There is a considerable number of trees in and about the Pettah, which are, perhaps, too numerous for a spot so little raised above the contiguous rice fields; but although they must tend to obstruct a free circulation of air, which is already sufficiently impeded on one side by the high range of hills, at the foot of which Vellore is situated, they do not appear to be productive of any pernicious effects, for I believe no station, in point of salubrity, surpasses Vellore.

Arnee was formerly a fortified town, but in latter years the fort has been dismantled. The barrack-hospital and other public buildings are still remaining, and it is the station for a European regiment. It lays in lat. 12° 46' N., and long. 70° 23′ E.; distance S.W. from Madras about 74 miles. Arnee is about 400 feet above the level of the sea, and somewhat higher than the comparatively low country by which it is surrounded in every direction. The soil within a circuit from five to seven miles round Arnee is similar to that already described. In some places, however, a very rich loam is met with, while in other places a pure clay, whence the natives of the country carry on a considerable local manufacture of bricks, tiles, and the usual Indian domestic pottery. The numerous artificial lakes or tanks by which Arnee is surrounded, afford abundance of water for constant irrigation; and I have seen three crops of rice raised in one year. The population is numerous, and the consequent abundance of manual labour, added to a good system of manuring the land, have combined to render this part of the country highly productive. There are no jungles of any importance near Arnee, but there are some high mountains at no great distance. About eight miles west of the fort there is a range of hills which stretch north and south to the distance of 50 miles, i. e. from the low rocky hills near Arcot, to the high rocky precipice of the fort of Gingee. The formation of this range is similar to those already described, namely, primitive granite and syenite, with all the varieties and combinations belonging to that formation. Fever prevails in the neighbourhood of this range, particularly at Gingee, and that conical peak which overlooks the pass from Arnee to Vellore; but it does not appear that this influence extends to Arnee, which so far as climate is concerned, must be considered a healthy station. The general temperature is rather high, ranging from 80° to 97°, and sometimes to 104°, but is relieved by frequent showers. Here provisions are plentiful and good.

Cuddalore. The old town of Cuddalore is in lat. 11° 44' N., long. 79° 52′ E., situated at the junction of two rivers as they enter the

sea, from which it is separated by a branch of one of them, and a spot of land about 300 yards broad. About half a mile to the north of this town, and close to the banks of the Pannaur river, are the ruins of Fort St. David; and about one mile inland is what is called by Europeans The New Town, but by the natives Manji Coupem.

Cuddalore, is the general depôt of European Pensioners who reside there with their families. The houses are neatly built and laid out in regular streets, lined with trees. There are no public buildings except an old church and a very extensive up-stair house erected in former times for a factory, and which is now converted into a court house, and one of its towers a gaol, where civil prisoners are confined.

The site of Cuddalore is flat, particularly the old town which appears to be very few feet above the level of the sea; and from its vicinity to two rivers as already stated, there is a great deal of water about it. In the New Town garden-houses there are a good many trees, and the roads are lined by majestic banyans. The country around Cuddalore is generally open, there being no jungle of any importance near it, and there are no hills within many miles. From the low situation of this station, and the quantity of water, it might be considered unhealthy; but this is not the case: for both the native population and the Europeans enjoy a remarkable immunity from disease, while the New Town and Fort St. David are proverbially healthy.

Southern Division.-This extends from Porto Novo to Cape Comorin, and includes that space between the eastern range of Ghauts and the sea. The following are the principal military stations: Trichinopoly, Dindigul, Madura, and Palamcottah. Negapatam, Coimbatore, and Salem, are civil stations. The Neilgherry Hills are included in this division.

Trichinopoly is the principal station, situated on the right bank of the Cavery River, in lat. 10° 50' N., and long. 78° 44' E., about 207 miles S.W. of Madras, and distant from the sea about eighty-five miles, Negapatam being the nearest point to the coast. The district of Trichinopoly includes an area of about 2170 square miles, and is bounded on the S.E. by the Coleroon River, on the south partly by the Rajah Tondiman's country, and partly by the district of Madura; on the west by Coimbatore, on the north-west by Salem, and on the north-east by South Arcot.

The climate of Trichinopoly is as healthy as any other part of the Carnatic, though it has been considered too hot and relaxing for

Europeans; a high temperature, cloudless sky, a dry atmosphere with much glare, are its predominating features, for at least eight months in the year. This condition of the air is often interrupted by gusty high wind, frequent pishashes, suffocating clouds of sand and dust, which makes the heat more oppressive and disagreeable. The remaining four months of the year are rendered more agreeable by the cloudy state of the atmosphere, a more moderate temperature, and frequent showers of rain. The hottest period of the year comprises the months of March, April, May, June, and July, and is found the most trying season to the European constitution. Thunder showers and vivid lightning are then very common, but no diminution of the oppressive heat is thereby effected; the heat is also close and oppressive during these months from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. and not unfrequently continues unabated throughout the day and night. The months of August, September and October, are cooler than the preceding five months of the year; the heat being moderated by strong westerly winds, and by heavy falls of rain. The weather for the following four months becomes delightfully cool and balmy, the sun's power being weakened by a cloudy atmosphere, and the earth's surface cooled by frequent falls of rain. Fogs and dews are seldom formed, and are only noticed in the cold season; the air is seldom damp; the changes are neither frequent nor sudden; and to this equality may be attributed its healthiness.

