[434] Literally "Fruit-hills."
[435] Yet I missed the Berberis Mahonia, which in the Neilgherries is not found beyond the limits of the S.W. monsoon.
[436] For short accounts of the Pulney hills, see—
1. Memoir of the Varagherry Hills, by Capt. B. S. Ward, Madras Journal of Literature and Science, Oct. 1837, vol. vi. p. 280.
2. Observations on the Pulney Mountains, by Dr. Wight, Madras Journal, v. p. 280.
3. Report on the Pulneys, by Lieut. R. H. Beddome, Madras Journal, 1857.
4. Sir Charles Trevelyan's Official Tour in the South of India. He says, "It is an important fact that, as regards much the largest portion of this tract, there is no claim to the soil which can interfere with the establishment of the most absolute freehold."
[437] For a very interesting account of the Anamallay hills, see Forests and Gardens of South India, p. 289-302, by Dr. Cleghorn, Conservator of Forests in the Madras Presidency.
[438] Tamil is spoken throughout the Carnatic, in the southern part of Travancore, and north part of Ceylon, by about 10,000,000 souls. Telugu, the first of the Dravidian languages in euphonious sweetness, is spoken in the Ceded districts, Kurnool, part of the Nizam's territory, and part of Nagpore; Canarese in Canara and Mysore; and Malayalam in Malabar. The whole Dravidian race numbers 30,000,000 souls. The Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam languages have each a system of written characters peculiar to itself: the Canarese letters are borrowed from the Telugu.
[439] Caldwell's Comparative Dravidian Grammar. Preface, p. v.