64 KING : COASTAL REGION OF THE GODAVARI DISTRICT. 



In the Nuzvid region, there were only three furnaces at work at 

 Ramakapeta, and two at Somavaram ; the ore being obtained from the 

 debris of the bottom beds of the Gollapili sandstones. 



The old iron working at Lutchmipuram, where I was told smelting 

 is still pursued in a small way, is so well described by Heyne in his 

 tract on the subject, that I take the liberty of reproducing the greater 

 part of it here, as it will add considerably to the few details I have been 

 able to collect during my hurried visits to these iron villages, most of 

 which I only came on by chance and while hastening to more important 

 work. 



"About the end of the month of June 1794, when the thermometer 



stood at 115,° I set out from Vuppada, for 

 Dr. Heyne's account. 



Letchemporam, a small village in the Polaveram 



district. This village lies about 14 miles south-west from Rajah- 



mundry. I found the people in this village extremely willing to show 



and explain to me everything concerning their iron works. 



" The iron-smelters themselves are a poor set of people, and obliged 

 to plough the land for their subsistence during the wet season, and work 

 as smelters only during the hottest part of the year. The finest and 

 mildest season they employ in cutting wood in the hills, in burning char- 

 coal, and, after these occupations are over, in recovering their health at 

 home ; for, besides their repeated experience that every one contracts 

 the fever during his stay among the jungle, we have only to observe 

 their sickly look and their whole appearance, to be convinced that their 

 accounts are correct. To this circumstance, together with the necessity 

 they are under of cultivating the ground for a part of the year, we may 

 ascribe the unproductiveness of their labour as manufacturers of iron. Yet 

 the iron which they produce is considered as the finest in every respect 

 for tools, razors, etc. Hence the demand for it is great, and the numbef 

 of workmen miserably small, for the miners, smelters, wood-cutters, and 

 labourers, all united together, do not exceed eight or nine men. 



" Stones containing iron ore in considerable quantity are found every 



1 Op. cit., p. 218. 



.( 258 ) 



