ANAMALAI — HIGHER RANGES. 2$3 



hutting materials. Some gigantic Crotolaria and Indigo/era 

 stems were used for the walls, the stems being interwoven 

 between the uprights, and the thatch was made of Andropogon 

 Schcenanthw, L. (Ginger grass) ; fortunately no rain fell during 

 the night. In the short march to-day, the teak gradually became 

 smaller and less frequent, and disappeared altogether two miles 

 before reaching the Torakudu waterfall. 



Opposite our bivouac was a remarkable rock called Cun- 

 dita-malai, apparently 200 feet in height, on the precipitous 

 scarp of which was a rattan cable 80 feet long, securely fixed 

 above. This chain was formed of large rings of the Calamus 

 stem, connected by another straight rattan which passed down 

 through the centre of the loops ; by means of tjris the Kaders 

 descend the face of the rock to collect honey, &c. (vide Plate 

 XII.) The river during this day's march tumbles over huge 

 boulders of broken rock, and takes a south-east direction. 



17th. Started at a quarter to 8, and reached the huts near 

 the Torakudu waterfalls at half-past 9, which are picturesque and 

 very beautiful. About two miles below these falls, Major Hamil- 

 ton discovered an ancient cairn or cromlech (vide Plate X.), a 

 quarter-mile to the left of the path, similar to those found in 

 other parts of Coimbatore, and consisting of four immense stones, 

 the upright slabs about 5J feet high, and the covering stone 11 

 feet by 5 feet. On the south of the valley, where the cromlech 

 was found, is the ridge from the end of which Major Hamil- 

 ton's sketch was taken, showing the general course of the river, 

 which is here north-west. The site of the huts was not well 

 chosen, being in the bed of a stream below the falls, while there 

 was no lack of good encamping ground around. There are here 

 three waterfalls, — a true fall of about 50 feet ; another of about 

 100 feet; and a rapid cascade of 120 feet; which could not 

 easily be approached. 



Opposite the encampment is an Irular village of eight or 

 ten houses, with a patch of ragi (Eleusine coracana, Gartn.) cul- 

 tivation ; and near this was another village of Muduvars. The 

 day was fine, sometimes rather hot at night. Blankets were 

 necessary, as it became cold towards morning. Very little dew 

 fell, and at 6 a.m. there was none. 



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