NILGHIRI HILLS, 213 



of that elevated portion of the plateau to which the name of the 



Kundahs has been given. 



The hills are, for the most part, but slightly wooded. They are 



generally covered with a coarse grass, or in the 



more rocky parts with a low scrub, and the patches 



of loftier forest, termed Sholas, are, as a general rule, confined to the 



valleys ami water courses, and the more protected portions of the 



hills. There are, however, many exceptions to this mode of distribution, 



and numerous isolated patches of various extent are conspicuously 



dotted here and there over the slopes of the hills. They have 



a very peculiar appearance, the boundary of each Shola being sharp 



and distinct, so that the pedestrian passes in a few steps from the open 



hill side into a dense thicket. The Botany of the hills is a subject 



foreign to that of the present report, and will therefore not be entered 



upon here. All those desirous of information on points connected 



therewith, may be referred to the works of Dr. Wight as containing 



the most reliable information.* 



Previous to the commencement of the present Survey, the Geology 



„ . ., of the Neelghen-ies had attracted the attention 



rrevioiis writers on » 



Geolo-y of Neelgherrics. ^f several persons who had visited the hills. 



* In the Introduction to the " Flora Indic.i" we find the following summary of the 

 flora of these hills given by the Authors of that masterly essay : — 



" The ravines and shady slopes near the undulating summits of the Nilghiri hills are 

 occupied by thickets of small trees and bushes, like those of Ceylon, but probably com- 

 posed of a greater number of species, all of which are equally characteristic of similar 

 situations in the Khasia, as TernstroEmiacca;^ Michelia, Symplocos, Photinia, Ilex, Eugenia, 

 Vacctnium, Gauhheria, Myrsinece, Hhododendron arboreum, Piitonporum Laurinea, with 

 Eubus, Cotoneaster, Desmodium, Jasminum, Euonymus, Indigofera, Daphne, Euphorhiacew, 

 AntidesmecE, Willow, ilclastomacece, and a vast number of others. Of forms that do not extend 

 to Ceylon, arc Willow, Gnetum, Viburnum, Lomcera, Hosa. Balsams attain their maximum 

 in the Kilghiri and Travaucore mountains; and amongst European forms are Alchemilla 

 Polentilla, Gentianee, and Laljiatw ; Agrimonia, however, which is found both in the tem- 

 perate parts of India and in Ceylon, is absent from the Nilghiri. Flora Iiidka Vol. I p. 126 

 Introd. Essay, 



