1836.] 



A Visit to Cumbaucum-droogt 



137 



At the third mile from our tents, the ascent began near the north 

 extremity of the mountain, and at one time appears to have been de- 

 fended by a lower entrenchment. I turned off to look at a gun, said to 

 be of great antiquity. It proved to be an English six-pounder of iron, 

 and it still might be used, and was probably abandoned in the jungle, 

 when we made a demonstration of attacking this fort, during the Poli- 

 gar war. 



There would have been no difficulty, in riding half a mile further 

 than where we had left our horses. The jungle then became dense, 

 with a very tolerable foot-path, though steep and rough, from the water 

 which appears to make this a channel during rains. There is no ob- 

 stacle to cutting both a broad and easy road, and it is said one for car- 

 riages formerly existed. The ascent occupied an hour; when we 

 reached the outer entrenchment, or gate, about 1,800 feet above the 

 sea. The second line is about 1,950 feet, and much more considerable; 

 formed of huge blocks of roughly hewnstone, and about ten feet high* 

 This, though the best, is not the only, road ; and, masked as the works 

 are by passable jungle, the fort is stronger in appearance than reality. 



On passing the second gate, the ground becomes perfectly level. 

 Near the outer edge of the rock, the soil has been partly wasted 

 away by the rain, being hard compact sand, covered with high grass, 

 and some trees ; among the latter some good sized red wood. 



The soil gradually improves as you advance, and, near the ruins of 

 the old palace and garden, is of the richest description. An enclosure, 

 and a few traces of foundations, are all that now mark the spot, which 

 is said, not very long since, to have produced the best fruit in the Car- 

 natic, particularly oranges. A flight of stone steps lead to an extensive 

 reservoir of water, which might, at a trifling expense, be repaired ; and 

 a little w r ater, I am told, always runs in the ravine, and no want of that 

 necessary element is ever experienced. 



The fine level ground, occupying theN. end of this table mountain 

 consists of about two square miles, and, as nearly as I could make out, 

 is generally 2,000 feet in height. To the south extremity the soil is 

 more rocky, and rises to an elevation of 2,550 feet, correctly ascertained 

 in the Trigonometrical survey. 



The summit is nearly free from jungle, and there is little or no 

 swamp ; what there is, could be drained by ten men in a single day. 

 There is enough timber for building and fire-wood ; the sides of the 

 mountain afford an inexhaustible supply. The stone is good for build- 

 ing, and lime, in abundance, is found at the foot, and most probably 

 on the top, of the hill. Standing as this does within ten miles of the 

 lake, and about fifteen of the sea, it enjoys the fresh breezes we 

 so much prize at Madras, and is totally free from hot winds. 



