TOPOGEAPHY. 55 



summit, is bespangled with a variety of the most beautiful 

 wild flowers, of every diversity of colour ; the trees, among 

 which appear the crimsonEhododendronand awhite camelia, 

 varying in shade and richness of foliage ; and some covered 

 with moss, assuming all the hoary appearance of winter ; 

 while the banks of the rills and streamlets, that meander at 

 their base, are lined with the dog-rose and jessamine ; and 

 all around are seen the strawberry, blacltberry, toparra, and 

 numerous other wild fruits, flourishing in spontaneous luxu- 

 riance. 



Several of the little streams here mentioned, meeting at 

 one point, fall into a natural basin, which confined at its 

 south-western extremity by a strong mound of earth, forms 

 the lake, of five or six miles circuit. This beautiful piece 

 of water, which, in some parts, spreads out to a consider- 

 able width, and in others winds in a serpentine course 

 among hills, gently rising from its banks, and clothed with 

 the softest verdure, has, as already mentioned, a public car- 

 riage road surrounding it, affording one of the most scenic, 

 healthful, and agreeable drives of which India can boast. 



On the table-land of the Neilgherries, there are properly 

 speaking no rivers, but the streams which pour down on all 

 sides, to form the Bowany and Mayar, which wash the base 

 of the mountains, are very numerous. The Pycara is, how- 

 ever, a considerable stream, and flows down the N. W. angle 

 to join the Mayar ; and the waters of the lake, and the 

 mountain rills to the N. of Ootacamund, become a torrent, 

 which rushes down the gorge, from Kulhutty to Seegoor, 

 forming the source of the Mayar. 



The waters never accumulate in a sufficient body to form 

 cataracts of much magnitude or sublimity, but the falls at 

 Katary and Kulhutty are picturesque ; as are also those of 



