44^ Voyage of the Novara. 



a Hindoo temple, and altogether presents a strongly African 

 character in its scenery. Only at those points, at which 

 there are tanks, or artificial basins, either excavated or 

 formed by damming the water, does there occur a luxuriant 

 green vegetation covering the parched, brown, dusty soil. 

 These tanks are filled in the rainy season, and during the 

 dry season, which continues for months, supply the rice-fields 

 with water for irrigation, the culture of that plant requiring 

 an unusually large supply of water. 



If English railroads are proverbially comfortable in the 

 mother-country, they certainly fall off lamentably in that 

 particular in the cars used in India. This deficiency is the 

 more provoking and remarkable, considering the various other 

 appliances for comfort which are to be found in this country 

 The conductor, as well as the other servants of the Company, 

 was a Hindoo. On the entire line we saw but five or six 

 white men employed. The fares are pretty moderate, that for 

 the entire distance, 80 miles, being Rupees '1\ (155.), for first- 

 class, and Rupees 3 (65.), second (about 1\d. and \d. per mile, 

 respectively). The line is to be extended from Bejapoor, so as 

 to unite the eastern and western coasts of the peninsula. There 

 are also lines projected from Madras to Bombay by Poonah 

 and Bellary, and from Madras to Calcutta. The Governor, 

 who (the evening previous to our departure, as we were being 

 entertained at his summer residence, Guindy Park,) had been 

 apprized of our intention to visit Vellore, was so attentive as 

 to order the commandant to be informed by telegraph of our 



