120 WILD LIFE IN NORTH CANARA. 



In 1848 an experienced engineer offi- 

 cer. General Frederick Cotton, visited 

 the Tuddri estuary, to examine its posi- 

 tion and capabilities as a port for coun- 

 try craft. The late Lord GifEord, who 

 was then travelling in India, came with 

 him, and we took soundings on the bar 

 at mean tide, finding, if I remember 

 right, fourteen feet of water, or depth 

 quite sufficient to admit small vessels. 

 ^ut nothing would move the merchants 

 from Coompta. 



The falls of Gairsappa have long been 

 justly reputed one of the sights of the 

 world ; for here a very considerable river 

 which divides North Oanara from Mysore 

 falls from the tableland over a precipice 

 of a thousand feet into a wild and 

 beautiful ravine. 



