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INDIA

enervated residents of Bombay. Mahableshwar and
Matheran are favourite resorts in the hot weather months,
and Poona, the ancient Mahratta capital of the Dekkan, is
perhaps the most popular station in Bombay during the
rains, It lies below the level of the Ghats, but like
Bangalore is high enough to ensure a fairly cool and
equable climate.
In the south the Nilgiris form the farthest abutment of
this central plateau, and their elevation gives opportunity
for the existence of a group of European colonies which
are unmatched for the advantages of geographical position
 by any hill-stations in India. The summit of that
elevated and somewhat restricted plateau, which is known
by the collective name of Nilgiris, consists of rolling grasscovered
 downs intersected by clear streams, and broken by
patches of dense jungle (locally known as “shola”) which
Gill up its depressions and fit into the folds of the hills in
beautifully moulded curves. The climate of the Nilgiris
is far more equable than that of the lower spurs of the
Himalayas. The annual rainfall is much the same as that
of the Himalayan stations, but it is spread over more
months in the year, because the Nilgiris. fall within the
influence of both north-east and south-west monsoons.
Although fruit will not ripen well, flowers of every
description flourish here as they flourish nowhere else in
[ndia, and the open grass downs are frequently a blaze of
colour in spring and early summer. Road communications
are easy, and the usual mountain drawback of narrow paths
flanked by dangerous hillsides is almost wanting in the
central station of Utakamand (Ootacamund). The scenery
of the Nilgiris is doubtless tame compared to that of the
Himalayas. This is owing in a large measure to the
introduction of Australian trees (acacias and gum trees),
which stiffen the landscape by the regularity of their
planting, and never appear to be quite at home. But it is
also due to the want of strong contrast between hill and
valley. This flatness of effect pervades all but the western
slopes of the plateau. There, indeed, as one looks across
the blue sea of the Wainad Hills to the lighter sheen