NEILGHERRIES. 
203 
the imagination weaves once more the happier pic- 
ture of 44 sweet home,” from 44 the large aggregate 
of little things” which crowd upon the memory, and 
speak of bygone times. 
Whence came these pleasant scenes ? is the natural 
question of the admiring traveller; and if a well- 
informed Koimbatoori be within earshot, he will be 
answered — 44 From the moon.” Yes, verily, from the 
moon ! says the legend current among the Hindoos of 
Koimbatoor ; for the god Ram, being in pursuit of 
his enemy Havana, who, it is well known, had 
forcibly carried off the divine goddess Sita, sped 
through the vaulted heavens, having his sword 
drawn, ready to deal the death-blow of revenge. 
In the forgetfulness of his direful wrath, lo ! by an 
incautious wave of his mighty weapon, he struck 
the moon with the point thereof, and severed from 
the face of that beauteous globe a chain of verdant 
mountains, which immediately fell to the earth, in 
the province of Koimbatoor, and united the Eastern 
and Western Ghats. Hence came the Chandaghirri 
[^Mountains of the Moon], a name which was sub- 
sequently changed by the auspicious Ram to Neil- 
gherri £Blue Mountains], because he could not 
endure to be reminded of his awkward mischance. 
If the hearer be incredulous, the ingenious Koim- 
batoori will speedily apply an argument for the 
subversion of his scepticism, which he believes to be 
incontrovertible : — Ret him look upon the moon 
