190 B. "R. Branfill — Thijsiograpliical Kotcs on Tanjore, Sfc. [No. 4, 



cool the air, and an occasional partial ' fresh' comes down the Kav^ri 

 channels. 



In June, strong westerly winds prevail with much dust and dry heat. 



In July, August and September, the river channels fill from the 

 south-west monsoon rain on the western ghats, also from occasional local 

 falls of rain. Early rice cultivation begins, and the westerly winds gradu- 

 ally fall, to be succeeded by calms and variable winds. 



In October and November, the wind sets in from the north-east, and 

 heavy falls of rain occur, the temperature falls considerably, and rice culti- 

 vation is carried on to the utmost extent. 



In December, the weather becomes fine and the wind more steady from 

 the north-east. 



The population of Tanjore is dense, being nearly 2,000,000 for an 

 area of 3,700 square miles, giving an average of 54^0 per square mile, but 

 it amounts, in the richer parts, to 1,000 per square mile. It is composed 

 chiefly (two thirds) of Hinduized local tribes and one third of settlers. 



Gross Number. 



Caste or Race. 



No. 



Employment. 





1,200,000 \ 

 Hindus of ! 

 local des- j 

 cent. 



Vanniyan (Kallar?). 



574,000 



Labourers. 





Paraiyan (Pallar ? &c.) 



350,000 



Menials. 





Sambadavan. 

 Idaiyans, Sanan, &c. 



118,000 

 158,000 1 



Fishermen. 

 Herdsmen, potters, 

 washers, &c. 



1,804,000^ 













r 



604,000 



Vellalan. 



348,000 

 ( 



Cultivators. 



Land and house- 





Immi- < 



Brahman. 



127,000 



owners, scholars, 





grants, j 





1 



idlers, &c. 





. 



Chetti, &c. 



129,000 1 



"Weavers, artificers, 

 merchants, &c. 









Trade, horticulture, 



103,000 Muhammadans, principally Labbe. 





&c. 



66,000 Christians. 







1,000 



Others. 







Total, 1,974,000 







There are said to be no wild or aboriginal tribes in the district. 



Although the famine was scarcely over, in the beginning of 1878 there 

 were no signs of distress visible, but all the people seemed well off. On the 

 contrary, the upper classes seemed to be all the wealthier. Bricks were 

 being made and burnt everywhere. New houses and buildings were being 

 erected, and the effect of the famine appears only to have enriched 

 the dwellers in this land of rice-fields. The labouring population being paid 

 in grain as usual, the high prices prevailing elsewhere did not affect 

 them. 



