90 
Geological Features 
[no. 1, NEW SERIES, 
Trees such as the Cashew {Anacardium occidentale) the Alexan- 
drian Laurel {Calophyllum Inophylhim) and the wild Date fPhcenix 
si/hesfrisj grow well, and render a double service by preventing a 
further encroachment of sand, and rendering the land useful. 
Note.— In support of my favorable opinion of the Spinifex, I may quote the fol- 
lowing authorities from the Records of the Military Board. 
In 1849, Major Worster, Superintendent of Roads, first recommended the trans- 
plantation of this grass as well adapted for securing the sand from drifting ; and 
in 1S51, he represented "that of the two experiments made with the Babbit 
Weed and the Ground Eattan to protect the side of the Sea Beach Road, the 
preference is given to the Rattan, the trial of this plant to the extent of 872 ft. x 
10 ft- being considered to have proved perfectly successful." Under these cir- 
cumstances, Government sanctioned an outlay of 240 Rs. for planting the Ground 
Rattan between the Coom Bar and the Ice Ho-jise, on a length of 4,109 feel by 
12 in breadth. 
Again, Captain Cannon, Acting Superintendent of Roads, under date 21st 
July 1853, in reporting on the effects of this plant'In protecting the South Beach, 
states the experiment succeeded " as a pre.*ervative to the edges of the road next 
♦0 the beach, preventing them from being breached to the same extent as for- 
merly. The good effects are best seen (between the Marine Villa and fishermen's 
huts) by comparing the portions where it flourishes in full luxuriance, with those 
where from the constant passage of the fishermen over it, the plant has been de- 
stroyed ; in the former there is a high bank of sand covered with vegetation, and 
littre subject to drift, whereas in the latter, the sand is constantly shifting, and 
moreover the foot paths form channels for the drainage of the road, and where 
such is the case breaches most frequently occur. I consider the Ground Rattan 
far superior to the Rabbit Weed as a protection to the Beach." 
Mr. Cadell, Sub Collector of Tanjore, likewise informs me that he finds this the 
hardiest and most useful of all the plants tried on the sides of the Eastern Coast 
Canal. 
yiL The Geological features of Madura, Trichinopoly, Tan- 
jore, and Poothacotta, By the Ret. D. Muzzy. 
The region of country embraced in this paper is that included in 
the four Districts of Madura, Trichinopoly, Tanjore and Pootha- 
cotta. It is bounded on the north by South Arcot and Salem, on 
the east by Paulk's Straits, on the south by the Gulf of Manar and 
the Collectorate of Tinnevelly, and on^the west by the Province of 
Coimbatore and the Malabar country. 
Its mountains are the Patchemalies or Green Mountains in the 
north-western part of Trichinopoly ; the Pulneys and Serumalies in 
the Madura District, with various ranges of smaller mountains and 
detached spurs and cliflfs, and some vast rocks. The rivers are the 
Vellar. or White-river in the extreme north, the Cauvery and Vigay 
with their branches ; these and a few other small streams com- 
prise all the rivers that are found in this region. 
