388 ON ORISSA PROPER 



annually, on the Jagir of Kerar Mohammed, and to the inhabitants of its 

 vicinity for its fishery, the produce of which when dried, forms a consider- 

 able article of export. On the Cuttack side its shores are flat, marshy, and 

 destitute of picturesque beauty, but the opposite banks from Banpur to 

 Ehamba exhibit scenery of a very romantic and diversified character. 

 The hills of Khurda, Giimser, and Calicote, are seen extending along the 

 whole of the south western face in irregular chains and groups of moder- 

 ate elevation, some of which jut into the lake, forming low rocky points or 

 promontories. The Chilka itself, north of Palur, expands into a majestic 

 sheet of water, interspersed with a few rocky Islands, and enlivened by 

 boats either sailing along before the wind, or forced on by punting with 

 bamboo poles called laggis, or stationary for the purposes of fishing. 

 If the visitor is curious enough to approach these islands, he will be struck 

 with their singular conformation. They consist entirely of huge rounded 

 blocks of a highly indurated porpliyritic granite, containing large crystals 

 of felspar, on which the hammer will scarcely make any impression, tossed 

 and piled on each other in the wildest confusion, and exhibiting every symp- 

 tom of violent convulsion and disturbance. Some of the masses are ar- 

 ranged in the form of fortresses with huge round bastions, and others pre- 

 sent much the appearance of some grand edifice of ancient days, in ruins. 

 A scanty soil which has formed on their summit, by what process one can- 

 not readily conceive, gives nourishment to a few peepul trees, mimosas, 

 euphorbias, and gramineous plants. They are the resort of numerous 

 aquatic birds, chiefly of the Saras kind, who enjoy exclusive and undis- 

 turbed possession, except when roused occasionally by the approach of a 

 chance visitor. 



Towns. The only collections of houses which deserve the name of Towns in Oris- 



sa Proper ■ are, Cuttack, Balasore, and Jagannath. Jajpur, though a place 

 of great sanctity in the estimation of the Hindus, and the site of an anci- 

 ent capital, is merely a large village. The more important Kesbeh^, or 

 head Villages of Pergimnahs are, Badrak, Soro, Kendrapari, Asserajsar, 

 Hariharpore, and Pipley, but these are of small size, and nearly all the 



