Sivasamudram in the Cdavert River. 311 
been the cause, he was immediately struck with remorse, and returned to 
his own possessions. But one of the Sarddrs, a Musselman, established 
himself in the island, and kept possession of it for about fifteen years; at 
the expiration of which time, as he was one night going through the streets 
of the city, he was attacked by a seven-headed cobra de capella : as soon as 
he saw it, he attempted to strike it, but the serpent spitting forth his venom, 
laid him dead upon the spot. After this, the island becoming a dependency 
of the Mysore territory, was scarcely inhabited, and went to utter decay. All 
these sovereigns were worshippers of RancaswAmi and Sémés’/waraswAmi. 
Account of the Island since it came into RAmaswAmi’s possession. 
I first visited the island in the year 1805, in attendance on Colonel 
Wirks, then British Resident at the court of Mysore; and it was at that 
time the abode of tigers and other wild beasts, the jungle being almost 
impenetrable, and all the buildings were in a state of utter ruin. 
The restoration of the island to its former sacred and charitable purposes, 
had long been the subject of my anxious thoughts; and accordingly, in 
the year 1818, I made proposals to Government, the conditions of which 
were, that the island of Sivasamudram being given over to me and my heirs 
in perpetuity, together with a tract of jungle land, purposed to be occupied 
by inferior castes, I undertook to clear the island of the jungle, to erect a 
wooden bridge on the eastern branch of the Cdvert from the Coimbatoor 
side to the island, to build a bungalow for travellers, and to restore some 
of the religious edifices. 
My proposals were accepted ; and in the year 1819 I made preparations 
for these arduous undertakings. From further inquiries, and after due 
consideration, I was of opinion that a wooden bridge would neither be 
lasting nor safe ; and I accordingly determined, without applying for any 
additional remuneration, to construct an edifice of permanent materials, 
The site of an old bridge was pointed out, and I resolved to erect the new 
one at this spot, and on the same principles of construction as the former 
appeared to have been. 
Vox. III. 28° 
