16 GEOLOGY OF TRICIIINOPOLY, &C. [ChAP. I, 



(whiclij generally speaking", occurs in the valleys), quite impenetrable, 

 unless actually cut through. The ridges often show timber trees of 

 good quality, but dwarfed in size or of no gi'eat age. Those most fre- 

 quently observed were very young Teak (Tectona grandisj, Vengay, 

 (Pterocarpus marsupinmj Kulmudre (Terminalia coriacea), Vellay Naga 

 (Conocarpus latifoliumj, and sometimes Black- wood, (JDalbergia latifo- 

 liaj. Where the trees are scattered but thinly near the tops of 

 ridges, numerous dwarf date-palms and much lemon-grass stand be- 

 tween the different trunks. This applies to all the other hill ranges 

 in very many cases. Very beautiful trees, rarely seen in the low coun- 

 try, but common on the various ranges, are the bastard Sago-palm 

 (Caryota icrens) which, with great Jack trees (Artocarpus integrifolia) and 

 red cotton trees (Bombax MalabaricumJ form perhaps the most strik- 

 ing botanical objects of these elevated regions. 



The PatchamuUays are of less elevation than any of the four 



ranges already described, and differ from them 

 Patcliamullays. 



also in their shape, being of very irregular out- 

 line. Their greatest length, extending from north to south, is about 

 20 miles, measured to the extremities of the spurs respectively. In 

 plan, the range has a very rude resemblance to an hour-glass in shape, 

 being nearly cut in two by two ravines of great size and depth, open- 

 ing to the north-east and south-west. Of the two parts thus formed, 

 the north-western is the larger, and has generally a higher level than 

 the south-eastern. Besides the rambling shape of the range, the most 

 note-worthy and striking physical feature is the great steepness of 

 the western slopes compared with those on the east, which are rarely 

 precipitous, and are broken by sundry long buttress-like spurs, pro- 

 jecting far into the low country. In other respects these plateaux 

 differ in no way from those of the other ranges. Like them they are 

 inhabited by numerous MuUayali families of Vellala caste, whose villages 

 in many cases are situated amidst lovely scenery, but are unfortunately 

 { 238 ) 



