1S78.] B. E. BranfiU — Fliysiographical Notes on Tanjorr, ^'c. 189 



lumsually and seriously industrious, and to have a smaller admixture of 

 the warlike classes than any of the South-Indian districts I have passed 

 through. They have been habituated to agriculture for so long that the 

 vice of war has died out, and the people seem too busy and well off to 

 revive it. 



The Nayaks do not seem to have introduced many immigrants of 

 Telugu race ; the neighbouring warlike tribes of Kalians and Maravans are 

 also absent from the deltaic part of the country, and the pastoral tribes are 

 only found in the more forested tracts beyond the delta. 



It is stated that with the exception of a short experience of Muham- 

 madan rule under Haidar 'Ali (in 1780), there is no record of the country 

 having suffered from famine, although food prices have risen very high 

 during the prevalence of famine in adjacent districts. 



There is one patent reason for the country not having been harassed 

 by fire and sword, which is, that it was impassable for troops, or 

 could be easily made so, for half the year or more, and that in the 

 cool and fine season of autumn and winter, when the rice-fields are all 

 under water. Besides this, there were no made roads in the delta fit for 

 wheeled traffic, except in the dry season. Pack cattle are much used even 

 now. 



The irrigated part of the country is now well supplied with raised 

 roads, but even these for the most part are almost useless for any large amount 

 of wheel traffic in the wet season, because they are unmetalled, or only 

 metalled with the ordinary river sand from the channels : and it appears 

 marvellous how a thriving population can be content to pass several months 

 confined to their villages as it were in islands, surrounded by a sea of deep 

 mud, with only doubtful pathways for communication along the narrow and 

 irregular banks dividing the rice-fields. The river channels, when in flood, 

 are not commonly used for communication or traffic. The British Govern- 

 ment made some of the channels navigable by means of locks &c., but these 

 have become completely disused, and replaced by railways. 



The climate of the Kaveri delta is mild and moist, compared with that 

 of the adjacent districts, due no doubt to its situation on the coast and 

 the great spread of irrigation water. The annual course of the weather is 

 somewhat thus : — 



During January the weather is cool and fine with fresh north-east 

 breezes. 



In February the wind is lighter and more easterly. Heavy fogs are 

 common night and morning, succeeded by hot days. The rice crop is cut 

 and the country quickly drains dry. 



In March, April and May the wind is variable. Near the coast, land 

 and sea-breezes prevail. The hot weather sets in, fields become bare and 

 parched, and the heat increases greatly. Latterly, southerly and south- 

 westerly winds set in, and occasional thunder-storms occur to clear and 



