1836.] 



Irrigation of the Delta of Tan j ore. 



309 



" The advantage of this spot is, that boats with cargo can run out from 

 the port in the morning, and return again with a fair wind, as during 

 the months of November, December and January, there is a land wind, 

 to the west of north till after sun-rise, it then gradually veers round 

 and about noon the sea breeze is about due east. There is also good 

 holding ground there, and a ship may ride during the monsoon by a 

 single anchor. 



" The accompanying sketch of the harbour is intended merely for the 

 use of small vessels, and to give some idea of the localities of the 

 place. 



" The tower on the island is in latitude north 8° 47' 16" and longi- 

 tude, east of Greenwich, 78° 15' 13". 



" The rise and fall at spring tides, is four feet." 



IV. — A short Account of the Irrigation of the Delta of Tanjore, 

 formed by the Cauvery and Colleroon. 



If the value of this piece of irrigation is judged of by its actual re- 

 sults, it must certainly be considered one of the finest in the world. It 

 is indeed very doubtful whether there is any tract of country artificially 

 irrigated, that can, upon the whole, compete with it, considering its 

 extent, its population, the comfort of the people, the revenue it yields, 

 and the climate. The Delta commences at the head of the island of 

 Seringham, about ten miles west of Trichinopoly. The river which 

 forms it, is, to the westward of this point, generally called the Cauvery, 

 and, when spoken of in contradistinction from that part of it which lies 

 to the eastward, it is called the Agunda Cauvery. Its source is near 

 Mercara, the capital of Coorg ; after passing the eastern ghauts, it re- 

 ceives the waters of three large rivers, all on its right bank j namely, the 

 Bhowany, which, with its tributaries drains the greater part of the Neil- 

 gherries, the Noel which also rises in those mountains, and the Amba- 

 rawatty which rises in the Delly mountains, forming the southern 

 boundary of the district of Coimbatore. It also receives the waters 

 from the Shendamungalum or Coilly Malay and the Pachee Malay 

 (forming the north west boundary of the Trichinopoly district) by the 

 Iyaur, which falls into it exactly opposite the head of Seringham. Its 

 principal feeders thus rising close to the western ghauts, it has the full 

 benefit of the south-west monsoon, and this constitutes it the noblest 

 natural gift that God has bestowed upon the Carnatic, conveying, with- 

 out the labour of man, a portion of the abundant monsoon of the west 

 coast to a tract of country less favoured with local rains. 

 The Cauvery is generally perfectly empty in the months of March, 



