The Neilgherrij Mountains. [No. 34^ 



quality, and meets with a ready sale in the bazaars of Ootacamund 

 amongst the Mysore and Malabar coolies and others in better cir- 

 cumstances, by whom it is eaten in its raw state, but never, as far as 

 I can learn, smoked. 



Having thus reviewed the more important articles of agricultural 

 produce, I am induced, before concluding the subject, to hazard the 

 remark, that I cannot but consider that the lands comprising the pla- 

 teau of these Hills, so valuable from their capacity for producing 

 grains which cannot be cultivated in the low country which surrounds 

 them, and which are so much needed for the public good, are, under 

 the exclusive system which at present prevails, both misappropriated 

 TheNeiigherriesmis- cultivation, and wastefully neg- 



appropriated and jgcted, inasmuch as that there is not drawn from 

 neglected. ' 



them that full amount of benefit to the com- 

 munity, which nature has so eminently qualified them to contribute. 

 On looking at the " Statement of productive resources" it will be 

 seen that out of 11,500 cawnies at present under actual cultivation, 

 only 4,300 cawnies are devoted to the production of wheat and barley, 

 while on all the rest of the land grains are reared, which, with only 

 one or two exceptions, are grown just as well, and far cheaper, in the 

 plains below, and would be brought up and bartered for wheat to 

 any extent, could this much wanted grain be procured on the Hills 

 in greater quantity. It will scarcely be credited that this district 

 so peculiarly well adapted for the cultivation of wheat actually does 

 not produce enough to supply the bakeries of the principal settle- 

 ment, for the use of which large quantities of a very inferior des- 

 cription of grain are imported from Mysore ; while the minor set- 

 tlements of Coonoor and Kotergherry are supplied with bread from 

 Coimbatore. 



Hill wheat certainly finds its way to the low country, by being 

 bartered by the Burghers with the traders for cloths and other arti- 

 cles, but the quantity thus exported is insignificant, and bears no 

 comparison with that imported from Mysore. 



g.jj^ There remain yet a few articles of plantation 



produce to be noticed, the oldest of which, in 

 the agricultural history of the Neilgherries, is silk. There are several 

 plantations of mulberry trees in various parts of the Hills, for the 

 breeding of the silk worm, with establishments for preparing and 



