114 



Topographical Report on the Neilgherries, 



Names of the Todars. 



Men, Women. 



Ponkoot Billithoov}'. 



Heinmoodooven, Billimetchy. 



Moorkalen. Ponthurgh. 



Ponnaven. Ponbelly. 



Pazjaven. Porifiooh 



Thollaven, Pongaar. 



Poodrary. Ponpaieho 



Supplementary Note. — It may .seem absurd to speak of a velocity of 

 travelling, such as I have stated to be necessary to render the Neil- 

 gherries available to their full extent, but I see no such insurmount- 

 able difficulty in the matter. The mode of travelling which I propose 

 is in carriages moved by steam, such as now are commonly used in 

 England on ordinary roads, particularly in and about London, where 

 steam engines perform the work of horses, travelling with ease from 

 fifteen to twenty miles an hour on ordinary roads— not railroads. If 

 geod roads were made through India, ten miles in the hour at least 

 might be accomplished, which would effect all that is here desiredc 

 That such means of locomotion are required is obvious, because ex- 

 perience shews plainly that horses cannot long maintain the requisite 

 rapid psce in the heat of the sun ; whereas steam engines would work 

 as well in a hot as i^i a cold climate., 



If great trunk roads were constructed, traversing the country in the 

 most populous parts, through large stations, and maintained by mode- 

 rate tolls, a new era would arise in intercommunication, as well for the 

 piirposes of commerce, as for travelling ; but this is not likely to be 

 done, unless there be established an independent administration of 

 roads and bridges, which would proceed on a steady and uniform plan, 

 not thwarted by subordinate functionaries, whose local and partial 

 views must continually interfere with any com.prehensive scheme. 

 By opening a good road, practicable for fast travelling, such as I 

 mention, from Madras through Salem and Paulghaut to the head of 

 the back water at Chowghaut, two objects would be attained ; namely, 

 a rapid and easy approach to the hills, and to the most favourable point 

 on the Malabar Coast for holding a communication with the Red Sea. 

 The best station in Southern India on that Coast, is a place named 

 Porca or Porcaud, between Cochin and Quilon, in N. Lat, ^--0 and 

 Long. 76-'i3— at which there is a bank of soft mud, which affords safe 

 riding to any vessel which may anchor inside it. The bank is about 

 a mile from the shore, and is so soft that a ship can pass right through 

 it, and get into smooth water. The slimy nature of the bank is such, 

 that it acts on the water like oil ; and though it be ever so rough out- 

 side, it immediately becomes smooth on passing over the bank. Access 



