11 
Mysore, canara, and malabar. 
have been formed rice fields, that in the rainy season produce a CHAPTER 
crop, but at present they look quite desert. Near Conjeveram 
many of the fields, receiving a supply of water from a large reser- 
voir on the north side of the town, were covered with a thriving 
\ i * 
crop of rice, which displayed a verdure highly refreshing to the 
eye. 
In one of the most desert places of the country, a very fine tank Fine tank, 
has been dug by a Dewan of the late Mahomed Aly. It is square, 
and lined all round with stones of cut granite, which descend to 
the bottom in steps. The water is said to be very deep. At two 
of the sides of this tank are Choultries , built also of cut granite. 
Each consists of a room divided by two rows of pillars, that sup- 
port a flat roof consisting of long stones. This apartment, which 
is shut up on three sides by a wall, and entirely open in front, is 
surrounded by a colonnade, or veranda,*- which in front is double. 
The pillars are very rude and inelegant, but are covered with 
figures, in basso relievo, of the Hindu deities, of fishes, and of 
serpents. 
It must be observed, that there are two distinct kinds of Different 
buildings confounded by Europeans under the common name 
Choultry. 
The first is that called by the natives Chaturam , and built for chaturam , or 
the accommodation of travellers. These, like that of Vira Formal Inn * 
Pillay , have in general pent roofs, and commonly are built in form 
of a square enclosing a court in the centre. 
The other kind, like those here, are properly built for the re- Mandapam. 
ception of images, when these are carried in procession ; although, 
when not occupied by the idols, travellers of all descriptions may 
take up their quarters in them. These have flat roofs, and consist 
of one apartment only, and by the natives are called Mandapam . 
The inhabitants here distinguish also two kinds of tanks. Different 
The first is the Pray , which is formed by throwing a mound, or tan | <s# 
bank, across a valley, or hollow ground ; so that th& rain water Eray . 
