Oct.  I,  1895.] 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
283 
THE  NORTH  TKAVANCORE  COMPANY’S 
CONCESSION  IN  THE  KANAN 
OEVAN  HILL. 
We  liave  been  favoured  with  an  inspection  of 
a map  of  the  Kanan  Devan  Hills,  sliowing  the 
territoiy  of  which  a concession  was  made  by  tlie 
Madras  Government  to  the  North  Travancore 
Land  Pl.anting  and  Agricultural  Society.  Tlie 
concession  which  is  entirely  in  the  State  of  Travan- 
core is  separated  from  Madras  by  the  Cardamom 
Hills.  It  extends  to  about  120,000,  acres  between 
40,000  and  50,000  acres  (approximately)  being 
suitable  for  cnltiv.ation.  Within  the  area  delined 
by  the  map  are  27  estates.  These  estates  were 
purchased  from  tlie  North  Travancore  Society, 
each  year  a small  rent  being  still  exacted  from 
the  holders.  The  property  of  the  North  Tra- 
vancore Society  has  since  passed  into  the 
hands  of  the  North  and  South  Sylhet  Tea 
Companies  as  represented  by  Messrs.  Finlay, 
Muir  A Co.  In  the  last  issue  of  our  Direc- 
tory w'as  published  a list  of  estates  in  the 
district.  Since  then  the  estates  in  the  appended 
list  have  been  opened  up.  From  the  table  it  will 
be  seen  that  by  far  the  largest  portion  of  culti- 
vable land  is  in  the  hands  of  the  North 
Travancore  Society  or  rather  in  those  of  Messrs. 
Finlay,  Muir  & Co.  As  shown  in  the  Maj),  the 
Kanan  Devan  Hills  consist  for  the  most  part 
of  extensive  tracks  of  grass  plateaux,  in  the 
higher  altitudes,  and  of  forest  land  at  a 
lower  level.  The  land  as  yet  is  practically 
unopened,  only  .3883  acres  being  in  cultivation. 
The  altitude  of  the  Devan  Hills  ranges 
from  686  feet  above  sea  level,  on  the 
west,  to  8,840  feet— the  highest  point  at 
Anemudi.  Generally  s]jeaking  forest  land  gives 
way  to  o'rass  plateau  at  5,000  feet,  though  at 
Cholemalai  (6,200  feet)  and  in  the  surrounding 
district  forest  is  met  with  at  a greater  altitude. 
In  the  matter  of  roads,  as  indicated,  much 
work  requires  to  be  done.  On  paper  the 
existing  means  of  communication  look  some- 
what imposing,  but  as  a matter  of  fact  the 
best  of  them  is  little  better  than  a mere 
bridle-path.  Joining  a road  to  Nere- 
mangalain  and  Cochin  a ent-road  leads 
part  of  the  way  to  Munar  Camp  from 
which-  combinations  of  footpaths  and  cart 
roads  lead  ,to  the  boundary  of  the  territory, 
and  descending  to  the  valleys,  communicate 
with  roads  leading  to  Anikolam  and  (,'oimba- 
tore,  to  Wattawadde  and  Kodikanal  and  to 
Kotagudi  and  llodinakannr.  F'rom  Devakulum 
a cut  road  affords  a means  of  transit  to  Munar  Cani|i 
and  tans  the  other  roads  to  the  north  and  east. 
It  is  also  in  contemplation  to  construct  a road 
from  the  Munar  Valley  so  as  to  secure 
direct  communication  with  Cochin.  The  road 
will  be  about  20  miles  long,  its  wdiole  length  in 
the  Company’s  territory  lying  through  forest  land. 
A second  road  to  the  north,  30  miles  in  length, 
will  be  constructed  to  tap  a road  leading  to 
Coimbatore.  The  country  is  well  watered.  Fdve 
streams  of  no  inconsiderable  magnitude  ivitli 
their  tributaries  How  to  the  west,  an  equal 
number  drain  the  country  on  its  southern  face 
while  another  river  runs  parallel  to  the  course 
of  the  projected  road  to  Coimbatore.  The 
district  is  healthy  and,  -as  wdll  be  seen 
from  the  table,  the  rainfall  is  lieavj'.  LTnder 
existing  conditions,  transport  is  a matter 
attended  with  some  ditticulty.  Communication 
Is  had  from  Tnticorin  by  train  to  Ammanai- 
kanur,  thence  by  bullock  cart  to  Bodinai- 
kanur,  afterwards  by  foot  road  to  Devakulajn 
The  forest  land  standing  in  name  of  the  North 
yravttHCQi’e  Company  is  .stated  at  30,000  acres} 
but  this  w'e  are  informed  is  only  an  approxima- 
tion. At  present  steps  are  being  taken  to  have  it 
cleared  and  planted.  Mr.  W.  Milne  of  Warwick 
Ambewella  has  just  retu'-ned  from  a visit  to  the 
Kanan-Devan  Hills  and  the  work  of  road- 
making to  \yhich  w'e  have  referred,  will  be  carried 
out  by  Mr.  t>.  D.  Gordon,  who,  as  stated  in  a pre- 
vious issue  w-as  a Sub-contractor  for  the  Nannoya 
Railw'ay  E.xteiision,  and  wdio  has  acquired  great  ex- 
perience of  such  work  in  the  Straits  and  India.  The 
recent  visit  of  Mr.  Milne,  w'e  are  informed,  has 
shown  that  large  tracts  in  the  Munar  Valley  district 
are  suitable,  on  the  west,  for  tea,  and  on  tl'ie  north, 
for  coffee.  The  work  of  clearing  this  locality  wili 
be  pushed  on  wdth  as  little  delay  as  possible. 
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The  total  extent  of  cultivatable  land  in  the  Northern 
Kanan  Devan  District  of  Travancore  is  now  40,OOo  acres 
(approximately)  of  which  4,000  acres  are  in  cultivation 
—900  acres  with  tea,  1,300  acres  with  coffee,  and  1,800 
acres  with  cinchona.  Of  the  balance  35,000  acres  are 
forest  (30,000  acres  of  w'hich  are  alone  owned  by  North 
1 ravancore  Society)  and  1,300  acres  grass.  Compared 
with  the  last  retunis,  the  above  show  an  increase  of  500 
acres  of  tea  and  200  acres  of  coffee,  while  the  cinchona 
acreage  has  been  reduced  by  40  acres.  The  addition  to 
the  total  area  of  estates  has  been  3,000  acres. 
.\n  essay  describing  a really 
genuine  Cure  for  Deafness, 
Ringing  in  Ears,  Ac.,  no  matter  how  severe  or  long- 
standing, will  be  sent  post  free.— Artificial  Ear- 
drums and  similar  appliances  entirely  superseded. 
Address  THOMAS  KEMPE,  Victoria  Cham- 
BicRs,  19,  .Southampton  I3i/ildings,  Holborn,' 
Lonuon, 
DEAFNESS. 
