MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR. 
23 
were common among the doctors of the Romish church seven or CHAPTER 
eight hundred years ago; and in fact a strong resemblance will he 
found between the present state of Hindu knowledge, and that 
which then prevailed in Europe. 
The contributions for the support of the Guru are made chiefly 
by the rich Brahmans , especially by the Lokika. Small donations 
offered by a Sudra would be rejected \vith scorn, as being proper 
only for the Brahman who performs ceremonies for him’; but should 
a Sudra offer a thousand or two thousand Pagodas it would be re- 
ceived. As the Guru is supposed to be entirely weaned from the 
pleasures of the world, the whole of these contributions ought to 
he expended in charity, that is to say, in the support of buildings 
and men dedicated to the honour or service of the gods. 
At Paligonda , the river Palar is considerably diminished in size, Irrigation 
from what it is at Arcot ; but at this season its channel is occupied p^)” r the 
entirely by dry sand. The people, however, procure water from it, 
by digging canals in the sand six or seven feet deep. These canals 
transverse the channel diagonally, and collect a gentle stream of 
t 
pure water about a foot deep, and six feet wide ; this by other 
canals is conveyed through the country to water the fields, and 
renders the valley of Vellore one of the finest tracts in the Carnatic . 
2d May. — In the morning I went fifteen miles to Sdtghadam, I first Appearance 
crossed the Palar , and proceeded up its northern bank till I came the coun * 
to the Camundala . Following the course of this river, I came 
to Gurietum , a pretty large town, about five miles N. N.W. from 
Paligonda . Part of it is on either side of the river, and that on the 
eastern side is guarded by a mud fort. Soon after, I turned towards 
the left from the Camundala , and entered a narrow valley leading 
west. So far was a fine valley, like that near Vellore , and well \ 
watered by canals, cut from the Palar and Camundala. This last 
river has water in many parts of its channel ; but at this season, it 
does not afford in any place a quanrity sufficient to form a stream 
on the surface. The narrow valley, by which I proceeded, is watered 
