SAJJITAKY DEPOTS. 205 



at sunrise to 85° at noon, the wind blowing strongly from 

 the south-west, and the sky frequently obscured with light 

 clouds, attended with Httle rain. Near the village of Niko, 

 in the midst of these mountains, situated 12,000 feet above 

 the sea, in the heart of abundant population, he found the 

 grain " already yellow, with a broad sheet of water, sur- 

 rounded by tall poplar, juniper, and willow-trees, of pro- 

 diorious size, and environed by massive rocks of granite. 

 Here are produced most luxuriant crops of barley, wheat, 

 fhapur (poli/gonum), and turnips, rising by steps to nearly 

 700 feet higher than the village, where is a lama's residence, 

 inhabited throughout the year. The fields are partitioned 

 by dikes of granite. At Taz-hi-gang they are enclosed by 

 barberry and goosebeny bushes." 



The seasons at this great elevation are similar to those 

 of our northern latitudes, the grain being sown in March 

 and April, and reaped in August and September. Snow 

 generally falls towards the end of (jctober. It seldom ex- 

 ceeds two feet in depth, but does not leave the ground for 

 nearly six months. Want of moisture in the air prevents 

 its earlier descent (since the beginning of October is winter) 

 under a clear sky. In the middle of October, 1818, the 

 thermometer at sunrise was seldom above 20^^ F. ; in 

 August the temperature was 75° F. at noon, and never be- 

 low 62° F. 



20. Sanitary Depots. — It having been found that those 

 suffering under the diseases of the Iswer and hotter parts 

 of India had their health improved by a residence in the 

 hilly districts, the government have of late established sani- 

 tary depots in several of the hill-provinces. Not many 

 years back the Mount of St. Thomas, near Madras, was 

 considered the Montpellier of the south of India. After the 

 fall of Seringapatam, and the consequent occupation of the 

 table-land of Mysore by the British troops, the cantonment 

 of BaniTalore became the general resort of all classes whose 

 health required a change of climate. Now the Nhilgerry 

 mountains, in the same division of India, are considered as 

 affording a healthier climate ; and there the government 

 have established a sanitarj' depot. The greatest length of 

 the Nhilgerries Proper is from east to west thirtj'-six miles, 

 and the medium breadth fifteen miles. 



Althousrh only twelve degrees distant from the equator, 



Vol. III.— S 



