52 TOPOGRA:fHT. 



at its base, on the W. side, and it is still more important 

 to observe, that it forms the line of separation between the N. 

 E. and S. W. monsoons, the whole of the range to the W. of 

 Dodabet being chiefly affected by the S. W. or Malabar 

 monsoon, and that to the eastward by the N. E. or Madras 

 monsoon. 



The division to the eastward, having received no distinct 

 appellation, may be distinguished as the Kotergherry range, 

 the station of that name being situated on it. It contains 

 fewer peaks, and is inferior in elevation to either of the 

 other two. 



The elevation of some of the principal points on the dif- 

 ferent ranges, above the level of the sea, as well as some 

 neighbouring stations in the low country, will be given in 

 the appendix. 



No point on the hills, it will be observed, is less than 700 

 feet above fever range, (assuming the latter to be about 

 4,500 feet, the limit generally assigned,) and most of them 

 from 1,500 to 2,900 feet beyond it. 



The base of the hills is completely surrounded by a belt 

 of dense jungle of various breadth, and rising in general to 

 the height of from 2,500 to 3,500 feet on their declivities. 

 The line of demarcation is very strongly marked, there being 

 generally an open space from 1^ to 2 miles wide, nearly 

 destitute of trees all the way round. Above this space the 

 character of the vegetation is completely changed, and the 

 forests assume the appearance of woods in temperate climates, 

 besides being nearly destitute of underwood. The breadth 

 of the belt of jungle is very various ; it is, however, nowhere 

 greater than 20 miles, (between Mungalum and Groodaloor 

 on the Mysore side, where it joins the Wynaad jungle,) 

 and in many places it does not exceed six, as at Matepollium, 



