268 Description of the country between [No. 10, new series. 



from the fever which it breeds, and indeed I myself should con- 

 sider the climate extremely healthy and well suited to Europeans. 

 The soil is well adapted to the growth of wheat, and I am con- 

 vinced that potatoes and other European vegetables might be well 

 and easily raised, considering the very high price paid for potatoes 

 in this part of the Presidency, and the extreme uncertainty of the 

 supply. I am sure that were it found that potatoes could here be 

 well reared, their cultivation would be most remunerative, and 

 would be a great boon to the European inhabitants of the two Nor- 

 thern Districts, both as regards constancy of supply, and lowness 

 of price. At all events the experiment is well worth a trial. It would 

 also be easy to extend wet cultivation, and ensure a large supply of 

 water during the dry weather, by damming up one or more of the 

 valleys on a high level, and leading the water to those on a low. 

 Stone for this purpose can be procured in any quantity and easily, 

 and I doubt not that lime-stone would be found were an active 

 search made for it. As regards trees, the country seems almost 

 entirely bare of them ; but the soil is peculiarly adapted to the 

 growth of the Mangoe, and that fine tree the Jack. There are only 

 3 small Ghauts encountered previous to arrival at the very steep 

 Ghaut, which separates this elevated country from that in the vici- 

 nity of Jeypore, and none of these present any great difficulties. 



5. There are a number of small villages on the line, and 2 of 

 large size, viz. Mirtchmala, and Madheopotto. The former con- 

 tains about 70 and the latter about 100 houses, and in them all or- 

 dinary supplies and coolies can be procured. 



6. Altogether I consider this an interesting country and one 

 well worthy attention. There is a very great difference between 

 its climate and that of the low country ; I am quite convinced that 

 it is perfectly healthy, and think that a change to it from the low 

 country would be most beneficial to European constitutions. Un- 

 til, however, a road is made, and the difficulty of procuring sup- 

 plies diminished, the difficulties to be encountered are far too 

 great to tempt any one, not obliged to do so, to visit the country. 



4th. 1. The 4th and last portion of country, to which I have 

 alluded, is the country in the vicinity of the town of Jeypore lying 

 about 1,200 feet above the sea ; and separated from it by a tre- 

 mendously steep ghaut about 700 feet in height. 



