DESCEIPTION or THE SEVERAL STATIONS. 31 



tastefully disposed, in wood, plantations and gardens : others 

 are small, and better fitted for bachelors or small families. 

 During the present year, there were between 2 and 300 

 visitors, from the two Presidencies of Madras and Bombay, 

 resident, at the same time, at Ootacamund ; of which from 

 80 to 100 were married parties with families, and there are 

 many permanent residents, Generals and other officers of 

 rank, with their families. 



House-rent varies according to situation, extent of accom- 

 modation, &c. The large houses let at from 100 to 150 and 

 250 rupees a month ; the smaller, at from 40 to 70 or 80. 

 Almost all the large houses are very handsomely furnished, and 

 all, or almost all, have ample furniture, generally of a good 

 description. But table requisites, plate, earthenware, glass, 

 knives and forks, bed and table linen should be taken to 

 the hills by visitors, intending to keep house ; unless they 

 would prefer to get any of these articles in the shops, where 

 every thing necessary for house-keeping is to be had, at 

 prices not higher than at Madras. 



House Agents are numerous — Messrs. Eckersall, Lowry 

 Senior, Hopkins, Johnston, and several others, who have 

 charge of the greater number of properties belonging to 

 absent proprietors, also contract to build Houses and Cot- 

 tages of every description. 



Servants. Good men-servants of any description are sel- 

 dom to be found at Ootacamund ; but, if enquiries lead you to 

 rely on the genuineness of the characters they produce, these, 

 from being acclimatized, are preferable to those from the 

 low country, who, even when well taken care of, frequently 

 suffer at first from their own imprudence in exposing them- 

 selves, sleeping on the ground, &c. All servants who are 

 brought up from below should have woollen clothes, and coarse 



