﻿187 



UINDUSTAK. 



HIKDU8TAN. 



us 



Aft«r puBing by Scringapatam, it etiton tbe mountain diomcii, and 

 baa an extremely winding ooune between higb rocka. At Cavery- 

 pooram tbe river iasues from between the mountains, and enters a 

 vnlloy. Mliere it receives tbe BhoTany it has abnsdy entered tbti 

 I'laiii, and is a large river in tbe rainy season. For about ouo-balf of 

 ita courso in tbe iilains, it inns in onu channel, but below tbe town of 

 Tricbiuopoli it divides, luid incloses the inland of Scringham, famoua 

 for its two pagodas, and lu a place of pilgrimage. Below this island 

 the river again unites for a short distance, and then divides again. 

 The northern arm, called the Coleroon, runa east-north-east, and falls 

 into the Day of Bengal between Deviacotta and ChiUambrum ; but 

 its waters have been so rxbausted by irrigating tbe adjacent fields, 

 that it aurivs only a small quantity to tbe sea. The water of the 

 buuthem aim is enij luyed in feeding a great number of canals which 

 tntverse the sandy alluvia] plain extending on the coast between Cape 

 C'ulyuiere and Deviacotta. The waters of these canals being con- 

 ducted ovpr the adjacent fields, convert them into one of the most 

 fertile tracts in Hindustan, their crops of rice being only inferior to 

 those of the district of Burdwan in BengaL The delta of the Cavcry 

 and the level country along its lower course in the plain lie in the 

 parallel of tbe Gap of Coimbatore, which may be considered as a pro- 

 luugatiuu of the plain to the Indian Ocean. The whole course of the 

 Cavery is about 450 miles. 



Tbe countries extending along these mountain ranges and the lower 

 course of the Cavtiy constitute a portion of the CaruHtic, the principal 

 division of the presidency of Madras. Tbe following are among the 

 most remarkable places : — CoiUBATORE. Salem, a well-built thriving 

 place, with nome manufactures and a good deal of commerce, but 

 unhealthy. ChiUambrum has an extensive and beautiful pagoda, 

 one of the meet ancient in India. Other towns of importiuice are 

 notice<1 under Caknatic. 



The Kiuitcm Qbautu, which separate the table-land of the Dcccan 

 from the low and Kvel country ext&iding along the Bay of Bengal, 

 between 12° »nd 18° N. lat., occupy in width a much larger space 

 than the Wcatern Ghauts. South of 13° 10' N. lat., where their lon- 

 gitudinal direction is south-south-west and north-north-east, their 

 average breadth is not less than 60 miles. Between 13° 30' and 1G° 

 N. lat., where they are called the Kella Malla Mountains, and, lying 

 in a generally northerly and soutlierly direction, occupy tbe whole 

 space between 78° and 7il° K. long., they are probably nearly 80 miles 

 across; between 16° and 18° N. lat they rxin south-west and north- 

 east, and here their breadth is less. The surface of the whole region 

 is stony, dry, and broken. In general it is almost without vegetation, 

 and offers few spots fit for agricultural purposes. 



Three rivers originating on the tableland pass through this moun- 

 tain region in transverse valleys so narrow that they are, properly 

 rtking, mere clefts. The most southern is the Pannair, which runs 

 ut 250 miles, and falls into tbe sea near Cuddalure. The Palair, 

 passing by Arcot, flows about 220 miles, luid falls into the sea in 

 12* 28' N. lat The most northern of these riven is the Pennair, 

 whose course extends to 280 miles, and which falU into the sea not 

 far from Nellore, in 14° 35' N. lat NeUore is situated on the south 

 bank of the Pennair ; it is a populous pUoe, and has a considerable 

 amoimt of trade. Though its course is long, the Pennair brings down 

 a comparatively small volume of water, and is of little use for irri- 

 gating the low lands ; whiUt tbe Pannair and Palair fertilise the whole 

 of the countries which they traverse. 



