Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 10 (2nd edition).pdf/335



NILGIRI WILLS. 323 and were found to contain bronze vessels, such as vases, urns, etc., domestic utensils, glazed pottery, and spear-heads. One theory attributes them to Scythian ancestors of the Todas; but against this is the fact that the Todas offer not the slightest objection to these remains being opened and their contents carried away. Though they use them as burial-places, they themselves attribute their origin to a race who lived anterior to them, and sometimes to the Kurumbas. Dr. Shortt writes: “It is generally believed by the natives that these cairns and cromlechs are the work of the followers of the Pandian kings, who at one time ruled on the Nilgiris. The Badagas likewise believe this, while some of them attribute them to the Kurumbas. The Rev. Mr. Metz is also of the latter opinion, and I am inclined to coincide with this gentleman. We know that the Kurumbas were at one time scattered all over Southern India, and were driven by their conquerors to the jungles and hills they at present occupy. Dr. Caldwell perhaps rightly calls them “Scytho-Druidical” remains, as they appear tu partake both of the Scythian and Druidical in structure, etc. Similar remains are found in niost Madras Districts, and indeed in many other parts of India. There are traditions on the Nilgiri Hills of an old race of Veddas apparently the same as the Veldas of Ceylon. Forests. — The forests of the Nilgiri Hills are of four classes — (1) Those of the eastern and southern slopes; (2) the northern slopes and Moyár valley; (3) the South-east Wainád; (4) the sholás of the plateau. In the first are found deciduous forest with teak, Anogeissus, Terminalias, and other trees on the projecting southern spurs and slopes, while the valleys are filled with fine forest of partly evergreen, partly deciduous growth. In these valley's, the chief tree is Pterocarpus Varsupium, but noticeable among others are Mesua ferrea, Cedrela Toona, Chickrassia tabularis, and Bischoffia javanica. The second region contains chiefly deciduous forest trees, with a fair amount of sandal-wood. The third contains timber of large size, chief among which are teak and blackwood (Dalbergia latifolia), Pterocarpus Iarsupium, Terminalia tomentosa, and red and white cedar. The forest of the sholá is quite different. These sholís are patches of thick forest along ravines and watercourses, and separated by grass lands or downs. The forest is low, the trees rarely reaching 50 to 60 feet in height. The trees of the sholis are described in a previous section of this article (pp. 305-307). Certain forest tracts are being selected for legal reservation. The sholás are very slow in growing, and old trees are not easily replaced. Arrangements have been made to plant the quick-growing wattles (Acacia melanoxylon and dealbata) and the Australian blue - gum (Eucalyptus globulus). Plantations of these trees have been formed near Utakamand, Coonoor, and Wellington. The chief are 'Arambi'