May 1861.] 



Public Works in Travancore. 



131 



20. The advantage of this plan is, that it is so much work done 

 towards a thorough Canal, and there is no doubt of its being even 

 in this imperfect state highly remunerative. The contractor now 

 pays 10,000 Rupees a year for the right of conveying goods from 

 one backwater to the other, and with such increased convenience 

 the trade will largely increase. Trucks pushed by coolies up the 

 incline, and going down by their own weight will rather expedite 

 than retard the traveller by the backwater. 



21. It is probable that eventually a tunnel will be found more 

 practicable than an open cutting. 



22. The construction of a Canal from Cape Comorin to Tre- 

 vandrum has just been commenced by His Highness the Rajah, 

 and, in honor of the Queen of England, it will be called the 

 " Victoria Canal." It can be brought at a moderate cost to with- 

 in seven miles of Trevandrum, where a series of granite rocks and 

 laterite hills offer serious obstruction. Over this portion some 

 such expedient as that described above must be resorted to ; but 

 if the rice and salt of the south are brought to within seven miles 

 of Trevandrum and the whole line of water communication from 

 Cape Comorin to the Railway is complete, with the exception of 

 two short porterages, the trade will probably be developed to a 

 degree which will warrant the expensive works necessary to ren- 

 der the water communication complete. 



23. To open out the interior of the country, roads striking off 

 from the backwater are required. Three of these have been plan- 

 ned ; one from Trevandrum to a Sanatarium on the mountains due 

 east and so to Papanassum ; one from Kotyam over the mountains 

 to Dindigul, and one from the Cochin backwater to join the road 

 under construction from Polachy to the Anamullay forests. Of 

 these the two former have just been commenced. 



24. A thorough repair of the southern road from Trevandrum 

 to Tinnevelly is also about to be commenced. 



25. Two other subjects connected with the backwater are also 

 engaging Mr. Collins' attention, 



26. The first is a series of columns with lights to guide the 

 craft to the entrances of the rivers and Canals, The want of such 



