NEILGHER'RY (properly Nmotni) HILLS (Skr. blue, and piri, mountain), a remarkable group of mountains in the s. of Hindustan, entirely isolated, with the excep tion of a precipitous granite ridge, 15 in. in width, which connects it with the high table land of Maisur on the north. Lat. 11°. 10' to 11° 38' n., long. 76° 30' to 77° 10'. The shape of the group is that of a triangle, of which one side faces the district of Malabar on the west. Greatest length, about 40 m.; average breadth, about 15 miles. The base of the mountains is covered by a dense and unhealthy forest, swarming with wild animals, among which 'are the elephant and tiger; but in the higher regions of the hills wood is compa•atively scanty. The surface of the group is undulating, rising, in the peak of Dodabetta. near the center, to the height of 8,760 ft., the greatest height, as vet ascertained, in India s. of the Himalayas. The hills for the most part consist of granite, covered often to the depth of upwards of 10 fL by a richly productive black soil. There
are several morasses yielding peat. which is used for fuel. The higher lands form a fine open grass country, covered with the vegetation of the temperate zone, and inhabited by a most remarkable tribe, the Tudas or Toruvars (herdsmen). This tribe numbers only about 2,000 persons. The men are tall and handsome, with Roman noses, tine teeth, and large expressive eyes; the women are singularly beautiful. Their religion is theism: they have no idols. Owing to their great elevation the Neilgherry hills have it delightfully cool climate, and are much resorted to on this account by invalided Euro peans. The principal station, and the only place. on the hills that deserves the name of a town, is Utakamand, situated in the center of the hills, at an elevation of 7,300 ft. above sea level. Its climate is cold and damp during the monsoon; at other times it is intensely dry, and the mean annual temperature is 58°.