93 The Island and Bridge of Sivasamndram, [January 



which this bridge cost me. The other works I had undertaken were 

 proceeding at the same time, and I have briefly alluded to the causes 

 which rendered the expenditure of money enormous. I was afflict- 

 ed, not only with mental vexations, but my bodily health also suf- 

 fered severely. I had repeated attacks of fever, which obliged me 

 to leave the island, and to commit the superintendence of the works 

 to servants, who neither could nor would exercise that strict vigi- 

 lance over the labours of the work-people, which the peculiarity of 

 the situation required. 



The bridge was valued in the year 1823, by an officer of engi- 

 neers, at 60,000 rupees. I am not acquainted with the data upon 

 which the valuation was made, but I consider it greatly lower than 

 it ought to have been ; and I conceive myself borne out in this (Ob- 

 servation, when a comparison is made between the structure at this 

 island and the Wellesley Bridge at Seringapatam. 



This last-mentioned edifice was constructed under the orders of 

 PuiiNiA, the celebrated Diw&n of Mysore, who had of course all 

 the resources of that government, as well as the skilful artificers and 

 numerous labourers of Seringapatam, at his command. 



The rates of hire and the prices of materials must, therefore, have 

 been moderate: andyetit is v/ell known that the Wellesley Bridge 

 cost between seventy and eighty thousawd Canteroy pagodas, or 

 upwards of 2,10,000 rupees. 'I he Wellesley Bridge is on the same 

 principles of construction as the Rdmshatuva ; the former has a 

 broader roadway, but it is not more than tv/o-thirds of the length of 

 the one constructed by me at this island. The highest of its pillars 

 are from twelve to fifteen feet, while in the Rdmshatuva, there are 

 many fiom eighteen to twenty-one. 



When the difficulties which attended the erection of the bridge at 

 Sivasamudram are considered, with the facilities Vv'ith which the 

 Wellesley Bridge was built, I may without fear assert, that the va- 

 luation estimate of the former should have greatly exceeded the sum 

 stated by the ofBcer of engineers. 



In concluding this memoir, I may be permitted to dwell with some 

 degree of vanity and self-satisfaction on the works which I have al- 

 ready accomplished from my ov/n resources, and without the aid of 

 one rupee from the public. I have to reflect that I have been the 

 raeans of restoring to my countrymen access to a place and its reli- 

 gious buildings, held sacred from time immemorial. That 1 have^ 

 by perseverance, rendered lands habitable which were formerly the 



