NEILGHERRIES, 
209 
cannot be attributable, as other travellers have sug- 
gested, to peculiarity of climate or physical consti- 
tution ? This, too, I leave for the decision of the 
more learned. 
The spot from which the annexed view has been 
taken is in the Koonoor pass, near the second mile- 
stone, having Hulli-kul-Droog upon the right, and, 
in the distance, the plains of Koimbatoor, through 
which the diminishing stream of the second Bhowani 
- winds like a silver thread. The rugged steeps of 
Hulli-kul-Droog,— here assuming every diversity of 
fantastic configuration of which wood and rock are 
susceptible, there spreading soft undulating pastures 
to the sunshine, — sweep down to the boiling torrent 
and thundering cataracts of Koonoor. Upon its 
lofty summit is a little fort, enjoying a grand com- 
mand over all the surrounding country. This was 
built by Hyder Ali, and was used by him, and sub- 
sequently by his son Tippoo, as a place of confine- 
ment for state-prisoners. As a military work it is 
unimportant ; for, though almost inaccessible to 
troops, it defends nothing, nor could a garrison 
stationed therein be available for any service, except 
the defence of the fort itself. It has long since been 
abandoned to the birds and beasts of the forest, and 
it could hardly be better appropriated. 
The soil of the Neilgherries is naturally productive, 
and is susceptible of the highest cultivation ; especially 
in the lowlands, where the Burgas raise luxuriant 
t 2 
