1848.] 



The Neilgherry Moimtains, 



45 



camund, delivered at the kiln at Rs. 2 per thousand; and tiles 

 Rs. 1 12 per thousand. Lime, as I have elsewhere observed, does 

 not occur, or at least has not yet been found, on these Hills ; and 



Lime dear hence, having to be brought on bullocks from 



the plains, it forms the most expensive item in 

 building estimates. Its use is economized as much as possible in 

 house architecture, by using mud as a cement to set the bricks in, 

 in constructing walls, reserving lime only for use in turning arches, 

 ridging the tiles in the roof, flooring, and either pointing or plaster- 



Clay used as cement ^hc walls outside, With which protection, brick 



lor walls. walls are found to answer very well, 



especially if the roof over them is kept tight, and their surfaces 

 screened from the beat of the rain against them by a verandah. In 

 the bazaars of Ootacamund, which are called " the bazaar" and 

 "Caundle bazaar," the houses are of all descriptions, both puckka and 

 cutcha. The streets are wide and well kept by the police authori- 

 ties, by whom a tax varying from 1 anna to 1 J on each house per 

 mensem is levied to support the scavenger establishment, the residue 

 being paid into the public treasury — and if good regulations are en- 

 forced as regards the laying out of future quarters of residence, al- 

 ready fast extending, the town which the bazaars will constitute will 

 become a very cleanly and compact one — and hence doubtless healthy 

 also. It has the advantage of being bordered by the lake or tank, 

 which adds of course materially to its means of preserving cleanliness. 



The following is a return of the European and Native population of 

 the three settlements taken in February, 1848, and although many pre- 

 sent inhabitants with their servants and followers will have left the 

 Hills before the year ends, the total numbers may yet be taken as a 

 pretty correct average of those usually residing, as of course the 

 place of those removing is soon occupied by fresh comers from 

 the plains. 



