Mat 1861.] 



Public Workt in Travancore. 



129 



9. But within the last few years the trade has been consider- 

 able, and the annexed list of vessels which in the last 5 years have 

 taken out Port clearances in the months of June, July, August 

 and September (the 4 months during which the coasting trade is 

 in abeyance at other Ports of the coast) proves that the advan- 

 tages of the Port are again beginning to be appreciated. 



10. But in order that the shipping may derive full advantage 

 from the refuge afforded by the bank, a conspicuous Light-house 

 and a light of sufficient power to penetrate the haze of the mon- 

 soon are required. The present Flagstaff cannot in hazy weather 

 be distinguished from the Cocoanut trees, and the lantern exhi- 

 bited upon it is of insufficient power ; while vessels which fail to 

 find the bank are on a dangerous lea shore. 



11. Mr. Crawford the Commercial Agent has long urged the 

 necessity of this work, and General Frederick Cotton, who lately 

 visited the Port, was so much struck by its adaptation to what has 

 been so long sought for, a harbour of refuge on the Malabar 

 coast, that he strongly recommended that no time should be lost 

 in building a Light-house. 



12. This highly important work has been sanctioned by His 

 Highness the Rajah of Travancore, and the foundation is already 

 laid. The Canals are also being extended ; and a Railway is 

 being laid down from the Canal to the sea side. This will, if 

 practicable, be carried on a small jetty into the sea, but there is 

 some doubt whether the muddy bottom admits of this. Some pe- 

 culiar action is going on under the sea. At times huge cones of 

 liquid mud are forced up in the sea near the shore, and this is ac- 

 companied generally by a subsidence of the sand near the waters 

 edge to a dimension equal to the bubble or cone of mud. It is 

 therefore very doubtful whether a jetty could be laid without the 

 piles being undermined by these changes in the mud-bed. 



13. These works will however make the port of Allepey a con- 

 venient shipping port in immediate connexion with the inland 

 water communication, which forms so important a feature of this 

 country, 



14. The commencement of these works is due to the energy of 