The mountain passes through this region are as difficult as those 

 over tbe Western Ghauts. They are very little, visited, and at« nearly 

 unknown, except the great military road which leads from Madras to 

 the table-land. It runs over the plain to Arcot, on the Palair, and 

 thence to Vellore, whence it begins to ascend the mountains, and 

 mus to Saotghur (1120 feet above the sea). Here it divides into two 

 branches : the northern terminates at Cohir, on the tableland ; the 

 southern at Bangalore, on the table-land. The Nella Malla Moun- 

 tains are rich in metula. Iron is very abtmdaut ; copper and lead are 

 worked in several places; and diamonds are found. The country 

 which separates the Kastem Ghauts from the Bay of Bengal compre- 

 hends the central and northern t'umatio, with the Guntoor Circar. 

 [Caiuiatic; Cihcabs, Nohthekx ; Cobomaxdbl Coast; Masbas; 

 Aacot ; Cuodaix>uk ; I'ondicubbkt.] 



The river Ki*ina originates on the eastern declivity of the Western 

 Ghanta. All tbe waters collected on the eastern side of that range, 

 belweeo 13" and 18° N. lat, unite suoceaaivaly in iU vhanneL Tlie 

 source of the river is near 18" N. lat, between Poona and Sattara. It 

 runs for more than 100 miles south-south-east, receiving numerous 

 small streams from the west Afterwards it flows south-east, and its 

 waters are iooreaaad by the two rivers Uatpurba and Malpurba. On 

 the table-laud it receiTos from the north tbe Beema, which has a 

 winding course through tbe table-Und of probably more than 300 

 milrs. Where the Kistna approaches the Nella MalU Mountains, it 

 is joined from the south by tbe Toongabodra, whose upper branches, 

 the Toonjta and the Budra, originate near 13* N. lat Its whole 

 course is about 650 miles. On the table-land, as weU as in the low 

 plain, the surface of the water is from 20 to 30 feet below the adjacent 

 land, and consequently it cannot be used to irrigate tbe fielda Tbe 

 Kistna brings down a comparatively small volume of water, and is 

 not navigable in nny \»A The mountain region between the Kistna 



and Qodavory, which separates the lable-lanil of the Decoan from the 

 low tract along tbe coast, and which may be considered as a continua- 

 tion of the Xella Malla Mountains, occupies nearly 60 miles from west 

 to east The character of this region is but little known. The low 

 country between the lower course of the rivers Kistna and Goilavcry 

 comprehends the districts of Condapilly and Kllore [Cikl'AKS, 

 XoKTiiEUN'], and resembles the delta of the Nile, though it is some- 

 what smaller. A considerable portion of it is annually inimdated by 

 the Lake of Colair, which is a fresh-water lake, situated in a deep 

 depression, nearly in the centre of the low tract This lake is about 

 24 miles long, and half as wide in the bruadedt (lart, and U connected 

 with the Qodavery and Kistna by channels which in the dry season 

 contain no water, but from July to September convey a ]>ortion of 

 the water of these rivers to the lake, which is then filled, when it 

 becomes from 40 to 60 miles long, and inundates the adjacent country. 

 During the dry season the water is conveyed by means of caiwls to 

 a considerable distance from the lake. The lake covers 200 square 

 miles, and contains 15 islands, which, as well as the neighbouring 

 country, are fertilised by tbe deposit of mud brought down by the 

 rivers. The superfluous water is carried off by the river Oopatair, in 

 which the tides ascend to the lake, but are prevented from entering 

 it by embankments. The Oopatair is navigable for small vessels, and 

 is of great use for the export of produce. This tract contains the large 

 commercial town of Matulipatam, 16° 10' N. lat, 81° 14' E. long. 

 It 18 situated on almost the only part of that line of coast where the 

 »urf does not beat, oud which affords good anchorage for vesaels of 

 300 tons burden. 



