54 



alluvial flats. The land is but little elevated above sea level, 

 so that in the flood time of the Tambraparni, water washes 

 through the streets of the village lapping the base of the kitchen 

 middens on which the huts are built, and converts the village 

 temporarily into several small islands. That fever follows in 

 the wake of the floods is of course natural. A good many of 

 the people migrate to Tuticorin and even Colombo, finding 

 work as boatmen — the Colombo pilot boats are largely manned 

 by Paravars from this coast — and it is a movement that 

 should be fostered. The principal reason for adhering to such 

 an unsatisfactory situation is largely explained by the fact that 

 a particularly rich fishing ground exists opposite the village in 

 the form of a deep depression or basin in the sea floor extending 

 eastwards for 3 miles from about 1| mile from shore and 

 averaging 1 mile in breadth. The bottom is fine sand and mud 

 and varies in depth from 7 fathoms on the west side to 18 and 

 20 fathoms at the extreme east, where it shoals suddenlv to 

 1\ and 9 fathoms rockv bottom. Over the area of this curious 

 depression the Punnaikayal fishing fleet works during the greater 

 part of the year seldom having to go further atield for their 

 harvest. 



29. Kayalpatnam. — This harbour is very small but such as 

 it is, it gives good and convenient shelter in any except a 

 dead north-east wind. Deep water, 9 to 12 feet, is found close 

 to the beach ; there is usually no surf and boats of 30 and 40 

 tons can moor head to beach near enough to permit of cargo 

 being carried aboard by coolies. Constant traffic with Tuticorin 

 is maintained the whole year round by means of Tuticorin 

 lighters, the chief item of shipment being salt from a factory 

 on one of the creeks of the Tambraparni. The harbour is 

 formed by the projection of a small rocky ridge overlain with 

 sand at the south extremity, which, with Trichendur Point, gives 

 protection from the south-west and south. From the end of 

 the south horn of the little bay a submerged reef is continued 

 towards the north-east and breaks the force of the sea from 

 south round to east-by-south. To the northward the land 

 trends a little to the eastward of north, but very slightly, 

 hence a north-east wind blows right into the bay. With a stout 

 stern mooring out, native craft do not suffer as the holding 

 ground is good. 



Scarcely any fishing is done here, the Lubbais of the place 

 being largely engaged in trade or employment in other towns, 

 more especially as boatmen, boat owners and pearl merchants, 

 often returning to Kayalpatnam to spend the evening of their 

 days. 



