Chapter VII. — Physical changes now in progress. 



The cliang-es which the earth ^s sui'face is now undergoing" daily must 

 not he left out of consideration^ in treating of the general features of the 

 country ; although in inland districts, as a general rule, (to Avhich, how- 

 ever, volcanic regions form an important exception,) the changes of feature 

 are so slow and gradual as not to fall under the observation of passing 

 travellers, nor indeed do they often strilce the eye of observing residents ; 

 of so trifling a magnitude are they in general. 



Land slips and the shifting of river channels are the most important 

 changes, in a geological point of view, which are observed in inland pro- 

 vinces. But if some of these changes of physical aspect are micommon 

 inland, they are by no means so rare on exposed coast lines, (as on the por- 

 tion of the Coromandel Coast extending from Pondicherry to Negapatam,) 

 for here the alterations of feature are in many places apparent to any 

 observer. 



Here a constant strife is going on between sea and land, in which 

 the former is invariably victorious in the long run, and encroaches on the 

 boundaries of its opponent in a ruthless manner, demolishing in its course 

 Inroads of sea at Tran- ^^^J ^^rks of man which it may find. Ample 

 ^^ '^^ evidence of this may be seen at Tranquebar, which 



town seems to have suffered more than any other along the coast from 

 marine inroads."^ But for the stone groynes or break-waters thrown 

 out by order of Government, the citadel and to^vn Avould, in a few stormy 

 seasons, be washed down by the rains. 



The encroaching action of the sea has been going on at intervals 



for a longer period than can be traced in history. 



In 1755 the Danish Authorities applied to the 



'Tangaur' Rajah for an extension of territory, a very large portion of the 



fort having been washed away by the sea. (See '' An account of the war in 



* For full information abont these, see various papers by cliflcrent Engineers in the 

 Picports of the Madras Engineers for 1856. 



( 3C2 ) 



