185362.] CARNATIC: EIGHT DISTRICTS. 227 



Geology and topography." The district is not natu- CHAP. 



rally well drained, depending as it does upon the freshes 1_ 



from the river and periodical rains, which are very uncer- 306 

 tain in their supply. The soil is generally of an inferior 

 description, being based in many places upon rocks of black 

 and white marble and granite, and masses of gravel, which 

 rise to within from one and a half to five yards of the surface. 

 It is also impregnated with saltpetre. The height above the 

 level of the sea of that portion of the district in which Cotton 

 is raised, ranges from six to seven hundred feet. 



Climate. " The regular kalum rains commence in 307 

 August and terminate in November ; while the koday rain 

 falls in March and April. The year 1858 however, proved 

 an exception, as during the month of May there was an 

 average fall of more than nine inches in fifteen days. The 

 annexed statement shews the amount of rain that fell during 

 the last official year. 



Seed used and whence obtained. " After the fibre 308 

 has been removed, the seed is preserved, till within a few days 

 of the sowing season. It is then soaked for two or three 

 minutes in water in which cow-dung has been steeped, and 

 then pressed by hands on a floor exposed to the sun, with a 

 view to remove any particles of the fibre, and thus to ensure 

 the separate deposition on the ground of each seed, which 

 takes place three days afterwards. In some instances, under 

 the impression that such a process will render the Cotton 

 white and smooth, the Ryots mix with the said water, 



