3/6 Account of the Province of Ramn&d. [April 



Muttupetta, a fishing village on the coast, situated nine and a half 

 miles south-east of Raumad, is chiefly inhabited by Roman Catholics. 

 There is a lavge Roman Catholic church in the centre of the village, 

 dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and a priest resides here, who is a native 

 of Goa. A few merchants belonging to this place reside atPeriapatam, a 

 Tillage situate about one mile to the west. Eleven fishing boats belong 

 to this port, which carry on a pretty good trade both in fresh and salted 

 fish : the Muhammadan inhabitants here are chank fishers. The place 

 is the occasional resort of European gentlemen, who come for the be- 

 nefit of their health, and to enjoy the sea-breeze. 



Vaidalai, a pretty populous village on the coast, situated thirteen 

 miles east of Muttupetta, inhabited chiefly by Musalmans and Sha- 

 nars,* the former carrying on a good trade. The houses are poorly 

 built and very irregular. This is a noted place for a superior quality 

 of the Choya-ve>, which is the root of a certain plant from which is 

 extracted a red dye. It grows spontaneously in these parts, and on 

 an island opposite to this place. Considerable revenue is derived 

 from it. 



Autankarai, a sea-port, situated eleven miles east of the capital, at 

 the mouth of the Vigay river, on the north bank, inhabited by fish- 

 ermen ; it has a spacious and well built chattiram, surrounded by a 

 strong wall. There are sixteen boats daily employed in fishing, and 

 from this place, and the neighbouring villages on the coast, the town 

 ©f Ramnad is well supplied with fish. Several vessels frequent this 

 harbour at the proper seasons of the year to receive paddj and chanks 

 for exportation, as well as the Choya-ver, which here also grows spon- 

 taneously to a great extent. Oysters are to be had in abundance, and 

 are of good flavour. About two miles on the north-west lies Ullagenko- 

 lam. This place is distinguished for the excellent tobacco it produces, 

 which thrives here extremely well, and is reckoned superior to any in 

 the provinces south of Madras. 



Devipatnam — a sea-port and populous commercial town, well known 

 by the name of the Nine Stones— is celebrated for a bath in the sea, 

 that has been held sacred from the most remote antiquity, and is visited 

 every year by a great number of pilgrims. In ancient days, from this 

 place to Darpasenam, commonly called Tirupallani, was one continued 

 forest, called Puraranyam. Rama resorted here when on his expedition 

 to Lanka, with a design to kill Ravanan, who had seduced away his 

 wife. The priest of Rama told him that, in order to be successful in his 

 undertaking, he must worship some image resembling the nine planets, 



* A caste of Hindus whose particular avocation is the cultivation of the palm and the 

 collecting of the toddy it produces. Many of them, however, apply themselves toother 

 •coupations, and some are very opulent.— Ed. Jour. R. A. S. 



