VANAMBADDI 
437 
should approve of it, will be of great importance, as there is con- 
siderable trade here, and under the secure government of the 
English, settlers are daily coming in." 
" February 18th 1 was at Vellore, and on the 19th reached Am- 
boor. The whole country through which I had passed from Arcot, 
too evidently shewed that it had not yet recovered its population ; 
many parts that were before cultivated, being left barren and waste. 
The village of Amboor is neat, and regularly built ; its inhabitants 
are industrious, and make a considerable quantity of castor oil, 
which they export. On the west side of it is a lofty isolated moun- 
tain, on which stood a fort almost impregnable by nature ; the only 
approach to it being by a narrow and very steep path, through a 
smaller fort at the base. The upper works have been entirely de- 
stroyed since it came into our possession ; and the lower, in which 
some malefactors were confined, were guarded by a few sepoys 
commanded by a native officer. In the course of the day, with much 
fatigue, I ascended to the top ; 1 found a plain there, sufficiently 
large to have rendered its cultivation an object of some importance, 
and two tanks, near which the barracks had formerly stood. The 
view from it was noble and extensive, and the air cool and plea- 
sant, in comparison with what I had found it below. In the even- 
ing a rupee procured for myself and bearers sufficient food for the 
day." 
" February ^0. — Early in the morning I reached Vanambaddi. 
I here met with Mr. Cator, a gentleman who was assisting Major 
Lambton in his survey ; and it was fortunate that I did so, for I 
found shortly after that a cooly had run away in the night with all 
my eatables and breakfast apparatus. He kindly assisted me in re- 
