note, that neither on the Annamullays or 

 Pulnies is the edible wild strawberry to be found, though so common 

 on the Nielgherries. Captain Beddome mentions that the rose is 

 also absent on the Annamullays. I omitted to notice this ; but I 

 have met with it frequently on the Pulnies. The shola trees on both 

 these ranges arc of much larger growth than those on the Niel- 

 gherries ; but whether owing to superior soil or climate, or both 

 combined, I am unable to say. In a shola on the eastern plateau I 

 met with a very large tree, the stem measuring twenty-one feet in cir- 

 cumference, five feet from the ground. 



" At the time of my visit, the Natives on the plains had the 

 greatest dread of the Annamullays, declaring that any one going to 

 the high ranges was certain to contract the very worst kind of jungle 

 fever. The teak forests to the westward have always had a very bad 

 name for fever, and not without cause ; but I have been told that on 

 the estates now opening out, and referred to in this report, there has 

 been very little fever. Should this prove to be the case, I imagine 

 coolies in time will proceed as willingly to work in the Annamullays 

 as they now do in Wynaad." 



In March 1866 he went to the Bababooden Hills for the purpose 

 of making drawings. "These hills," he reported, "are from 4,000 to 

 6,ooo feet in height. (The highest peak, viz., Coller Nulley above the 

 bungalow being 6,000 feet above the level of the sea.) They are in 

 the shape of a horse-shoe, the two ends being nearly due west, and 

 measuring round the curve, are between twenty-five to thirty miles in 

 length. In the centre of the horse-shoe is the Janga Valley which, 

 with the exception of a few patches of cultivation is dense jungle and 



