224 E. J. BUTLER. 



main outlet, known as the Vainateyam Godavari. The Delta pro- 

 per, which begins at Dowlaishweram, thus consists of two large 

 islands — Amalapur Island, bounded on the north-east by the 

 Gautami branch and on the south-west by part of the Vasishta and 

 the Vainateyam branch ; and Nagaram Island, bounded on the 

 north-east by the Vainateyam and on the west by the lower portion 

 of the Vasishta branch. The term Delta is, however, extended for 

 administrative purposes to include the tracts lying north-east and 

 west of the river between Dowlaishweram and the sea, so far as is 

 commanded by the irrigation system arising at Dowlaishweram. 



The Delta, thus extended, comprises a portion of the adminis- 

 trative District of Godavari, viz., the islands, and the mainland 

 north-east of them, and a portion of the Kistna District, viz., the 

 mainland lying west of the islands. The administrative sub-divi- 

 sions or "Taluks" included in this area are the following : — 



GODAVARI DISTRICT. ^ 



" Eastern Delta,''^ i.e., the mainland north-east of the river. 

 Most of Ramachendrapur and Cocanada 

 Tahiks. 



"Central Delta,'" i.e., the islands. Amalapur and Nagaram 

 Taluks. 



( '■ Wester7i Delta,'" i.e., the mainland west of the river. 

 KISTNA DISTRICT. \ Tanaku, Narsapur and Bhimavaram 



\ Taluks. 



Three of the Upland Taluks, lying above the Delta, require 

 also to be mentioned as they are referred to below. These are 

 Rajahmundry and Peddapur, both of which belong to the Godavari 

 District and consist of long stretches of stony waste alternating 

 with wet land, and Yernagudem, belonging to Kistna, an undulat- 

 ing plain, broken by low ranges. 



Communications within this area are good. Roads are numer- 

 ous and the network of the canals in the Delta is largely availed of 

 for boat traffic. The main channels of the river are of considerable 

 size, often exceeding a mile in width, and communications across 

 them are carried out by means of ferries, the only direct access 

 from the right to the left bank being by the great railway and foot 

 bridge, a mile and- three-quarters long, at Rajahmundry, six miles 



