298 ANAMALAI— HIGHER RANGES. 



the upper jaw to a point, as a marriage ceremony. " The Paliars 

 are chiefly herdsmen and merchants, while the Malsars are cul- 

 tivators of the soil. None of these tribes reside at a higher 

 elevation than 4000 to 5000 feet above the sea. All deal in the 

 rich produce of these hills, and barter with the people in the 

 plains their cardamoms,, turmeric, ginger, honey, wax, resins, 

 millets, soap-nuts, gall-nuts, &c, for rice, tobacco, &c. They are 

 very expert in climbing trees, and the precipitous face of rocks, 

 in search of honey. To accomplish the former, where there are 

 no boughs, they drive short bamboo spikes into the tree, and 

 thus form a ladder, by means of which they ascend the highest 

 forest trees ; and they reach the latter by means of chains formed 

 by rings made with rattan, which being secured to a point, above, 

 drops down the face of the rock. We observed some of these 

 chains full 50 and 80 feet in length. The upper ranges are in 

 undisturbed possession of wild beasts; we saw a large herd of 

 bison, with deer and ibex in numbers, and also traces of wild 

 elephants. 



" The best period to prosecute inquiry into the upper ranges 

 of the Anamalai mountains would be after October, or in the hot 

 season. From their position, they are considerably under the 

 influence of the south-west monsoon, but less so than the Eun- 

 dahs at Sissipara ; and I think it is worthy of inquiry to ascertain 

 whether here, also, may not be found a climate as bracing and 

 welcome to the enervated constitution of the European invalid as 

 exists on our better known hill stations. The soil on the summit 

 of these fine mountains is deep, and covered with rich pasture. 

 Streams of water are numerous, and appear as if they flowed 

 throughout the year. From the extent of forest, the resem- 

 blance of the flora to that of Ceylon, and the corresponding 

 altitude of these hills, I believe they are suitable for -the culti- 

 vation of coffee on a large scale, and for colonisation of small 

 communities of Englishmen ; a measure which would be at- 

 tended with the happiest results, as it adds at once to our military 

 strength, and, in course of time, would give us the means, to a 

 certain extent, of recruiting our army." 



It will thus be seen that, the result of our excursion was not 

 without interest. Some curious botanical novelties were found ; 



