jan. — mar. 1858.] the Travancore Backwater. 



219 



Being subject to tidal action the bank is more or less shifting 

 certain seasons but not to a material extent. It imparts a dirty brown 

 colour to the water for a considerable distance, and close to the 

 shore the water is usually of a thickish consistency being deeply 

 impregnated with mud and slime. But whatever may have been the 

 origin of this mud bank, it creates a natural harbour for shipping as 

 secure as any land-locked bay in the world. Allepey is 54 miles from 

 Quilon and 36 miles from Cochin. It is the last place of any im- 

 portance on the route. After leaving it the backwater opens out 

 into a large and very spacious bay stretching across to the eastward 

 to a distance of ten miles or more. The low coast on the oppo- 

 site side cannot be seen from the boat's deck, though the ghauts 

 rising in the back ground to the height of 4 or 5,000 feet are clearly 

 visible and form a grand boundary to the landscape. From hence to 

 Cochin the backwater is of varying width, containing small islands, 

 which with the main-land are buried in the everlasting Cocoa palm. 

 Occasionally to the east a clearer view is obtained, and the distant 

 mountain chain and thick jungle at its base afford a striking and 

 beautiful prospect. About mid-way on the right hand side is the 

 town of Vyekkum a place of considerable sanctity. There is a large 

 pagoda here dedicated to Shiva. Vyekkum was a place of refuge to 

 the Brahmins and other Hindoo sects flying from the licentious sol- 

 diers of Tippoo when the latter invaded the Cochin territories in 

 1788-9. On, on, nothing but water and Cocoanuts till at last the 

 Residency at Balghetty embosomed in tufted trees is sighted at a 

 distance, and to the left the shipping in Cochin harbour and the bust- 

 ling busy town of Cochin itself about two miles away. 



Brundisium longae finis chartreque yia3que, 



