62 



47. Mount Dilli and Beliapatam river. — Mount Dilli, the 

 boldest headland on this coast, lies 12 miles north of Cannanore. 

 It forms a conspicuous landmark, visible from a distance of 25 

 miles in clear weather, but " in the hazy weather of March to 

 April scarcely 15 miles." In the bay to the south-east small 

 vessels find convenient shelter during the north-east monsoon, 

 especially against north-west winds which frequently prevail 

 off this cape from February until May, and which are accom- 

 panied by a short confused sea. 



The Beliapatam river enters the sea midway between 

 Cannanore and Mount Dilli. It is an important inland water- 

 way navigable for large boats the whole year round for some 

 distance from the sea. In conjunction with the bay under the 

 lee of Mount Dilli this river port would form a useful fishing 

 and distributing centre. Indeed it has already been so used, 

 as some Ratnagiri boats which until a few years ago were 

 brought down the coast by a Cannanore fish contractor made 

 this place their base. The anchorage is not so cramped as at 

 Cannanore, there is less swell and the river mouth is handy in 

 the event of rough weather coming on. 



Mount Dilli may be said to mark the northern limit of 

 Malabar, and the southern of South Canara. 



48. South Canara. — The 52-miles stretch of coast line 

 between Mount Dilli and Mangalore is uniformly low and sandy 

 with no headlands to give shelter and intersected by but few 

 rivers and those in all cases so shallow as to be available onlv 

 for small boats. Of these rivers Kavai immediately north of 

 Mount Dilli is the best ; Kassergod river estuary and Cumla 

 creek are the only others of importance and in both cases the 

 position of the bar and the depth of the water over it, are so 

 variable that it would be misleading to give any figures. This 

 is of little importance however in view of the proximity of the 

 first-class port of Mangalore. 



49. Mangalore, the chief town of the South Canara district, 

 possesses a river port having at present not less than 9 feet of 

 water at low water of spring tides on its bar ; ordinary springs 

 rise 7 feet, neaps 5 feet. In November 1908 the S.S- 

 " Margarita " drawing 7 feet 8 inches had no difficulty in 

 entering and leaving at any state of the tide except that in 

 leaving at low tide, turning room was at times greatly restricted 

 by the awkward anchorage taken up by several native craft. 

 The anchorage opposite the lighthouse carries from 10 to J 4 

 feet at low water springs and there is a large area available with 

 soundings fit »m 4 to 6 feet at the same state of the tide, 

 suitable for fishing boats. 



