.837.] 



and Kunnicndaven Mountains. 



281 



bourhood of the villages, among them the jack, mango, orange, sago 

 palm, and other trees, are spontaneous. The houses are in irregular 

 clusters, built of mud and thatched. On the approaches to some of 

 the larger villages are the remains of barriers, or gate-ways, as at 

 Funnymullay, on a lofty ridge commanding an extensive view of the 

 country towards Dindigul. Vilputty, Poomburra, Munnamanoor, with 

 their subordinates, occupy the highest and central part of these moun- 

 tains, and are all of them of some magnitude, having a large popula- 

 tion. They are pleasantly situated on romantic projecting brows, 

 commanding extensive views of the surrounding valleys and mountains.. 

 The houses are divided by regular paved lanes, and a principal street 

 generally passes down the middle, with, at either end, a gateway, or 

 barrier. The slopes in their vicinity are beautifully diversified with 

 terraced fields on different levels, in which is cultivated garlic, 

 mustard, tennay ( Pannicum Italicum) ; also wheat, and a species 

 of grain similar to oats, by the natives called tovaray.* . Iii 

 lower valleys the rice fields gradually rise in a succession of 

 terraces almost to the very summits of the : ridges., irrigated from 

 above by a succession of artificial canals, ingeniously conducted 

 along the slopes, from dams thrown across often distant rivulets,' 

 Marshes are met with in low situations, where drainage is pre- 

 vented by ridges crossing the valleys. In some of these, on the more 

 elevated parts, the wussumbu, or sweet flag root, is obtained. This 

 portion of the mountains, is divested of wood, a few groves in the ra- 

 mifications, and some solitary trees on the slopes, being all that is to 

 be seen. The jack, mango, and other useful trees, growing in profu- 

 sion in the eastern portion, are unknown here, and fuel is now general- 

 ly brought from some distant grove. The houses, built of stone and 

 mud, and well thatched, are spacious, and, though low, are comforta- 

 ble. They have each a fire-place, and sheds attached ! for their cattle. 

 There are a few pagodas in sequestered situations at all these places"; 

 the only one of note, dedicated to Vailapur or Subramunny, is at Poom- 

 burra. It is built of stone, has a respectable spire, and is highly vene- 

 rated, An annual festival takes place here, when the car is decorated 

 and drawn down the streets ; the other temples are all inferior buildings 

 and generally thatched. 



The western portion of these hills, called Mailmulla?/, but better known 

 by the appellation of Kunnundaven, is now a dependency of Travan- 

 core. Its superficial area is 23H square miles, of which three square 



* Barley.— E. W. 



