April — june 5 1857.] over the Annamullay Mountains. 81 



in this Parish of some fifty houses, there are no less than three 

 Churches, On enquiry however, it appeared that the whole res- 

 pectability of the place depended upon its active smuggling trade, 

 which works so successfully for those engaged, that its ecclesias- 

 tical endowments are well supported. 



On the opposite side of the river, the Travancore Circar has an 

 Establishment for working the neighbouring forests ; from which 

 800 logs of Teak are annually exported. The Conservator has a 

 bungalow here, and though the jungle begins at this point, it is 

 not considered feverish at any season of the year. 



Elephants are caught near Malliatoor in pitfalls ; and after two 

 years it is considered safe to use them in their old haunts. It is at 

 this season that they are taken, the want of water in the jungles 

 driving them to the large streams ; near the banks of which, the 

 pits are dug. Fifteen elephants are kept at Malliatoor for the 

 work in the forests ; but after the beginning of January, water 

 becomes so scarce in the hills, that they can no longer be employ- 

 ed. I find that there is a well-beaten path from this to Annamul- 

 lay in the Coimbatore district which is kept open by the smugglers 

 who bring Tobacco from the Palachy Talook, for sale in the Cochin 

 Territory. 



On the 7th, I visited the Malliatoor Hill, which is only marked 

 in the printed map as a Theodolite station, but is not named. 

 For the first mile and a half, I walked over cultivated fields ; but 

 beyond them, I began an ascent which continued for a mile, and 

 brought me to the summit of a rocky knoll, having a command of 

 an extensive view. To the westward I could distinguish every 

 thing as far as the line of coast, but eastward, there was nothing 

 to be made out, save a confusion of low hills, buried in the densest 

 forest. None of these appeared to be of any considerable eleva- 

 tion ; but in the sameness of colour, and absence of all marked 

 features, it was difficult to judge either of height or distance. 



On the rocky hill I had ascended, I found a very filthy little 

 Church, which bears a character of such excessive sanctity, that it 

 is said to be visited every Easter by from five to six thousand 



