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76                     A FINAL WORD.
CHAPTER IX.
A FINAL WORD.
Climate of the Wynaad—European comforts—Our church and our doctor—Apathy of the Government—Enterprise of the companies —Want of hanking facilities—Necessity of a railway, and resulting advantages—An excuse for unfrequency of official reports—Farewell.
And now my task draws to a conclusion, and I must say a final word or two on three matters: the climate ; the means of communication; and the mis­conception by many at home of the extent of the difficulties companies have to contend with—the im­mediate cause of much seemingly unnecessary delay. In climate the Wynaad will compare favour­ably with that of almost any part of India, and is infinitely preferable to the climate in many centres of European trade. Except during two months of the year—the middle of March to the middle of May—the district is tolerably free from fever. The monsoon, or rainy season, begins at the end of May and lasts till the end of October; the rainfall is very heavy, but it is not anticipated that mining work will be much hindered. Surface operations, such as road-