262 The Hunting Grounds 



but because it is a single station, where one regiment 

 only is quartered, consequently the duty is extremely 

 light, and " leave " easily attainable. The town itself 

 stands about 1400 feet above the level of the sea, 

 in dry, well-cultivated country ; is neatly built, and 

 consists of twelve wide and well-ventilated streets. 

 Tippoo Sultan, the Eajah of Mysore, occasionally 

 resided in the old palace, the ruins of which are still 

 standing, and built a handsome mosque. 



The officers' quarters are substantially built and 

 delightfully situated outside the native town, by a 

 lake three miles in length, which in the season is 

 covered with waterfowl of every description, and in 

 the reeds and paddy-fields adjoining snipe are to be 

 found in thousands. To the lover of large game this 

 station offers peculiar advantages, as the virgin forest 

 jungle surrounding the Neilgherry and Annamullay 

 ranges are celebrated as being the haunts of all 

 kinds of large game, besides containing abundance of 

 teak (Sectona grandis), blackwood (Dalbergia sati- 

 folia, box-wood), sandal-wood (Santalum album\ 

 and other valuable timber, which is, however, unfor- 

 tunately too remote from water-carriage to permit 

 of easy exportation. 



The end of December (when the north-east mon- 

 soon rains are over, and the sun has gained his most 

 southern declination) may be considered the coldest 

 season of the year in all those countries north of the 



