1836.] Banaganpilly Jaghire. 118 



I These ranges are of the clay slate and sand stone forma- 

 tion—the plain itself is mostly covered with the reygur, or 

 black cotton ground; in some parts with the ail avium of 

 the neighbouring hills, not unfrequently intermixed with cal- 

 careous matter, arising probably from the decomposition of 

 the kankars, which are found strewn in various proportions 

 over its surface. Near the foot of the Nulla Mullas are 

 found nodoles of iron ore, but nearer Banaganpilly these 

 disappear, and their place is supplied by fragments and 

 blocks of variously coloured lime-stone— dark blue predo- 

 minating. 



The streams in this neighbourhood generally How over 

 beds of this substance. 



About % a mile to the westward of Banaganpilly, lies the 

 low range of hills, in which the diamond mines are situated ; 

 to which I shall have occasion to advert presently. 



Division into 2 Pergunnahs. (a) — During the Mogul ad- 

 ministration the Jaghire was divided into two Pergunnahs, viz. 

 those of Banaganpilly and Chinchimulla — the former com- 

 prising 42 and the latter 21 villages. 



The principal places are Banaganpilly, Chinchimulla, Nun- 

 daw arum and Tungatoor. 



Population. — The total of population is said to amount to 

 about 40,000, but this cannot be relied on. 



It is chiefly Hindu, though there are many Mussulmans^ 

 particularly at the principal town. 



Revenue. — The revenue, it is said, used to average about 

 a lac and twenty-nine thousand rupees annually. It is 

 chiefly derived from land rents, duties on produce, manu- 

 factures. &c. toddy contract, and a duty levied on traders. 



Products. — The Jaghire produces a large quantity of dry 

 grain, principally juari, cotton and a small proportion of 

 rice ; arundi and other oils, ghee, tamarinds and toddy. 

 In some parts culinary salt is produced. 



At Banaganpilly a variety of cotton cloths are manufac- 

 tured and dyed. They are chiefly adapted for mussulman 



(a) Some say there are 3 Pergunnahs, and that 19 out of the 63 vil- 

 lages are dependancies on the 44 principal ones. 



