1837.] 



Account of the Province of Ramnad. 



381 



effect ; and that when bitten beyond the prescribed limits, the patient 

 is taken to a small templo that stands on the eastern extreme of the 

 town, where some water is simply administered to him, when, as the 

 people affirm, he perfectly recovers within a few hours. 



Viracholen, a village lying about seven miles north-west of Abra- 

 mam, is seated on the south bank of the Kredamanadi river. It was 

 anciently the residence of the rajas of the country, in whose days it 

 is said to have been very populous, and it still abounds with remains of 

 antiquity which corroborate the assertions of the people of its having 

 been once a place of grandeur and magnificence, and the residence of 

 the Ghola Raja, from whom it derives its appellation. The present 

 population is very inconsiderable, and consists of Musalmans, Kalla- 

 ris,* Marravars, and a few other descriptions of people. The manu- 

 facture is long cloths : on the north side of the village stands a small. 

 Hindu temple of great antiquity. There are the ruins of many other 

 edifices in this vicinity. 



Shekull, a populous village situated on the high road towards Tinne- 

 velly. It lies below the bank of a large lake of the same name, and is 

 inhabited by Velalars, Marravars, and herdsmen : the road leads 

 through the village ; the houses are poorly built. 



Kadaladi, a village situated on the road that leads from Kamuri ta 

 the sea-coast. It was a place of great note and commerce ; and r 

 though it at present shews marks of decay, it preserves some trade, and 

 has a good market on e^ry Tuesday. It lies ten miles nearly west of 

 Shekull. ° 



Tiruchuli, situated about three quarters of a mile south-west of the 

 capital, and seven miles west by north of Abramam, is a large and po- 

 pulous town on the south bank of the Kundar river. Its inhabitants 

 are numerous. It is composed of a few fine and regular streets, with, 

 pretty, well-built houses. The north and east suburbs of this village 

 are diversified with small gardens of esculent and other plants. 



Arpukotai, lying seven miles west-south-west of Tiruchuli, is a large 

 village inhabited principally by weavers, who are employed in the 

 manufacture of the company's long cloths. The western environs of 

 this village are plentifully cultivated with tobacco— the soil, a black 

 loam, being very favourable for the growth of this valuable production, 

 A weekly market is held on Fridays, which is the chief one in this 

 district. 



Pundlagudi, eight miles to the south of Arpukotai, though not a vil- 

 lage of great note, is, however, particularised as being the only place 

 where the manufacture of saltpetre is carried on in this district ; and 



* A low cast of Hindrts peculiar to this part of India. They are herdsmen and cultiva- 

 tors, and, as their name implies, thieves by profession.— En. Jvui\ B, J, S. 



