10 F00TE : GEOLOGY OF THE BELLARY DISTRICT. 



its bed an average fall of just under 3' 6" per mile, but in reality the 

 tall is very unequal, as it descends chiefly by steps at varying intervals 

 with intermediate still reaches. Considerably more than half the fall 

 takes place in the 28 miles between the Wallabapur anicut and 

 Kampli, in which the drop is 381 feet, giving an average fall of nearly 

 14 feet per mile. Many strong rapids occur in this distance, 

 one of the principal ones being at Mellapore, 



Rapids. 



where the river cuts through the north-western 

 extension of the Landur synclinal. Below Hampi and Anagundi the 

 fall is much less rapid. Another notable set of rapids occurs just above 

 Kenchengode, in the northern part of Bellary Taluq, where the 

 river breaks through a rocky tract representing the extension of 

 the Halakota* hills into the Lalgundi hills. 



In the upper reaches of the river that have to be considered here, 

 there are remarkably few islands, and only one of 

 them, just below Angur in Haddagulli Taluq, is 

 worth naming. It is partly cultivated, but otherwise overgrown with 

 dense,high,thorn jungle, but not inhabited, probably because covered by 

 every high flood. Only five other islands are worth mentioning — those 

 of Cooravagudda, just above the great rapid at Mellapur, and another 

 smaller nameless one in the middle of the rapid which continues right 

 down to the South Mahratta Railway bridge at Huligi. Of the 

 other three, one is above the Kenchengode rapid, the second divides 

 the river into two main channels in the rapid, and the third, the most 

 important of all, commences just below the rapid and extends for over 

 six miles down the river. On it stands the large village of Desanur 

 and one or more hamlets, and great part of it is richly cultivated. 

 The wooded islands abound in feathered game, especially peafowl. 

 The deep pool-like reaches abound in fish, but few fisher people catch 

 them, owing, I was told, to the numerous Singaites living along the 

 river, who discourage fishing on religious grounds on and about Desa- 

 nur Island. Otters are said to be very abundant, but the fishermen, 

 who might be supposed to disapprove of their rivalry in fish-catching, 

 are friendly to them, as they believe them to be very useful in de- 

 stroying large numbers of young crocodiles who would otherwise grow 



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