PBELIMINATIT EEMAEKS. 21 



The scenery througliout this pass is sublime ; and the la- 

 bours of the ascent are not felt, from the exciting contem- 

 plation of the ever varying beauties of the surrounding 

 woods and craggs, some rising to the height of 6000 feet ; 

 and a stupendous chasm, of equal magnitude, with a cataract 

 rolling down the centre, completes the grandeur of the scene. 



There is an excellent Bungalow at Meetapollium, and one 

 at Coonoor. 



From Coonoor, the road still ascends, but very gradually, 

 till it reaches Ootacamund, the principal station ; the distance 

 being about 10 miles. 



The Sispaea oe Koondah Pass. 



This magnificent pass forms the line of communication 

 between the western coast, Calicut, &c. and the Neilgherries, 

 across the "Koondah" mountains. Viewing this latter tract 

 as one likely to become, before long, of the greatest value and 

 importance as a producing country, Capt. Ouohterlony, in 

 his admirable Memoir on the HiUs, noticed in the appendix, 

 remarks " that he should describe the Sispara pass as one to 

 which the attention of Government should be particularly 

 drawn." It was originally marked out by Lieutenant now 

 Lt.-Col. Le Hardy, of the retired list of officers of the Madras 

 Army, who also marked out and in part completed the " Coo- 

 noor" pass, and both do great credit to his skill, persever- 

 ance, and ingenuity. The " Sispara" pass commences at 

 "Sholaicul" at the base of the Hills on the Malabar side, 

 where there is a Bungalow, and ascending, through a 

 thickly wooded ravine, a distance of 11^ miles, reaches the 

 summit of the Koondahs ; and crossing them, descends upon 

 the table-land of the NeUgherries, and the road reaches 

 Ootacamund, 31^ miles from the head of the Pass, There 



