456 COMPTA. Chap. XXVI. 



On the day after sailing from Cannauore we put into Man- 

 galore, where the town, like that of Calicut, is completely- 

 hidden from the sea, the lighthouse and a few bungalows being 

 visible on a hill in the rear. This was the dry season, and 

 the coast of Canara was not nearly so pretty as that of Mala- 

 bar, looking parched and dried up. North of Mangalore is 

 the port of Conipta, with a lighthouse on a steep conical hill, 

 but no town visible. Compta is now the port of shipment for 

 the cotton of Dharwar, and there were several pattamars in 

 the anchorage, with their decks piled up with bales of cotton. 

 They take it up to Bombay, where it is pressed and shipped 

 for England ; and we heard that the crews of the pattamars 

 work their way into the bales, and pull out large handfuls of 

 cotton, filling the space up with filth. In this way there is a 

 petty trade in stolen cotton along the coast, and the people 

 work it up into gloves, stockings, &c., for sale. 



Though, at the time of my visit, Compta was used as 

 the cotton-port for Dharwar, yet the port of Sedashighur, 

 further north, has a great advantage over it, and is the 

 only place along the coast where there is safe anchorage 

 during the S.W. monsoon. A point of land, called Carwar 

 head, forms and protects the bay of Carwar and Beitcool cove, 

 and, with the assistance of a breakwater, there would be 

 safe anchorage throughout the year. A line of islands and 



wood, aud the north more sparingly. I telescopes. Below them are 180 

 Rats abound, there are some cats, a j Malummies, or pilots, a rank obtained 

 few cows and goats, large grey cranes, by merit. Then 1107 KUisies, forming 

 ducks occasionally, and the mosquitos ; the bulk of the jjopulation, who are 

 are fearful. I small landed proprietors, go to sea for 



The population is 2500 ; of these ; regular wages, but are very indepen- 

 116 are Malikans, the aristocracy of | dent. Then 583 Maylacherries, or 

 the islands, who own vessels trading I tree-climbers for hire. The head-men 

 to Bengal. The Koornakar, or agent I are elected by the people. The 

 of the Beebee, is generally a Mali- , islanders have six or seven vessels fit 

 kan ; he collects rents, and super- for the Bengal trade, and tluree or 

 intends her traffic. The Malikans j four for coasting. They go with money 

 have the exclusive privilege of wear- to Goa and Mangalore for salt and 

 ing shoes, live in large houses built i rice, with coir to Bengal, with cocoa- 

 round coiu-tyards, and possess Eng- ' nuts to Galle, and bring Calcutta 

 lish quadrants, charts, compasses, and I cloths home. — Mr. Thomuss Report. 



