f 
24 A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH 
CHAPTER 
Gardens. 
Weather. 
Carious de- 
ception. 
in its lower part by a reservoir. The head of the valley rises con- 
siderably, and consists chiefly of dry fields ; towards the upper end 
some is barren land full of granite. The hills approaching here, a stone 
wall, with a gateway, marks the boundary of Satghadam. On the north 
this gate is commanded by a naked rocky hill, irregularly for- 
tified by various walls and castles, after the country fashion. These 
are called Satghadam , the Decany pronunciation of Sat ghur, or the 
seven castles. The Malabar , or Tamul name of the -place is Ela- 
mulla Durgam. The village under the hill, or the Petta, is sur- 
rounded by a wall, and is pretty considerable in point of space, 
but it is ruinous. The district belonging to it is extensive, and 
fertile. It is surrounded on all sides by granite rocks ; and in the 
rainy season, the water of three torrents falls from it into the Polar 
near Amboor. The principal cultivation in it, however, is that of 
dry grains, with some fruit gardens, for which it is celebrated. 
The Nabob has here an extensive garden, which he lets to some 
Armenians at Madras . The fruit, especially the oranges, are 
reckoned the best in the Carnatic , and the choicest are sent to the 
Nabob , and to other persons of distinction. This garden is a large 
piece of ground, thickly planted with a variety of fruit trees ; and 
to the roots of each water is conveyed by separate canals : but the 
whole is kept in a very slovenly condition. More extensive gardens 
might be formed here, but the expence of watering them would 
be considerable. 
Since leaving Madras , I have found the weather very hot and 
dry. The thermometer at noon in my tents, which are well con- 
structed for keeping out the heat, has been from 95° to 98*. In a 
house it would probably have been two or three degrees lower. 
The wind has generally been strong \ but so arid, and hot, as not 
to mitigate the effects of the sun, or cool the burning atmosphere. 
I am gravely informed by my interpreter, a Brahman , that he has 
relations, who live by performing a variety of wonderful feats. 
Among others, they can make a Mango stone, in the course of four 
