176 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
greatly injure the timber. The teak and black- 
wood abound in these jungles, the former frequent- 
ly attaining to the majestic height of one hundred 
and fifty feet. Scarcely any part of the hills in this 
province is cultivated; the lower elevations are co- 
vered with rank wiry grass, and other useless growths 
of a superabundant vegetation. 
The Tiers of this district, and indeed throughout 
the whole province of Malabar, are a fine race. 
They are the cultivators of the soil. Nothing can 
exceed the beauty of their women, who are models 
of the human form, possessing countenances of great 
symmetry. Their complexions are a clear light brown, 
much like those of the women of Italy, only far more 
uniform and brilliant. The more respectable classes 
among them wear no covering on the upper part of their 
bodies, and yet there is not the slightest indication of 
immodesty in their actions or address. They consider 
this exposure of themselves a mark of delicacy ; for 
women of bad character among them invariably cover 
the neck and shoulders, which they affect as the dis- 
tinction of their avocation. 
The better classes wear a hat made of chip mat- 
ting, the top of which is encircled by a wide brim ; 
this they put on with a good deal of taste, allowing 
it to droop over the right shoulder, thus showing to 
advantage their small handsome features. There is 
nothing remarkable in the appearance of the men 
except the air of cleanliness which universally dis- 
tinguishes them, forming a strong contrast with many 
of the tribes by whom they are surrounded. Among 
these are the Niadis, an outcast tribe not nume- 
