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Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 19, p. 86.

86 NIL GIRI STATE it was founded by an adventurer from Chota Nagpur. It came into prominence during the Mughal period, and one of the chiefs was hand- somely rewarded for the assistance he rendered to Akbar's Hindu general, Man Singh, in subduing the refractory Pathans. The State has an estimated revenue of Rs. 1,37,ooo, and pays a tribute of Rs. 3,900 to the British Government. The population increased from 56,198 in 1891 to 66,460 in 19or. The number of villages is 466, and the density is 239 persons per square mile. The most important village is Nilgiri, containing the residence of the Raja; this is picturesquely situated at the foot of a hill, 5 miles from the trunk road from Calcutta to Madras, with which it is connected by a good metalled road. Hindus number 58,896, Muhammadans ioi, and Animists 7,302. The most numerous castes are Khandaits (15,ooo), Bhumijs (6,ooo), Brahmans (5,000), and Gaurs and Hos (4,ooo each). A small Christian community belonging to the American Free Baptist Mission is established at Mitrapur, 1 z miles west of Balasore town. , The State maintains one middle English school, 9 upper primary and 75 lower primary schools, and a dispensary. Nilgiris, The (Nilagiri, I the blue mountains').-A District in Madras, with the exception of Madras City the smallest in the Presi- dency', its area being only 958 square miles, or less than that of many tdluks. It lies between r 1° x2' and r 1° 4o' N. and 76° 14 and 77° E., and is bounded on the north by the State of Mysore ; east and south east by Coimbatore District; and west and south-west by Malabar. It consists of two well-marked divisions: the high, steep- aspects. sided plateau formed by the junction of the EASTERN . and WESTERN GHATS as they run southwards down the two opposite sides of the Indian Peninsula ; and a lower area adjoining, and geographically forming part of, the Malabar WYNAAD. The plateau, which is divided into the two tdluks of Ootacamund and Coonoor, averages 6,500 feet 'above sea-level, and several of its peaks run up to over 8,ooo feet. It is upheld by great masses of hill, which from the plains present almost the appearance of a wall; and its summit consists chiefly of rolling grassy downs, divided by narrow valleys, at the foot of each of which is a bog or a stream. There is not a square mile of level ground on the whole of this area, and in the wrinkles of the hills nestle small but beautiful woods, known locally as sholas. The lower area adjoining the Wynaad forms the third, or GCidalur, taluk, and is often called the South-east Wynaad. It is only 2,000 to 3,000 feet above the sea, is more level than the plateau, and is covered for the most part with thick forest. Along the south-western edge of the plateau runs a line of bold hills ' Since this article was written, a very small District of ANJRNGO, smaller than any of the existing Collectorates, was formed in 19o6.