1836.] 



A Visit to Cumhaucum-droog. 



135 



direct line), as it admits of so much of the journey being performed in a 

 carriage ; and from that spot rode to the banks of the Corteliar. With 

 the exception of a very short distance at the end of the made road, the 

 remainder is natural, and, if once formed into a regular road, would 

 remain in good order with very little care, from the nature of the soil 

 it passes over, and would require few or no drains, or other artificial 

 aids. It is singular no bridges should ever have been constructed, or, 

 I believe, even proposed, for this river, which offers far greater impedi- 

 ments than the Adyar, and from the difficulties I experienced, and from 

 the fact of carts being often overturned in the water, to the ruin of their 

 loads* -this deficiency loudly calls for attention. It would be well if 

 our views were directed, in the first instance, to the indispensible ne- 

 cessity of rendering the country generally practicable, along the great 

 thorough-fares, by boats, bridges and passable routes (now far from the 

 case), rather than to provide the higher conveniences, such as rail roads, 

 &c. near Madras, to the utter neglect of the remainder of the country. 



From the banks of the rivei, which are generally low, with a fine soil, 

 thejunglejs .rapidly advancing ; and we again ascended the red gravel 

 hills, and found it difficult for even a palankeen to pass through the 

 thick bushes, which will soon surround Sittavadoo, a once considerable 

 town, and possessing a stone fort of solid construction, and in a good 

 state of preservation. It has never recovered from the effects of the 

 cholera and fever, which, for some years, desolated the Carnatic ; but 

 the present inhabitants speak favourably, of the general healthiness of 

 the climate (a fact which I have heard disputed). The position pos- 

 sesses all the natural advantages of elevation, dryness and good 

 wafer. This part of the country appeared to me to be in a rapid state 

 of decay. 



Game is abundant, and the sportsman would be amply repaid by a 

 visit of a few days. Elk, deer, hog, hares and partridges, were plenti- 

 ful at about three miles distance. The hill fort of Cumbaucum was dis- 

 tinctly visible, and appeared so close that I expected a short ride, only, 

 thither. The road, however, though naturally good, had very recently 

 been much encroached on by the jungle, which is a melancholy fact, 

 generally, in this quarter. And this to be the case so near the southern 

 Capital of India ! 



The high ground, extending for several miles, appears to be a 

 continuation of the same formation as the Red Hills. The route then 

 led through a fine valley of rich soil, with some little cultivation, but 

 gives evidence of a once more considerable population ; many tanks 

 still held water, and the marks of fields and villages were distinct. 



It struck me this formed an excellent situation, for trying the Belgian 

 system of locating paupers, and relieving Madras from the number of 



