CHAPTER VII. 



SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.* 



The soil, over the whole extent of the table-land, is, nearly 

 without exception, of the richest description, but many cir- 

 cumstances of situation, exposure, command of water, and 

 others, less obvious perhaps, have contributed to confine the 

 cultivation to the slopes next the extreme range of the hills, 

 on the S. and E. sides of the range. f The country, for some 

 miles in the segment of a circle, commencing at Mailcoondah, 

 at the base of the Koondahs, continued through Coonoor, 

 Kotergherry, and the Orange Valley, to Billycull, is almost 

 entirely occupied by the villages of the Boodigahs and 

 Kothurs, each village being generally placed on a small hill, 

 or slight slope, surrounded with numerous patches of cultiva- 

 tion, which are kept remarkably clean, and free from weeds ; 

 they are protected, in the proper season, by deep ditches, and 

 hedges formed by boughs or small sticks, from the depreda- 

 tions of the elk, hog, porcupine, and other wild animals. The 

 .villages themselves, generally, consist of a single row of houses, 

 with a low, very broad pent roof, carefully thatched, and a 

 considerable space, in front of them, is provided with a bed of 



* For a most minute, and comprehensive account of the soil and pro- 

 ductiona of the hills, see the valuable Memoir of Captain Ouchterlony, 

 from vrhich extracts are given in the appendix. 



t Since Dr. Baikie's time, the cultivation has spread over various 

 other quarters. 

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