91 The Island and Bridge of Sivasamudratm [Januaky 



all my previous calculations, and my trials and vexations were al- 

 most too great for endurance. 



Having however undertaken the task from a sense of religious 

 and charitable feeling, and also v^^ith a view to public utility, I per- 

 severed, and 1 have at length the happiness to think th it I have 

 succeeded in many of my objects, although at a pecuniary expense 

 of a much greater extent than I could have contemplated. 



The jungle has been in a great measure removed, and little is now 

 to be apprehended from the climate of the island. The wild beasts 

 have been driven to seek other resorts, and the present colonists of 

 the island are healthy and cheerful. The soil of the island is bad, 

 being rocky and full of loose stones, but cultivation is carried on, to 

 a certain extent ; and although its continuance must be at much 

 pecuniary loss to myself, it will be persevered in. 



The ancient edifices of religion and charity have been rebuilt and 

 restored, and new ones have been erected. 



Hitherto the public utility of the bridge (which has been named 

 the Rdmshatuva) has been small, as it has only been used by those 

 who came to visit the sacred and charitable establishments on the 

 island ; but the benefits which will be hereafter derived from it, 

 when the bridge now under construction on the western branch of 

 the Cdveri shall have been completed, may be considered incalcu- 

 lable. By these two bridges, the communication to and from the 

 possessions of the Honourable Company and the territories of his 

 Highness the Rajah of Mysore will no longer be difficult ; and the 

 merchant and traveller will not hereafter be liable to the dangers 

 v;hich have attended the passage of the Cdveri in the unsafe basket- 

 boats, nor to the inconvenience of detention on the banks of the 

 river, when the passage, from its extreme rapidity and great depth, 

 could not be attempted in such a conveyance. 



I had for some years been anxious to see this communication esta- 

 l)lished ; and when the Right Honourable the Governor last year 

 paid the island and this part of the country a visit, I took the liber- 

 ty to express my opinions and wishes to his Excellency. I was in 

 consequence directed to submit my plans and proposals ; which I 

 accordingly did, for the consideration of the Madras Government, 

 and of his Highness the Rajah of Mysore, in the month of Septem- 

 ber 1829. 



My proposals were, that in consideration of certain additional 

 :grants of land from the Honourable Company, and from his High- 



