ANAMALAI — HIGHER RANGES. 297 



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dense sholas till within half a mile of the summit ; thence the 

 mountain is covered with almost impenetrable brushwood 6 to 

 .10 feet in height, consisting chiefly of Myrtus, Dodoncea, Bubus, 

 Lttsaea, and Atylosia. The mountain has a great many rocky 

 caverns and crags towards the summit." 



Again, under date 25th February 1859, Lieut. Beddome 

 writes, " that he and Mr Bryce went to that high land beyond 

 Michael's Valley, where there is a good extent of undulating 

 table-land. The highest peak of the Anamalais, below which 

 there appears to be table-land, is at least 25 miles beyond the 

 valley, and seems to be very difficult of access. "We had white 

 frost in the valley." 



I now append Dr Macpherson's views on the eligibility of this 

 range for a sanatarium and for future colonisation. The general 

 appearance and character of these high lands resemble the Nil- 

 giris. Here are the same rounded eminences and dense sholas, 

 extending continuously for miles, their edges fringed with Stro- 

 bilanthes, and ceasing abruptly. The hills are conical, and the 

 slopes covered with short rich grass, abounding with medicinal 

 plants, as the JExacum bicolor and Ophelia elegans (Gentians) ; 

 the woods contain Hymenodyction excelsum and other species of 

 the Cinchona family. Heavy rains, evidently the breaking up 

 of the south-west monsoon, fell continuously during the period 

 of our stay on these upper regions. The want of shelter, and 

 the difficulty of procuring supplies, prevented us from proceeding 

 to the highest parts of the range, which appeared to be about 

 12 miles in a south-east direction from the extreme point the 

 party reached. We therefore reluctantly returned to the low 

 country without fully attaining our object, having been absent 

 eight days. Three distinct tribes inhabit the Anamalai Hills ; 

 they are denominated Kaders, Paliars, and Malsars. The Kaders • 

 perform no menial labour. As their name implies, they are the 

 lords of the hills ; they carry a gun, and loads also as a favour; 

 they are expert at stalking game, but are deeply offended if called 

 coolies. They are a truthful, trustworthy, and obliging tribe, and 

 exercise some influence over the Paliars and Malsars. Small in 

 stature, their features resemble the African (Plate VII .) ; they have 

 curly hair, tied in a knot behind, and file the four front teeth of 



