1837.] 



Account of the Province of Rdmnad* 



377 



including the sun and moon, in representation of which he planted the 

 nine stones on the seashore, and, having dedicated them to the nine 

 planets, worshipped them accordingly with much fervency ; since which 

 period the Hindus have a tradition, that by bathing here they will be 

 cleansed from their sins, and that, by visiting so miraculous a place, they 

 will, in like manner, be successful in all their enterprises : it is, more- 

 over, observed, that these stones are an emblem of prosperity to the 

 country, and, in the event of any of them breaking off at the top, it is 

 considered a prognostic of some disaster. 



A considerable trade is carried on here ; there are about fifty trading 

 boats belonging to the port, which, as well as that of Kilakarai, is plen- 

 tifully stored with provisions, and is, therefore, considered a place of 

 much importance. In times of scarcity the granaries are thrown open, 

 and a free sale is carried on, conducing greatly to the general benefit of 

 the inhabitants, and to the opulence of the merchants who reside here. 

 About the centre of the town stands a Hindu temple, encompassed by a 

 wall and a wide street, through which the wooden chariot of the idol is 

 drawn at the festival, which is held in the month of March. A large 

 pavilion is built on the west of the temple, on the high road, for the 

 convenience of travellers, where, also, alms are bestowed daily on a 

 small number of Brahman passengers, who, however, are not allowed 

 to stop longer than one day. This place being a quay for paddy-boats, 

 and other small craft, a sea custom-house is here established. 



Rasingamangalam is a large village situated eighteen miles north of 

 Ramnad, an$ about one mile east of the large lake of that name, which 

 irrigates an extensive sheet of paddy lands. It is populous, has a few 

 wide streets, and the houses are built moderately well. In the north- 

 east part of the village stands a small Hindu temple, where an annual 

 festival is celebrated in the month of June. To the south-west is a re- 

 markably thick grove of mangoe-trees, affording a pleasant and delight- 

 ful shade, A small village called Auveranyaindel, lies three miles to 

 the north-east, where a weekly market is held on Thursdays. 



Tirupalagudi, lying five miles north of Devipatnam, is seated below 

 the bank of a lake, and west of the road towards Tanjore. It has a 

 lofty temple almost in the centre of the village, but it is inhabited prin- 

 cipally by Musalmans, who are engaged in the manufacture of long 

 cloths. > There is a pavilion on the high road, fronting a reservoir of 

 excellent water, and commanding an agreeable prospect of the sea. 



Arnutmangalam is situated two and a half miles to the north of Ar- 

 mukamkotta, on the road towards Trichinopoly ; it is inhabited by a pe- 

 culiar tribe of Velalars* called Arambukutan Velalars ; according to tra* 

 dition, they are a modern people, who, emigrating from the southward, 



• A caste of Hindfa, whose principal occupation is husbandry. 



