THE NILGHERRIES. 145 



amends for Ms frequent absence, and 

 the flowers get quite beyond bounds. 

 The eastern faces of the plateau get 

 their principal rainfall from the north- 

 east monsoon in November, December, 

 and the first week of January, and they 

 enjoy besides whatever the clouds of 

 the south-west monsoon have to spare 

 after deluging the western hills. 



Making allowance for an over-liberal 

 amount of rain and wind at certain 

 times, there is not a more beautiful 

 range of country and a more enjoyable 

 climate to be found anywhere in the 

 East than on these hills; and though 

 large game is said to be getting scarce 

 near the three stations where English 

 life chiefly congregates, yet to those who 

 do not shrink from the fatigues of seeking 



