1837.] 



Account of the Province of Ramnad. 



391 



This is also a good carriage-road from the evenness of the country. 

 The seventh, a high road^ leading from Tinnevelly to Ramnad, enters 

 this province on the west of Kunirajapiiram, touches at»Narripur, and, 

 in its way, passes by Sholagudi, when it crosses the Kundar, and pro- 

 ceeds about five miles between a range of sand-hills, touches at Kila- 

 shelvanellur, fiom which place a road separates to Kilakarai by the 

 villages Kikikedaram and Sivakolam, where it crosses a rivulet and 

 passes by Yervadei to Kilakarai, and from thence proceeds along the 

 sea-coast via Mutupetta and Vaidalai, to Pamban and Rameswara. The 

 road that continues from Shelvanellur to Ramnad, touches at Kothen- 

 kolam, a small village (about two and a half miles distant), and thence 

 at Shekull, three miles from the hitter, and passes through Tirukosha- 

 mangai, which is seven miles short of Ramnad, The eighth is a sea- 

 coast road leading from Devipatnam towards Autankarai and Pulli- 

 mat'ham, where it crosses the ferry to Pamban, and proceeds to Rames- 

 wara, being in this part paved with stones. All along this road are 

 spacious and durable pavilions and chattirams for the accommodation 

 of travellers and pilgrims. Several cross-roads intersect each other in 

 all directions throughout the country, which, though not answering for 

 carriage-roads, are much frequented by a class of people who chiefly 

 trade in salt. 



SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS. 



The soil in this province is composed of various sorts, and, though 

 generally fruitful, is nol without some predominant disadvantages, a 

 proof of which has been experienced by the continual emigration of the 

 inhabitants from this to the neighbouring countries, especially within 

 the last four years, during which period a great scarcity and mortality 

 has prevailed, arising from a failure of rain; and the number of in- 

 habitants who have abandoned this province from indigence, and its 

 concomitant evils, is estimated to be not less than 150,000 souls, or 

 nearly half its population. 



The soil, though not of a very rich kind, yet, aided by enlightened 

 husbandry, may vie in fertility with the best in the neighbouring 

 countries, and produces early and excellent crops of paddy and of dry 

 grain. The most fruitful soil consists of a deep black loam, which is 

 prevalent towards the westward; the culture on these lands yields an 

 abundant crop of cotton and dry grain. Coriander and Kadalai* are 

 well cultivated in parts of Abramam and Kamuri. The soil next in 

 quality is a red loam ; and, inferior to these, is the black and red, light 

 and sandy soils. Vegetation thrives remarkably upon the latter, 



* A kind of pease, much used in Bengal and Upper Hindustan, and in the south com- 

 monly called Bengal gram. 