The Godavery, the largest river of the Deccan, risea in the most 

 north-western comer of tbe table-land, north of 20° N. lat, about 60 

 miles from tbe Indian Ocean. It flows east-south-east and east for about 

 400 miles, receiving in its cour^ the Manjera Kiver from tbe south, and 

 the I'oorna imd Wurdah from tbe north. After the juuetion of tlui 

 Wurd.ih the Uodavery is a mile wide, but at the eud of tbe dry suosou 

 it has only 16 inches of water. It then passes tbivugh the mountain 

 region, and having entered the low country it becomes 4 miles wide, 

 and has a great volume of water, but soon divides into two branches, 

 which include a small delta. Approaching the sea it divides into 

 many more branches, in which tbe tide ascends to some distance, and 

 which admit vessels of considerable burden. On the most northern 

 of these urms is the harbour of Curiiiga, the only smooth water on 

 the coast between Cape Comorin and the Hoogly during tlie south- 

 west monsoon. Coringa is a place of considerable traffic. The course 

 of the river Godavery exceeds 700 miles. 



Tbe north-eastei-n portion of the Deccan, extending along the Bay 

 of Bengal, between tbe mouth of the Qodavery and the Bay of 

 Bolasore, and from that coast westward into the interior, contains 

 several mountain regions which are Uttle known. Tbe inhabitants of 

 this tract of mountainous country are called Qonds, and tbe country 

 is called from them Gondwarra or Gundwana. The British govern- 

 ment and the llaja of Berar are the rulers of this country in nearly 

 equal parts, but the authority of both is only nominal. 



The Mahanuddy, whose up|>er branches drain tlie glain of Rutten- 

 poor, between 20' and 22° N. lat, receives its principal supply of 

 water from tbe unknown mountain region of Oondwarra. It flows ea«t 

 to Sumbhulpour, where it is a mile aci-os.4 ; it then turns south, but 

 from the j unction with the Kubragur at Sohnpoor to the sea its course is 

 east At Cuttock, where it is two miles across, it enters a level plain, 

 which is fertilised by its waters. Below Cuttack it divides into three 

 branches, one of which, called the Cajori, runs south, and passes near 

 the temple of Juggemautb. The main body of tbe river, called Chitter- 

 tola, continues east to the sea ; and the northern arm, named Beroopa, 

 runs north-east till it joins the Braminy,and then runs east to the sea, 

 near Ca|>e Palmyras. The whole course of the Mahauuddy is estimated 

 at 600 miles. It is navigable for small vessels as far as Sumbhulpoor, 

 aud for river-boats to the mouth of its tributary the Houstu, n 

 distance of 380 miles. 



The delta of the Mahanuddy extends along tbe sea from tho Lake 

 of Chilka(l»° 40' N. lat) to the town of Bahuiote (21° 30' N. lat). 

 The Lake of Chilka, which forms the boundary between the Circus 

 and the province of Cuttack, receivea its waters partly by one or two 

 channels which branch off from the Cajori, or southeru arm of the 

 Jlahanuddy. Tbe lake is about 36 miles long, and 8 miles wide on an 

 average. It is divided from the Bay of Bengal by a low and sandy 

 tract, which is less than half a mile aorois. Its mean depth is only 

 from 4 to 6 feet A great quantity of salt is prepared from the water 

 of the lake by evaporation. The delta of the Mali.tuu<ldy is occupied 

 along the shore by a swampy tract, overgrown by jungle and low 

 bushes, among which a few trees tiae to a great height This tract, 

 which extends from 6 to 20 miles inland, is more the habitation of 

 tigers, leopards, wild buffaloes, and crocodiles, tlian of men. Great 

 quautities of salt, of the finest quaUty, are made here. Contiguous to 

 the wuod^ tract, but farther inland, lies the fertile portion of tlin 

 delta, which in some pUces extends about 30 or 40 luiles. It pro- 

 duces, when irrigated, abundant crops of rice, sugar, and tobacco ; in 

 the leas fertile tract millet is raised. The chief town is CorTACK. It 

 forms, with the ac^acunt mountainous country, the pro.ince of Orissa, 

 which is annexed to the presidency of Bengal. At tbe town of 

 I'uoree, 42 miles S. from Cuttack, and near the shore of the iiay i-f 



