Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 10 (2nd edition).pdf/197



VALLAVALAIS. detached peak called Bairenikonda, 3133 feet high, situated eastward of the main range. The highest point in the main range is the Gundla Brahmeswaram Hill, 2019 feet. The Gúndlakama, Zampaleru, and Paleru rivers rise in this hill, near a ruined temple of Brahmeswaram. The second highest peak in the main range is Errachelema. The eastern slopes rise for the most part almost abruptly; along the western base of the hills runs a tarai, or zone of jungle from 5 to 10 miles broad. Geologi:- The Geological Department have named one of the four Sub-divisions of the large Cuddapah system of rocks, over 20,000 feet in thickness, 'the Nallamalai group. This group consists of Cumbum slates superimposed upon the Bairenikonda quartzites. The slates, so called, are not sufficiently regular in cleavage or firm in texture to be of any economic use. Under the term quartzite are included various kinds of altered detrital rock. The railway cuttings have disclosed a fine serviceable sandstone in the main ridge. Under former Governments, lead and diamond mines were worked near the western entrance of the Nandikanama Pass. Recent experiments with the lead-ore have shown that it contains a high percentage of Wootz' or Indian steel is manufactured in villages near the western base of the southern portion of the range from ore qi main ridge. Flint weapons of rude form have been found east of the range. Fauna.-The fauna of the Nallamaláis is abundant and varied. Game includes tigers, bears, leopards, sámbhar, spotted and rib-faced deer, hill antelope, gazelle, wild hog, pea-fowl, jungle fowl, partridge, quail, and imperial and green pigeons. There are also two or three kinds of wild cats, porcupines, and Malabar squirrels. Inhabitants. — The only inhabitants of the Nallamaláis are an aboriginal race, the Chenchus, in number about 2000, and a broken tribe of about 50 Yanadis. The Chenchus are savages in the hunting stage. The men wear nothing but a narrow strip of cotton cloth round the loins; the women are clothed like Hindus, but more scantily. A Chenchu man, who has not lost his primitive habits, always carries an axe slung in his girdle, and bows and arrows in his hand. Recently several of the tribe have been employed as police and watchmen. They are an inoffensive people, easily managed by judicious treatment; but also easily roused to violence, and traditionally addicted to petty theft. The Chenchus live in small hamlets, along the base and lower spurs of the hills. Their huts are of primitive but neat construction, sometimes dome-shaped, sometiines resembling waggon-tilts. Their food is roots and berries, tamarinds (pulp and stone crushed into a mass and mixed with wood-ash), milk, etc. ; but they also eat grain, which they obtain honestly or by theft. At the foot of the
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