Heavy falls of rain produce very improving influence in the climate. Vegetation, which was altogether suspended in the very hot season, soon becomes rapidly luxuriant and vigorous, and the climate is made more congenial to animal existence. The temperature in 1834 was, from March to October, between 91° and 97°, and from November to February, 83° to 87°; in 1835, from March to September, 91° to 96°, and from October to February, 80° to 88°. The annual fall of rain is from 30 to 40 inches, but often less. A large portion of the soil is under wet cultivation, and produces two crops in the year, in situatious where water for irrigation cannot be procured. Crops of dry grain, dependent upon rain, are cultivated. Tobacco is grown in large quantities throughout this division, and there are good gardens producing excellent fruit, such as grapes, mangoes, pine-apples, &c.

The soil on all the high places around Trichinopoly is rocky and barren, being hard and gravelly, absorbing very little if any moisture. On the low ground, however, and near the banks of the river, the soil is alluvial of a good depth, and very productive. The rocks are granite, and stratified in broad tabular masses, with

rounded summits rising into gentle undulations above the surface, all over the plain, and disposed in large detached masses; the strata or layers of the rock having generally a dip and declination to the S. W. by W., or N. W., at angles varying from 25° to 30°, and seldom rising to a great height above the level of the country. There are, however, large beds of stratified rock immediately to the S. W. of the cantonment, between the European and artillery barracks, where solitary cells are built. There are also, besides the great rock of Trichinopoly, several other large rocks in the neighbourhood of similar character and appearance, rising abruptly in large unshapen and broken fragments of considerable height. These rocks, which are abundant, are of good quality, and used extensively for building.

The population of the fort and cantonment, is about 62,000 souls. The influence of a tropical climate on Europeans, is very debilitating, and its effects are sooner perceived on young men who arrive before their full strength and vigour are developed-over excitement, followed by exhaustion of body and mind, is soon produced, and thus a host of diseases engendered. To an atmospherical origin we can satisfactorily trace febrile and inflammatory disorders, and others too of a less acute character. The transitions from hot to cold weather may excite inflammations of internal parts; while external phlegmasiæ more generally follow from an opposite condition of the air. Febrile action is found to follow the exhaustion consequent on continued heat, as well as to be produced by the combined agency of wet and cold. Fever and dysentery are the chief diseases of this station; the former depending upon climate, the latter on intemperance; which, perhaps, is one of the most productive causes of disease in India.

Dindigul, the capital of the district of the same name, is a strong fortress built upon a high granite rock; it stands unconnected with any other, and rises abruptly from the plain about 280 feet, the surrounding country being about 700 feet above the level of the sea; while the site of the town itself is considerably lower it lays in lat. 10° 22′ N., and long. 75° 5' E. This province is a long and narrow valley, and commences about 18 miles N. E. of the fort, over a small range of hills which runs in a S. S. W. direction to the head of the valley; the extreme length of which is about 80 miles, and its greatest breadth about 70, the whole comprising a superficial area of 4300 square miles, of which 200 are occupied by hills and mountains, woods and jungles. The remainder exhibits a vast champaigne of fertilized fields of dry grain

and rice grounds, interspersed with a variety of villages; rows of trees and tanks of water. Grain and garden vegetables grow in high perfection; but fruits and roots are reared with difficulty, and are neither so good of their kind, nor met with in such quantity as are to be found in other parts of the country. There are five rivers which run through this district, the principal of which is the Vayaroo; they take their rise in the high range of hills to the west. The chief towns are Dindigul, Pylne, Pericallam, Taggamally, and Nella Cottah. The population is about 264,990 souls.

It will be unnecessary to enter into the geographical boundaries of this valley, farther than as the various range of mountains may influence the climate; and the most remarkable of these are the Veragherries, on the west; a very extensive range, and in many parts upwards of 7000 feet above the level of the sea, extending towards the south and west from Travancore to Daraporam. In many parts of these hills fever is very common, particularly in the low jungly part of them; but on the loftier parts of them, which is a table land, and very accessible, there is a perpetual verdure and a temperate state of atmosphere, hardly attainable in the most favoured climes. Raspberries, violets, white roses, and wild thyme are found growing in profusion; and although these hills, like the Neilgherries, would afford an excellent retreat to European invalids during the very hot part of the season, it does not appear that they have as yet been much resorted to. The north-eastern boundary of this valley is the Manapar hills; and the south-eastern is the Seroomalla range, which separates Dindigul from Madura; while the eastward of the valley is open to the sea. The lower fort stands on the eastern side of the rock, surrounded by a deep dry ditch. There are two large tanks, one containing brackish water, is fed by springs, and does not dry up in the hot weather; the other, which depends upon the rain for its supply, contains good and wholesome water; but, with the exception of a few springs, it becomes dry in the hot season. In the upper fort there is a natural reservoir of excellent water. The pettah, or town, is situated east of the fort, and is about 1066 yards long, and about 860 yards broad; there is not a trace of the old wall. The space between the fort and pettah is the parade-a large and wide street leading from the main street to the south, forms the bazaar. The lines of the regiment are situated to the N. E. of the lower fort, and to the south of the street leading from the northern entranee. The streets are wide, kept in good order, and sufficiently shaded by trees, with a perfect and free ventilation. The houses

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