582 DR HUGH CLEGHORN’S ACCOUNT OF AN EXPEDITION TO THE 
ting materials. Some gigantic Crotolaria and Indigofera stems were used for 
the walls, the stems being interwoven between the uprights, and the thatch was 
made of Andropogon Schenanthus, 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 Cundita-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 this the Kaders descend the face of the rock to 
collect honey, &c. (vide Plate XXXVI.) 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 Haminton discovered an ancient cairn or cromlech 
(vide Plate XX XV.), a quarter of a 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 53 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 Hamitron’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 Erular village of eight or ten houses, with a 
patch of Ragi (Lleusine Coracana, Girtn.) cultivation; and near this was 
another village of Mudowars. 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. 
18th, 9 a.m.—As the two remaining elephants could not proceed further, the 
beds were carried by coolies, and each of the party took his own provisions for 
the day. We now ascended a steep rugged hill, impassable for horses on 
account of the immense masses of detached rocks; one, in particular, resembling 
a hay-stack, about 40 feet high, from the summit of which a rattan chain similar 
to that, described was suspended. We proceeded through dense sholas for three 
miles, in the middle of which we crossed the river by a temporary bridge formed 
of a large tree, felled by the Kaders for the purpose. Rubus lasiocarpus 
(bramble) was first seen here. 
After walking six miles round the base of the Tangachi, we emerged from 
