286 



Statistical Observations on the Vurragherries, [April 



drawn so imperceptibly from the general treasury, that it would not be 

 felt ; at the same time that it would give universal satisfaction to the 

 payers, when they saw their contributions to the state applied for their 

 personal benefit. Unless some such measure is adopted, there is much 

 reason to fear the total depopulation of the hills by emigration alone. At 

 present the aggregate amount of taxes raised from them is only about 

 3,300 rupees per annum : that sum, carefully applied, would, in a few 

 years, repair the now almost impassable roads, establish completely the 

 present imperfect, but very useful and much trodden, communication 

 between Davadenaputty and Periacollum on the south, and Pulney on 

 thenorth, by clearing the paths of innumerable impediments which now 

 obstruct them, and opening freely, the very close and unhealthy jungles 

 at the foot of the hills near the latter place. Sheds, for the accommo« 

 dation of merchants and the preservation of their goods, might be erected 

 at convenient distances along these roads, and public choultries at 

 each of the large villages, in which they could bivouac during their 

 stay, collect their garlic, &.c. and make their bargains; and, lastly, when 

 these more immediate wants were cared for, bunds might be built, in the 

 most convenient situations for preserving supplies of water against 

 droughts. 



Improving the access would at the same time lower the cost of im- 

 ports, and increase to the growers the value of exports, by diminishing 

 the cost of bringing them respectively into market, while the formation 

 of reservoirs of water would ensure more certain returns to the agricul- 

 turist. While on the hills, I had a quantity of Jumlah or Himalayan 

 rice sown, for trial ; if the experiment proves successful it may become 

 a valuable article of export, being of good quality, which the kind now 

 in use is said not to be.. It seems further desirable to change the wheat 

 and barley seed j that now in use having become deteriorated by long 

 culture on the same ground. This the ryots might receive in a present, 

 as a very small quantity of each would be sufficient to supply the whole 

 cultivation. But it should be given on the express condition of more 

 attention to good husbandry being bestowed on its culture than is now 

 the practice : by which wheat fit for exportation might be grown, and 

 would prove a great accommodation to the inhabitants of both the high 

 and low countries. 



The inhabitants, though in the extreme of poverty, are, notwithstand- 

 ing, exceedingly indolent, from having no very pressing wants to stimu- 

 late them to exertion : it appears therefore indispensable, as the first step 

 towards improving their condition, to afford them such a stimulus, by cre- 

 ating artificial wants. This I think may be easily accomplished by open- 

 ing a few shops in some of the large villages, containing an assortment of 

 agricultural inplements, hatchets, knives, bill-hooks, cloth, female or- 

 naments, condiments, &c, The same necessity that now induces thern 



