May 1861.] Public Works in Travancore. 129 



9. But within the last few years the trade has been consider- 

 able, and the annexed list of vessels which in the last 5 years have 

 taken out Port clearances in the months of June, July, August 

 and September (the 4 months during which the coasting trade is 

 in abeyance at other Ports of the coast) proves that the advan- 

 tages of the Port are again beginning to be appreciated. 



10. But in order that the shipping may derive full advantage 

 from the refuge afforded by the bank, a conspicuous Light- house 

 and a light of sufficient power to penetrate the haze of the mon- 

 soon are required. The present Flagstaff cannot in hazy weather 



p be distinguished from the Cocoanut trees, and the lantern exhi- 

 bited upon it is of insufficient power ; while vessels which fail to 

 find the bank are on a dangerous lea shore. 



11. Mr. Crawford the Commercial Agent has long urged the 

 necessity of this work, and General Frederick Cotton, who lately 



! visited the Port, was so much struck by its adaptation to what has 

 been so long sought for, a harbour of refuge on the Malabar 



j coast, that he strongly recommended that no time should be lost 

 in building a Light-house. 



12. This highly important work has been sanctioned by His 

 Highness the Rajah of Travancore, and the foundation is already 



; laid, The Canals are also being extended ; and a Railway is 

 being laid down from the Canal to the sea side. This will, if 

 1 practicable, be carried on a small jetty into the sea, but there is 

 [ some doubt whether the muddy bottom admits of this. Some pe- 

 ; culiar action is going on under the sea. At times huge cones of 

 | liquid mud are forced up in the sea near the shore, and this is ac- 

 companied generally by a subsidence of the sand near the waters 

 edge to a dimension equal to the bubble or cone of mud. It is 

 ; therefore very doubtful whether a jetty could be laid without the 

 j piles being undermined by these changes in the mud-bed. 



I 13. These works will however make the port of Allepey a con- 

 i venient shipping port in immediate connexion with the inland 



water communication, which forms so important a feature of this 



country, 



14. The commencement of these works is due to the energy of 



