1844.] 



Effects of the Famine of 1833. 



191 



or 9 feet water pass up above Condapilly. The depth of the 

 mouth may then be considered about 12 feet giving a fall of 

 9| inches per mile for the bed of the river, the country 

 through which it flows having a fall of about 18 J inches per 

 mile in a direct line from Seetanuggrum to the sea at Nizam- 

 patam. 



In the highest freshes, the Kistna rises to the level of the 

 country on its banks and occasionally it overflows ; but the 

 floods, which (though they used to damage the dry grain 

 crops) were of advantage in producing large quantities of in- 

 ferior rice throughout the tract over which they extended, by 

 the joint operation of natural causes and artificial embank- 

 ments, have of late years become much less frequent. An 

 attempt has been made to restore this source of fertility by 

 excavating a channel which, branching from the Kistna at 

 Seetanuggrum, strikes out on the low ground about 7 miles 

 to the South and conveys water from the river whenever it 

 rises within 15 feet of the bank. 



The width of this channel averages 1 5 yards, but it might 

 if necessary be increased to 30 or 40 yards. Its cost is about 

 30,000 Rupees, and this sum, there is good reason to expect, 

 will in a very few years be repaid by the advantages' it will 

 afford. But before full benefit can be derived from it, it is 

 necessary that several large tanks nearer to the coast be ex- 

 tended and improved, and fitted to reserve the water remain- 

 ing after the channel has irrigated the country which borders 

 it. Otherwise, this surplus will run into the sea and serve 

 no other purpose than, perhaps, enlarging and deepening the 

 small harbour of Nizamapatam. Laid out in improving the 

 tanks and in providing for their being filled with water from 

 the Kistna, two lacs of Kupees would suffice to secure the 

 full cultivation of about one-third the rice land of Guntoor in 

 all years in which the Kistna freshes averaged 22 feet on the 

 register at Seetanuggrum during 60 days in June, July and 



