132 



Public Works in Travancore. [No. 11, new sebies. 



assistance is much felt, and His Highness being desirous of erect- 

 ing a monument within his territories to the memory of the late 

 General John Munro has resolved to dedicate these columns and 

 lights to that purpose. 



27. The second is the improvement of the drainage of the land 

 in the Trichoor Lake by substituting for the desultory and un- 

 combined efforts of the Natives, a series of drains scientifically 

 laid out ; and for the wheels worked by human power the mecha- 

 nical application of wind or steam. At present the valuable cul- 

 tivation of the Trichoor basin is periodically destroyed by floods, 

 whereas there is no doubt that the application of science will not 

 only render the present lands secure, but also recover a consider- 

 able extent of additional land. 



28. To this important subject Mr. Collins brings a valuable 

 fund of Engineering knowledge. 



29. In laying before the Government of Madras this sketch of 

 the principal works required for these Territories, and which I 

 hope will be actively carried on, I need hardly call their especial 

 attention to the fact, that the bringing of the Madras Railway to 

 the head of the Trichoor Lake will enable the important harbour 

 of Cochin to compete for the trade of Coimbatore and the Neil- 

 gherries in Cotton and Coffee and I believe that its great natural 

 advantages will become very conspicuous. The port of Cochin in 

 the fair season and Allepey in the South West monsoon, when 

 connected by an efficient inland navigation, connected again with 

 the Madras Railway, possess advantages which I believe no artifi- 

 cial means can give to any other ports on the coast, and it is for 

 this reason that I have thought it desirable to lay the above sum- 

 mary before the Government, at a time when the shortening of the 

 communication between England and Calcutta by a route across 

 this Presidency is under consideration. 



P. S. — Since the above letter was drafted, I have received 



a very interesting communication 



No. 201, dated the 20th Instant, from Mr. Crawford on the subject 



of the Allepey backwater, which 



I have the honor of annexing. A copy will be sent to Mr. Collins, 



