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384
SIMLA TO WN
tion. At present, the bungalows extend over the whole length of
a considerable ridge, which runs east and west in a crescent shape,
with its concave side pointing southward. The extreme ends of the
station lie at a distance of 6 miles from one another. Eastward, the
ridge culminates in the peak of Jakko, over 8,ooo feet in height, and
nearly 1,ooo feet above the average elevation of the station. Woods
of deoddr, oak, and rhododendron clothe its sides, while a tolerably
level road, 5 miles long, runs round its base. Another grassy height,
known as Prospect Hill, of inferior elevation to Jakko and devoid of
timber,' closes the western extremity of the crescent. The houses cluster
thickest upon the southern slopes of Jakko, and of two other hills
lying near the western end, one of which, known as Observatory Hill,
is crowned by Viceregal Lodge. The church stands at the western
base of Jakko, below which, on the south side of the hill, the native
quarter cuts off one end of the station from the other. The eastern
portion bears the name of Chota Simla, while the most western
extremity is known as Boileauganj. A beautiful northern spur, running
at right angles to the main ridge, and still clothed with oak and old
rhododendron trees, has acquired the complimentary designation of
Elysium. Not far from the western end, two batteries of artillery
occupy the detached hill of Jutogh. The exquisite scenery of the neigh-
bourhood has been described in the article on SIMLA DISTRICT.
Simla, besides being the summer head-quarters of the Governments
of India and of the Punjab, and of the various Departments of Army
head-quarters, is the head-quarters of the Deputy-Conservator of Forests,
Simla division, and of the Executive Engineer, Simla division, as well
as of the ordinary District staff, and the summer head-quarters of the
Commissioner of the Delhi Division. A battalion of Volunteers, the
2nd Punjab (Simla) Rifles, is stationed here. There are four churches
of the Church of England: Christ Church (the station church) opened
in 1844, a chapel of ease at Boileauganj, a chapel attached to Bishop
Cotton School, and a native church in the bazar. There are also
a Roman Catholic cathedral and two convents, and an undenomina-
tional church following the Presbyterian form of worship. The Church
Missionary Society, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
Zanana Mission, and the Baptist Mission have branches in the town.
There are two masonic lodges. Simla also contains the United Service
Institution of India, and a large club. The Government offices are
for the most part accommodated in large blocks of buildings; and
a town hall contains a theatre, reading-room, and ball-room. Annan-
dale, the Simla cricket ground and racecourse, has recently been greatly
enlarged. The municipality was created in 1850. The income during
the ten years ending 1902-3 averaged 4-2 lakhs, and the expenditure
4-1 lakhs. In 1903-4 the income was 5-5 lakhs, chiefly derived from
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