308 NILGIRI HILLS. plentiful on the plateau, but constant and too often unsportsmanlike shooting has reduced the number sadly. Leopards, hyænas, wild hog, porcupines, jungle sheep, and hares are still found in fair abundance, as also woodcock, snipe, spur-fowl, jungle-fowl, and pea-fowl. A close season has been established by law (1879) for the preservation of deer and other useful species of ganie. Population. The first enumeration of the District was made in 1848, when the population was returned at 17,057, distributed over 420 square miles, giving a proportion of 40 per square mile. According to the Census of 1871, the inhabitants numbered 49,501. The number of hill tribes, exclusive of the Kurumbas, was, in 1848, 7674; in 1866, inclusive of the Kurumbas, 19,891; and in 1871, 23,364. The most recent Census, that of February 1881, disclosed a total population of 91,034, of whom 50,976 were males and 40,058 females. These figures include a Wainád population of 25,440. The area is 957 square miles; number of towns 2, and of villages 8; occupied houses, 17,844 ; unoccupied, 3746. These figures show a density of 95 persons to the square mile, 19 occupied houses to the square mile, and 5'1 persons to each house. The general population has increased since 1871 by 41,533. The Census returned as under 15 years of age, 16,474 boys and 15,379 girls; total children, 31,853, or nearly 35 per cent. of the population : and as 15 years and over, 34,502 males and 24,679 females; total adults, 59,181, or over 65 per cent. Classified according to religion, there were 78,970 Hindus, 3531 Muhammadans, 8488 Christians, 34 Pársís, 6 returned as Theists, and 5 others.' Distributed into castes, the Hindus are thus subdivided : --Bráhmans, 440; Kshattriyas, 107; Shetties (traders), 2827; Vellálars (agriculturists), 10,588; Idaiyars (shepherds), 3463; Kammálars (artisans), 1760; Kannakkans (writers), 153; Kaikalars (weavers), 419; Vanniyans (labourers), 2609; Kushavans (potters), 387; Satinis (mixed castes), 849 ; Shembadavans (fishermen), 291 ; Shánans (toddydrawers), 165; Ambattans (barbers), 247 ; Vannáns (washermen), 547; Pariahs (outcastes), 20,397; "others,' 33,721. The Muhammadans are sub-divided into 21 Arabs, 198 Labbays, 140 Máppilas, 9 Mughals, 131 Patháns, 39 Sayyids, 375 Shaikhs, and 2618 others.' Of the whole Muhammadan population, 2186 are Sunnís. Among the Chris tians, 852 are British-born subjects, 395 other British subjects, 451 other Europeans or Americans, 1012 Eurasians, 5462 natives, and 316 others. According to another principle of classification, there were 5111 Roman Catholics, 967 Protestants, and 2410 others of various denominations. As regards occupation, the Census divides the male population into six main groups, as follows :-(1) Professional class, including State, civil, and military officials of every kind, 1305, or 143 of the whole; .
