CHAPTER XL 



THE ANIMALLAI HILLS. 



A Hunter's Paradise. —Getting there. — The Bullock Bandy and its Driver. — His 

 Discourse. — Physical Aspect of the Animallais. — Toonacadavoo. — A Glori- 

 ous Prospect. — Mr. Theobald. —An Efficient Officer and Faithful Friend. — 

 Character of the Forest. — Seasons. — Protection of the Elephants. — A Per- 

 mit Obtained. — My Mulcer Hunting Gang. — The Karders. — More Orna- 

 mental than Useful. 



The Animallai Hills ! How my nerves tingle and my pulse quick- 

 ens as I write the name ! It seems to have charged my pen with 

 electricity, and no wonder. Let any young sportsman, young 

 naturalist, or " griflSn " of any description have a Hunter's Paradise 

 for a four months' inheritance, with nothing to do but chase wild 

 animals and preserve their skins and skeletons ; let him have the 

 keenest trackers in the East Indies, and a faithful friend within 

 reach to help him over the rougher difficulties, and we will see if 

 he does not afterward write and speak of his experiences with en- 

 thusiasm. India is the greatest game country in the world except 

 South Africa, and the Animallai Hills are, beyond all question, the 

 finest hunting grounds in all India. No other locality in all the 

 East Indies can boast of possessing such splendid open forests for 

 hunting, and such a genial climate, combined with such a variety 

 and abundance of large game. 



The lordly elephant has given his name to this range of moun- 

 tains. In Tamil, Tellegu, and Canarese, his name is " ani," " arni," 

 and " anay," respectively (which accounts for the variety of ways of 

 writing the name of the hills), and "mallai"or "mullay," signify 

 hills or mountains ; hence we have " Animallai," Elephant Moun- 

 tains, a very appropriate name for a range which is the home of so 

 many vast herds of elephants, bison, axis deer, and wild hog. Be- 

 sides these, there is the sambur, or Indian elk, the wild goat or 

 " ibex," of sportsmen, the muntjac or rib-faced deer, all in goodly 

 numbers, while the hunter meets an occasional tiger, leopard, and 



