PRELIMINAET REMARKS. 25 



thirty men to repair. This ghaut is of considerable import- 

 ance to the eastern part of the Hills, as a great deal of 

 traffic, in the produce of the coffee plantations, and of the 

 Burghers' lands, goes on by it ; and large quantities of low- 

 country goods are brought up it for sale and barter. It is 

 also favorably situated for gaining the summit of the Hills 

 on the eastern side ; as the ascent of a long spur on which 

 the lower part of the road is carried, is commenced almost 

 immediately after quitting Meetapolhum, without having to 

 pass through much low jungle. 



But, on reference to the description, which follows, of the 

 station of Kotergherry, it will appear, that a new pass will 

 soon be made, commencing at " Seeramogay :" the intended 

 terminus of the Branch rail, from which Kotergherry will 

 then be only 12 miles distant. 



The Mailoob Ghaut. 



The Mailoor or Soondaputty ghaut, appears, in farmer 

 years, to have been much frequented by travellers journey- 

 ing from the eastern parts of the presidency, by Coim- 

 batore, to the Hills, from which town there is a road to 

 Soondaputty, a village at the foot of the southern part of the 

 Neilgherries. This ghaut, which gains the summit of the Hills 

 near " Soondabetta," is now only used by smugglers, and by 

 the Burghers who cultivate laud about Mailoor and Keel 

 Koondah, to carry down their produce for barter for clothes, 

 tobacco, salt, &c. The remains of a very good road still exist 

 from the top of this ghaut all the way to Ootacamund, but it 

 has become impassable, in many places, owing to bogs having 

 formed in the hollows, and closed over it. 



For some remarks on the comparative eligibility of the 



