292 Description of the country between [No. 10, new series, 



red gravelly rocky soil ; with the proper elevation and an eastern 

 exposure, these latter a great desiderata. 



State of country, The present state of the country seems mi- 

 serable enough, as mis-management, and cor- 

 ruption, and violence, seems to be every where paramount. The 

 principal portion of the cultivated lands are Inam, and the most 

 valuable land on enquiry is almost invariably found to be Inam, 

 that leased being of comparatively little value. It would however 

 be difficult for the Rajah, even if so inclined, to discover what is 

 Inam, and what is not, as no accounts whatever are kept ; each vil- 

 lage appearing to pay a fixed sum, varying from 20 to 200 or 300 

 Rupees. Of the capabilities of the country, and of what can be 

 drawn from it under proper arrangement, some idea may be form- 

 ed by a simple statement of facts. The Taluq of Gunipooram has 

 been for some years under Government management, it having 

 been taken out of the Rajah's hands until the arrears due by him 

 to Government are paid. While under the Rajah's management 

 or rather under that of his people, who plunder him right and left, 

 the Taluq did not bring him in anything, and on the contrary was, 

 I believe, a source of loss to him. Under Government management, 

 the Taluq, I am given to understand, now brings in upwards of 

 60,000 Rupees, leaving after paying the Government pishcush 

 15,000 Rupees and all expenses a profit of upwards of 40,000 Ru- 

 pees, which I have every reason to believe might under European 

 superintendence be doubled, and even trebled -by developing the 

 resources of the country. This shows how the Rajah, a silly old 

 man, is plundered by the people about him, in whose hands he is 

 as a mere child. 



The inhabitants are a muscular healthy looking race, anything 

 but debilitated, as must be the case, were they much subject to 

 fever ; their customs are primitive, and their wants few and easily 

 satisfied, and they seem much more docile, uncomplaining and 

 free from cunning and vice , than the inhabitants of the low coun- 

 try, many of them have a strongly Mongolian physiognomy pro- 

 truding cheekbones, with small, deeply sunken eyes, narrow fore- 

 heads and elongated faces. They are generally above the average 

 height, well made, with muscular limbs and appear capable of sup- 



