Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/303

1837.] 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 Punnymollay, 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 mountains, and are all of them of some magnitude, having a larga population. 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 (Pannincum Italicum); also wheat, and a species of grain similar to oats, by the natives called fovaray. In 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 prevented 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 ramifications, and some solitary trees on the slopes, being all that is to be seen. The jack, mango, and other useful trees, growing in profusion in the eastern portion, are unknown here, and fuel is now generally brought from some distant grove. The houses, built of stone and mud, and weir thatched, are spacious, and, though low, are comfortable. 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 Vailapúr or Subramunny, is at Poomburra. It is built of stone, has a respectable spire, and is highly venerated. 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 Mailmullay, but better known by the appellation of Kunnundaven, is now a dependency of Travancore. Its superficial area is 231½ square miles, of which three square