20 CRETACEOXJS ROCKS OF S. INDIA. [PART I. 



without a break from Pondicherry to Point Calimere, beyond the 



Southern limits of our map, and stretches inland in three principal 



divisions, corresponding to the principal rivers of our area. 



The first of these, that of the Puniar, is about 12 miles across near 



. „ . f ti p *^^ Coast, occupying the country between Pondi- 



niar valley. cherry and Cuddalore, and extending inland as 



far as Tirukovalur. Besides the Puniar, it includes the Ariancoop and 



the Guddalum, the former flomng along its Northern boundary the 



latter on its Southern limit, and connected with the main stream of the 



Puniar by a cross channel some miles inland. 



The second, that of the Yellaur,* extends from Cuddalore to the 



mouth of the Coleroon, and stretches inland to 

 Of the Vellam- valley. . .if -, ^ 



Thittagudi, 44 miles from the Coast. It is a 



remarkable feature in this alluvial plain, and in that of the Puniar, that 



they are wider some miles inland than near the Coast, being constricted, 



so to speak, by a low plateau of red sandstones and laterite, which occupy 



the Eastern portion of the intervening higher ground, and form low 



escarpments in the neighbourhood of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. The 



probable causes of this peculiar feature, and the modern changes in the 



Physical Geography of the country which, in common with some other 



facts, it seems to indicate, will be discussed hereafter. 



The third division of the alluvial deposit forms the delta of the 



Cauvery, included in the fertile province of Tanjore 

 Of the Cauvery valley. .. ioi--r.-/-.i- 



and terminating to the oouth in Point Calimere. 



The greater part of this delta, like the alluvial plains of the Vellaur and 



Puniar, is now at a higher level than that of the highest floods. The 



* The Vellaur, or White River : the termination aur or ar, commou to most of the rivers 

 in this part of India, heing a corruption of the Tamul word aru, a river. The addition of 

 the word river, in English, is therefore redundant, but is retained in conformity with custom. 

 The same remark applies to the affix, mullays or mullies, to the names of hills, muUai being 

 the Tamul word for a hill or mountain. 



