CHAPTER IV, 



TOPOGB.APHT. 



The Neilgherry hills are situated between the jDarallels of 

 11° 10' and 11° 32' N. latitude, and 76° 59' and 77° 31' B. 

 longitude from Greenwich. Their greatest extent, in an 

 oblique direction, from S. W. to N. E. is about 50 miles, and 

 their extreme breadth 25 miles, measuring from the bottom of 

 the Ghauts at each extreme ; and the plateau may be consi- 

 dered as being 30 to 40 miles in length, and from 8 to 15 in 

 breadth. Taking into account the great undulation of the 

 surface, and the circumstance of the breadth, above stated, 

 being pretty constant throughout, their superficial extent 

 may be fairly estimated at about 700 square geographical 

 mUes. 



The area of the plateau as defined on the north-west, 

 north, east, and south, by the crest of the mass of moun- 

 tains, and on the south-west by the outline of the " Koon- 

 dahs," is found by a late survey to comprise 268,494 square 

 acres in its geographical extent : but owing to the ceaseless 

 undulations prevailing over the whole surface, a far greater 

 amount of land is actually available for cultivation. 



Of this quantity only 23,772 acres have been brought 

 under cultivation, leaving 244,772 acres either entirely waste, 

 or appropriated for grazing cattle by the various Hill tribes. 



