of the S(mthern Mahratta Country. 299 



«Qon confined to their own villages or huts, not only by the se- 

 verity of the rains, but in many instances by the stoppage of 

 their communication by the swollen nullahs. During this dreary 

 period, (in anticipation of which a stock of provisions is always 

 laid in as a ship is supplied for a voyage), the inhabitants sit round 

 a fire in the centre of their miserable dwellings, which are thus 

 constantly filled with smoke. When they do venture out in 

 this weather, they wrap themselves in a cumly *, and over this 

 they place " a sort of thatched case or shell, made of the leaves 

 of the jar f, or some other of the palm tribe. It is broad over 

 the whole back and shoulders, narrowing to a peak immediate- 

 ly over the head, and coming down the front over the face, just 

 so far as is necessary to give it a firm hold, with a slope suffi- 

 cient to carry the water that falls on it clear of the body J." 



In the eastern parts, it is very different. The rain is sel- 

 dom so severe as to prevent the inhabitants from going out for 

 four and twenty hours at one time : — ^and there, precautions 

 against heat, not against cold, are necessary. 



The villages in the western parts consist of thatched huts, 

 whose steep sloping roofs nearly reach the ground, the walls 

 being only a few feet high, that they may be effectually pro- 

 tected from the rain. Every spot is covered with vegetation. 

 Hedges and trees covered with twining plants line the roads, 

 and the thatched roofs are often concealed by creepers, general- 

 ly cucumbers, pumpkins, &c. 



The villages in the eastern parts present a curious contrast to 

 the above. Generally not a spot of green, for many months in 

 the year, relieves the horrid glare. All is parched and brown. 

 No protection being required against heavy rain, the houses are 

 built entirely of clay, which one heavy shower, such as the west- 

 ern inhabitants constantly experience, would completely level to 

 the ground. The walls of the houses are formed of sun-baked 

 clay> and are from eight to ten feet high. Upon these is sup- 

 ported a terrace roof, composed of branches of trees or bamboos, 

 covered with clay. Nothing can be conceived more ugly than 

 these villages. On every side square masses of dry clay, give 



* A native blanket. ^ t Borassus flabelliformis, 



X Marshall, op. citat. 



