1836.] 



Irrigation of the Delta of Tan j ore. 



317 



hitherto been sufficient water. It will be easily perceived, that, though 

 almost the whole season is favourable, a short supply for a fortnight 

 may so seriously check the growth of the crop, as materially to affect 

 the produce, and this is very especially the case if it happens, as it fre- 

 quently does, about the beginning of January, when a great extent of 

 crop is in flower ; if there is any deficiency in the supply of water at 

 the time the flowers are going off, the produce is sure to be little else 

 than husk. It is estimated that the actual produce is below what it would 

 be, if the supply of water was ample, by about twelve lacs of cullums, 

 of the value of six lacs of rupees. 



The new annicuts, it has been calculated, will place an addi- 

 tional supply of about 3,000 million cubic yards at the disposal of 

 the revenue officers, on those days on which there would, without 

 them, have been an inadequate supply, and not calculating what would 

 be superabundant on any day. Thus, supposing that, on a certain 

 day, there passed down the Agunda Cauvery 50 million cubic yards 

 before the annicut was built, about 25 million would go to Tanjore, 

 leaving a deficiency of 25 millions in that district, and the other 25 

 millions would flow down the Colleroon ; of this about seven millions 

 would be required for its cultivation, and the remaining eighteen milli- 

 ons would flow to waste into the sea. By the assistance of the new anni- 

 cuts it is expected that the whole of this water would be properly distri- 

 buted and usefully applied, namely forty-three milllions to Tanjore, leav* 

 ing a deficiency of only 7 instead oi 28 millions ; and 7 to the lands irri- 

 gated by the Colleroon; and in this way it is calculated the whole of the 

 cultivation may be supplied fully for about 200 days, without a single day's 

 intermission, namely, from the 15th June to the 5th January. In such 

 years as the supply of water in the AgundaCauvery is not muchbelow the 

 average, but in a moderately good year, there is reason to hope that the 

 supply would always be more than sufficient for the present cultivation, 

 and supply a very considerable extent of land at present waste or culti- 

 vated with dry grains. 



With respect to the comfort of the people in the Delta gene- 

 rally, and the healthiness of the climate, probably most persons 

 who travel through its villages would consider the great body 

 of the people as well fed and as healthy as those of any part of 

 India. In climate indeed it is a remarkable contrast to many tracts of 

 watered land, being entirely free from miasma. In temperature it is 

 much the same as the other districts of the Carnatic, till the rivers 

 begin to fill in June, from which time the heat is considerably dimi- 

 nished. 



In the above account of revenue it is calculated that each indi- 

 vidual pays to Government five rupees per annum ; equivalent to 

 ten shillings. In Great Britain and Ireland a population of 22 millions 



