[151] Ootacamund, Wootaycamund, or Wotay. “Mund” means a village in the language of the hill people. Ootac is a corruption of the Toda vocable Hootkh, a word unpronounceable to the Indians of the plain. The original hamlet still nestles against the towering side of Dodabetta, but its pristine inhabitants, the Todas, have given it up to another race, and migrated to the wood which lies behind the public gardens.
[152] It was established at Ootacamund under a warrant of constitution from the Provincial Grand Lodge on the coast of Coromandel.
[153] The Bombayites had, moreover, their own medical attendant, with a hospital and the usual number of subalterns attached to it. There are now but three surgeons on the hills, attending on one hundred and four invalids, who are scattered over many miles of country.
[154] The measure was advocated by Mr. Sullivan as early as 1828, but financial, not common-sensical or medical, considerations have long delayed its being carried into execution.
[155] The principal schools now (1847) to be found at Ootacamund are four in number, viz.:—
1. The Ooty free school, established for the purpose of giving education gratis to the children of the poor: it is supported by voluntary contributions, and superintended by the chaplain of the station. The number of scholars on the rolls is generally about thirty.
2. Fern Hill, the Rev. Mr. Rigg’s boarding-school for young gentlemen. It contains twenty-six pupils, varying in age from five to fifteen. Of these, fourteen are the sons of officers in the service, and the rest are youths of respectable families. Terms for boarders, 4l. per mensem, the usual charges on the Neilgherries.
3. An establishment for young ladies, conducted by Miss Hale and Miss Millard.
4. Ditto for young ladies and young gentlemen under ten years of age, conducted by Mrs. James and Miss Ottley.
Besides those above mentioned, several ladies receive a limited number of pupils.