1849.] 



Circar of WariinguL 



263 



ed by magic by Brahmin agency to please one of the Warungul kings. 

 There is a chuhootra about the middle of the bund called the cliuhootr'h 

 of Sitab-khan, a lieutenant of one of the first of the Golcondah princes 

 who finally expelled the Hindoo dynasty. It is a magnificent sheet 

 of water from thirty to forty miles in circumference. Its shores 

 are well wooded and stored with wild animals — but for six or seven 

 months of the year its neighbourhood is very unhealthy. In its im- 

 mediate vicinity not much more than fifteen hundred beegahs, owing 

 probably to this circumstance, are under cultivation, but it sends off 

 several streams which are turned to account at a greater distance, 

 and it yields a tributary to the Kishnah river. 



Besides the Pakhall tank or lake — the most con- 



Tanks. 



spicuous sheet of water between the Kishnah and 

 Godavery — there are large tanks at Hunnumcondah, the Icusha of 

 the Kotacondah, Hussanabad Pergunnah, at Durmasagrum, Naga- 

 rum, Woodapilly in the vicinity of Hunnumcondah. At Gunpore, 

 Chelnaee, and Ramapah in the Suntamonium Pergunnah, in the 

 havalee at Atmacore, at Yelgoor, in the Pergunnahs Vizianuggur 

 Wordanapet, at Ryapurty, Wordanapet and Mytapilly. There are 

 large tanks also at Purcull, at Poosapilly in the Hussanabad Per- 

 gunnah, and at Camlapore a jaghire village. All these tanks, be- 

 sides many others in the Circar, are furnished with strong bunds of 

 the most solid masonry. The smaller tanks have bunds of earth and 

 stone intermixed, or simply of earth. 



The tanks are very old, far beyond the memory of man, — most 

 of them dating from Hindoo times. Some circumstances relat- 

 ing to them have already been mentioned. The embankments are 

 of great strength, and if ordinary care be taken of them are suffi- 

 cient to contain whatever water may be poured into them — but the 

 Zemindars often allow them to fall into disrepair through short- 

 sighted folly. 



There are frequently large natural basins on the summits of the 

 granite rock ; these are seldom turned to account for agricultural 

 purposes, but are regarded as sacred pools to bathe in, by which 

 are cured severe and obstinate diseases. 



It was the remark of a great statesman that tanks were the na- 

 tional banks of the Carnatic — and previous to the discovery of Ame- 

 rica with its maize they were doubtless the great prop of Indian ex- 



