IS 
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH 
CHAPTER 
I. 
Face of the 
country. 
Vdlorc. 
Brahmans . 
f 
found Chunam , or lime-stone nodules, which in Bengal is called 
Congcai \ 
29th April. — The countiy between Arcot and the western hills 
contains some good ground, some that serves for gardens, and dry 
grains , and some that is barren, consisting of granite covered with 
beds of sand. 
The road leading to Vellore is conducted along the foot of the hills, 
which bound the Palar valley on the south, and is formed on the 
rocky basis of these hills, and on the sand and fragments, that have 
fallen from them. A greater verdure however prevails here, than 
any I have seen in the Carnatic , owing probably to a subterraneous 
supply of water ; for on the whole way there is not a spring visible. 
This ground at the foot of the hills is in some places pasture, and 
in others is overgrown with trees and bushes, especially with the 
wild date, or Elate Sylvestris , which thrives very well, but here is 
considered as useless. There are also many Palmira trees, from 
which Ttiri is extracted. The lower part of the valley, near the 
liver, is very good land, and looks well, the greater part of it 
being verdant with the second crop of rice. The houses and vil- 
lages by the way are very miserable. 
30th April.— I remained at Vellore in order to give my people 
rest. The preseut fort is large and beautiful ; and having been 
chosen for the residence of the family of the late Sultan of Mysore , is 
strongly garrisoned by English forces. The town, which belongs 
to the Nabob , is pretty large, and well built after the Hindu fashion. 
Above it are three small forts, which occupy the summits of a hill 
that overlooks the town, but one of them only has a supply of water. 
The fortifications are said to have been erected by the Canarese 
monaTchs. 
The greater part of the Brahmans in the lower Carnatic follow 
secular professions. They almost entirely fill the different offices in 
the collection of the revenue, and administration of justice; and 
