1878.] B. E. BrsinQ\\'—FIti/sio(/raj)hicalJVotes on Tanjore, ^'c. 185 



continually diminished stream, giving off numerous supply channels all 

 the way to the Coast, when little stream remains to enter the sea at Kaveri- 

 pattanam or KIlur Q East-homme'). 



There is no projection beyond the normal (north and south) line of 

 the coast here, nor any spit or shoal to witness to any old projection of the 

 river mouth, nor do the Marine Chart soundings indicate anything of the 

 kind. That the diminished stream flows in its old bed, is proved by the 

 name of the channel and the port at its outlet, and also by the traditions 

 at the places on its course, Kumbakonam, Mayaveram &c., where the 

 sanctity of the Kaveri water is still highly esteemed. 



The other and now chief branch, the Kolladam, takes a north-easter- 

 ly course, keeping more and more to the northward along the low ground 

 that probably existed on the north edge of the Kaveri delta, and has, by 

 its rapidity and volume, made for itself a deep and wide bed, too deep below 

 the surface of the country to allow of irrigation channels being led from 

 it, and in most places three-quarters of a mile in width. To utilize the 

 surplus water escaping to the sea by this channel, the ' Coleroon lower 

 anaikat'* was built, to supply the Mayaveram and Shi-yali Taluks of N. E. 

 Tanjore, and the Chidambaram (' Chilambram') Taluk of South Arcot. 



The water overflowing the final anaikat flows with a greatly retarded 

 current and in a very tortuous course along the last few miles before 

 it enters the sea near Divu-kdtai (' Isle-fort\ the " Devikotta" of Atlas 

 Sheet No. 79), the name of which indicates, that it was on an island when 

 first named (tivu being the Tamil form of the Sanskrit dvipa, an island). 



Notwithstanding published statements to the contrary, it appears that 

 sand-banks are still forming at the mouth of the Kolladam, and the Marine 

 Chart of the coast gives the position of a shoal called the " Coleroon shoal," 

 whence Porto Novo, or Muhammad (? Mahmud) Bandar, seems likely to be 

 left far inland in course of time. 



The direction of the Kolladam bed being more north and south 

 than that of the so called S. W. monsoon wind — of which fact, there is 

 ample proof in the permanent eastward set of the stems, twigs and branches 

 of the trees exposed to it — the fine blown sand of the river bed in the dry and 

 hot season (April and May), is drifted up into heaps and lines along the 

 southern or right bank of the river, tending to form a natural river wall 

 there and to keep the stream nearer to the northern bank. 



The Kaveri delta is only about 10 miles in width at Tanjore and 

 it is flanked by comparatively high ground, composed of previous sedi- 

 mentary formation, stratified beds of laterite, conglomerate and mottled 

 grit, 3vith quartz pebbles mixed, through which the river first cut its way, 

 whilst depositing the material of its present delta. 



* Locally " Anaikarai" or Dam-bank. 



