CCXl 



question which it is needless to enter into. But at the same time I 

 may mention there are certain vices -which are rapidly developing and 

 which need arresting — Ist, falsehood, 2nd drunkenness, 3rd, want of 

 thrift. These vices are not coufiued to towns, but are on the increase 

 in villages also. On the bearing of these on the future economy of the 

 country it is useless for me to dwell. 



(3) Changes in Goddvari District since the construction of Anicut.-— 

 looted by S. Nathamunni Mudaliar, Esq., Pensioned Tahhildar^ 

 Goddvari District, 



The construction of the anient across the Goddvari is a great boon 

 to this part of the country. This mighty work was commenced in 1846 

 and completed in about 1850. Previous to its construction, the dis- 

 trict depended on rain and rain-fed tanks and the fitful supply of 

 . water from the river. Paddy was not so plentiful as now. The cul- 

 tivation of paddy varied with the diversity of the seasons. In years 

 of drought, famine was the inevitable lot of the people and both men 

 and cattle suffered. Since its construction, the district is intersected 

 with canals, useful not only for purposes of agriculture, but also for 

 navigation. There are two main canals in the Western delta — the 

 EUore and Narsapur canals. In the Central delta, there is one — the 

 Amalapore canal. In the Eastern, there are five — the Samalcottah, 

 Cocanada, Coringa, Mandapeta and Bank canals. There is also a 

 Bank canal in each of the other deltas. All these are navigable, and 

 from these proceed a number of irrigation channels and paddy trans- 

 plantation has immensely increased. Sugar plantation, which was rare 

 in this district, is now to be seen almost everywhere. The extent of 

 cultivation is acres 794,829 as given in the jamabandi report for fasli 

 1297 (1887-88). 



2. For the transport of produce thus plentifully raised, there is 

 'considerable facility afforded by the introduction of canals, and this 

 has resulted in the increase of price of every article. In 1854, when 

 the Western canals were only in progress, and I first went to Narsdpar, 

 the price of paddy on that side was only Rs. 6 or 8 for a putty of 200 

 kunchams (533 Madras measures or 66 merkals). Now it is Rs. 20 

 and it sometimes rises to Rs. 24. In the famine of 1876 and 1877, 

 the price rose to Rs. 50, there having arisen a great demand for it 

 from different parts of the country. The introduction of coasting 

 steamers in addition to navigable canals afforded easy passage for 

 transhipment of goods. The wealthier classes were much benefited and 

 the condition of ryots was so much improved by the general high 

 prices that instead of being in the hands of sowcars, they were sowcars 

 themselves. Even now, the majority of them are not in their hands. 

 They have enough to pay for G-overnment dues. The rich ryots lend 

 money largely on inam lands, taking them on long leases. The 

 inamdars in general, being poor Brahmins, are not capable of cul- 

 tivating the lands themselves, while the ryots have means enough for 

 carrying on extensive cultivation. They have enough of cattle, ploughs 

 and laborers. The famine of 1873 and 1877 brought in a considerable 

 number of poor people from the neighbouring districts of Vizaga- 

 patam and Ganjam, who found employment here in various wa^s. 



