1848.] 



The Neilglierry Mountaiiis. 



31 



near Coonoor and Kotergherry are 5,000 feet above the level of the 

 sea, but it seems to me that the advantage derived from this superio- 

 rity of flavour is more than counterbalanced by the general want of 

 vigour and luxuriance of the coifee trees, which evidently do not 

 thrive in this latitude so well at an elevation above 4,500 feet, as be- 

 tween that and 3,000 feet. It is not easy to estimate the amount of 

 land at present under actual cultivation for coffee on the Neilgher- 

 ries, as, in most cases, the coffee fields are so mixed up with the mul- 

 berry grounds, that it is difficult to arrive at the precise extent of 

 each, but it may be pronounced not to exceed 280 acres on the east- 

 ern side, and 300 acres on the western. The general return of 

 those on the eastern side, which are the only ones at present in 

 bearing, is on an average about 6 to 7 cwt. per acre ; which is a re- 

 munerative rate under the prevailing circumstances of cheap labour, 

 but the trees require manure to keep them up to this rate of bearing, 

 and more care in pruning and managing than is bestowed upon them. 



Salt provisions may be mentioned as an article 



Salt Provisions. ^. i -vr m i 



of produce of the Neilgherries, though the pre- 

 paration of them is not carried on in an extensive way. Hams, ba- 

 con, salt pork, Sec, are cured in the settlements and sold at a cheap 

 rate : some cured by European settlers being of excellent quality, I 

 am informed that the Bombay government were anxious some- 

 time since to enter into a contract for the supply of the Indian Na- 

 vy with salt provisions, in lieu of those prepared for government 

 use in the unsuitable climate of Bombay ; but the opportunity of 

 establishing this branch of productive industry on a firm and regular 

 footing was lost, owing to there being no person on the Kills who 

 could be induced to undertake the responsibility of so extensive an 

 stock for salting could engagement. The feeding of stock, if connect- 



be ted economically. ^^-^^^ ^ p^.^p^^, f^^.^^^ ^^j^-^^ ^^^^^ 



food and support cattle, could be carried on most economically here, 

 especially as regards pigs whose chief food, potatoes, is raised on the 

 Hills out of almost any soil and with a most profitable return. There 

 might be more difficulty in fattening oxen for the salting tub because 

 the pasturage on these Hills, though for the most part luxuriant is 

 rank and fibrous, and does not appear to produce fat or flesh in ru- 

 minating animals, except in the case of the Hill buffaloe which alone 

 thrives upon it; but as mangel wurzel has been tried and seems to 

 take very kindly to the climate and soil, this difficulty might be over- 

 come by its introduction. A good English grazier also would soon 



