a mountainous and woody district of Southern India, among the western Ghauts, situated between the kingdom of Mysore and the British province of Malabar. This country lies between Lat. 11° 56' and 12° 45', Long. 75° 25' and 76° 13', and extends about 60 miles from N. to S., and 35 from E. to W., with a superficies of 1420 square miles. The mountains produce sandal wood of the very best species, teak timber, rice, pepper, and some other spices. The woods also abound with elephants and ferocious animals, especially tigers. Previous to its conquest by the British, the country had been governed by a line of rajas of the Nair caste of Hindus, who are mentioned in history as early as the year 1583. The ascendency of the last family of these rulers dates from the year 1632. Its princes retained their independence till the year 1778, when Hyder Ali, who had in vain attempted to subdue them, found an opportunity for interfering in a dispute about the succession, and, by the destruction of one of the parties and the captivity of the other, took possession of the country. Upon Tippoo's accession to the sovereignty, he ordered the royal prisoner to be removed from Bednore to the fort of Periapatam; whence having made his escape in the year 1778, his faithful subjects crowded to his standard, and drove the armies of Tippoo from his dominions. In the war which the British declared against Tippoo in the year 1791, they found the raja of Coorg a useful auxiliary; and upon the termination of hostilities, it was determined to transfer his tributary dependence from Tippoo to the power whose interests the raja had so zealously served. This was accomplished by the treaty of 1792. The change, however, though beneficial to the ruling family in Coorg, did not secure the permanent advantage of its subjects. After a time it was discovered that, under a succeeding raja, oppression and misgovernment had been substituted for the calamities of war. At length the tyranny of the raja became intolerable. In 1832 fugitives from his vengeance appeared within the British territories, and implored the protection of the ruling authorities. These parties were not criminals; and as the object of their flight was not to elude the claims of justice, but solely to withdraw from the violence of tyranny, the asylum which they sought was ac- corded to them. The claim of the rajah to their surrender was disregarded, but at the same time negotiations were set on foot by the British government to explain to the rajah the grounds of their refusal, and to remove any unfavourable impression which it was calculated to produce. These, however, were relinquished upon the detention by the rajah of the British emissary, and recourse was had to arms. The result may be briefly told. Coorg was subdued and annexed to the British dominions, and a stipend of L6,000 a-year bestowed upon the chief. The population in 1836 has been officially returned at 65,437. Since the annexation of the territory to the British empire, its revenue has improved, cultivation has been extended, and the general prosperity of the country is stated to have steadily increased. The rajah is now (1854) in this country, where his daughter is to be educated in the Christian faith; the Queen and Sir James Weir Hogg, chairman of the East India Company, having been sponsors at her baptism.