Notes, chiefly Geological, %c. 205 



From its flatness the plain of Coromandel has been usually neglected 

 by geologists as of little promise, but I trust, these remarks will prevent 

 observers from running over it in the dark. 



The sandstones and slate clays should be diligently examined for or- 

 ganic remains, as after all, it is possible, they may be freshwater deposits. 



Of the sea and its inroads upon the land, from the Pennaur to the 

 mouth of the Cauvery, the natives preserve many wild traditions, 

 which I have little doubt originated in a sinking of this part of the 

 coast. 



In a Mahratta MS. of the Mackenzie collection,* there is a legend 

 of the origin of the town of Sri-hari-cota, on the south boundary of 

 Telinghana, close to the west shore of the Pulicat lake, which states the 

 submersion of another town ; the ruins of which, according to the 

 MS. are still to be seen underneath the water. Trisancu, a king of the 

 Solar race, is said to have been founder of it. 



The miracle of the sea shell passing by a subterranean passage to the 

 Pandurangha temple, might have originated from the circumstance 

 of subterranean beds of marine shells being found, as at Madras, &c. 

 inland. 



The Pulicat lake is a lagoon running down the coast from Deraz- 

 patumam on the north, to Pulicat on the south, nearly forty miles 

 long, and varying in breadth from a few yards to twelve miles. A spot 

 of sand from a quarter of a mile to five miles broad, running parallel 

 with the coast, separates it, excepting four narrow openings, from the 

 Bay of Bengal. Three of these openings are at its northern and southern 

 extremities, and the other between the hamlets of Ryadooroo and Day- 

 ullum. 



The lake is studded with numerous islets : its inland or western 

 shore is low and sandy, furrowed by numerous rills which run down 

 during the monsoon from the sides of the eastern ghauts, (here having 

 the local name of the Pulicat hills), about eleven miles to the west- 

 ward. 



The lake is in general shallow, and its formation is attributed to the 

 sea bursting through the sand-bank in front on the low ground inland, 

 now its bed. I am not aware of any other tradition which refers its 

 origin to the historic period, except that just alluded to. 

 * Madras Journal, No. 30, p. 86. 



