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and Bangalore. They are all in the central highlands ; high
enough (about 2000 feet to 3000 feet above sea) to preserve
 them from the fierce heat of the low-lying plains, but
still in all the general characteristics of their environment
belonging to the plains and not to the hills. Haidarabad
is important for nothing except its position as the capital
of the largest native state in India, and the headquarters
of an overgrown native army of 40,000 men (recruited
chiefly from the northern borderland and from Southern
Arabia), which is considered necessary to preserve the
dignity and authority of the Nizam. This army is a
picturesque assemblage of half-disciplined troops, reviving
the traditions of a bygone age, and it may be seen to
best advantage on the 1oth day of the feast of the
Moharram (for Haidarabad is a Hindu state governed
by Muhammadans), when the procession called the
Langar takes place. The admixture of Afghan and
Pathan ruffianism with gaily-clad Arab soldiery is
interestingly suggestive of the nature of those armies
of the past which used to strike terror into the heart
of the agricultural population of India, and which would
do so again instantly were our rule withdrawn.
To keep check on this riotous force a brigade of
British and native troops is cantoned at Sikandarabad, a
few miles north of Haidarabad, and a special contingent
(paid for out of the revenues of the Berars) of about 7000
men, called the Haidarabad contingent, is maintained with
its headquarters at Bolarum hard by for the same purpose.
Poona and Bangalore (which are now directly connected
 by the Southern Maratha railway) belong to the
Sanatoria of India, which are elsewhere described. The
connection is of geographical interest because it introduces
 us to the western districts of India, and touches
the Portuguese settlement of Goa.
Sixty-eight miles from Poona and about 18% from
Bombay is the little station of Wathar on the Southern
Maratha line, from whence a carriage drive may be
taken to Mahableshwar. This is a favourite resort of

1 Now part of the regular Indian army.