6 STATISTICS. 



which is about 5000 feet above sea-level. Wild elephants are very abun- 

 dant throughout this range and the forests at its foot. 



The country in the interior of the province is undulating and in many 

 parts hiUy. A peculiar feature in many localities are the granite hills, 

 often sheer rock, sometimes consisting of huge masses piled on each other, 

 and forming caves where panthers and bears are occasionally found. Soli- 

 tary fortified hills, called droogs, are numerous : many of these are still 

 crowned with the remains of old fortresses which were used in former days 

 as strongholds by robber chieftains. 



The border mountains of Mysore are geneiuQy well wooded, but some of 

 the highest summits are clear of forest, being grass downs with woods in the 

 hollows, where moisture favours their growth. 



The climate of Mysore is temperate, the mean deduced from observations 

 (in the shade) at Bangalore being V2°6'. The mean diurnal range is 15° 6', 

 the greatest recorded being 32° in one day in February. The greatest 

 extremes recorded are 53° and 95°, in February and May respectively of 

 1866. The average rainfall is about 40 inches, though in the western 

 forest tracts and hills it is frequently from 80 to 100 inches. 



The last census, taken in 1871, gives the population at 5,055,412, 

 of wliich 4,839,421 are Hindoos, 208,991 Mussulmans, and about 7000 

 Europeans and half-castes. 



The revenue in 1875 was £1,100,000; of this one-fourth is paid as 

 subsidy to the British. 



Mysore was acquired by the British in 1799, upon the death of Tippoo 

 Sultan, at the siege of Seringapatam. The former dynasty was then restored 

 by the British in the person of Krishna Eaj Wadeyar, then five years of 

 age, who was installed as Ptajah. The Government during his minority was 

 ably conducted by the Brahmin Dewan (or Prime Minister) Poornaya, under 

 the control of the Political Eesident, Colonel Sir Barry Close. The troops 

 were commanded by Colonel Arthur WeUesley (subsequently Duke of 

 Wellington). 



His Highness's liberality and kindly disposition made him a universal 

 favourite with both Europeans and natives. But he fell into the hands of 

 injudicious advisers, and in 1830 the disturbed state of the country rendered 

 necessary the intervention of the paramount Power. Since that period the 

 territories of his Highness have been governed by a Commission, which 

 is under the direct orders of the Government of India. Before his death in 

 1868 the Maharajah, in the absence of male heirs, adopted a successor who 

 is to resume the government of the country when he attains the period of 

 maiority — that is, the age of eighteen years — which will be about 1880. 



