MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR. 5 
caused each village to be surrounded by a hedge of Bamboos, with CHAPTER 
two small towers at each gate. By this measure, in case of any in- 
vasion, small parties of plundering cavalry may be kept off, and a Bamboo 
great quantity of that most valuable plant the bamboo will in time 
be raised. At present it is brought from the neighbourhood of Tri- 
petty, and sells three-fold dearer than at Calcutta : for from ten to 
sixteen Bamboos cost here a Pagoda , or 7s. 4 \d. 
The remaining part of my journey to Sri Permaturu tank was Appearance 
along the high grounds that bound it, and the Saymbrumbacum ^ liecoun 
reservoir on the south. The land is no where so steep as to pre- 
vent the use of the plough ; but in most places the soil is very in- 
different. The rocks, or large detached masses of granite, project in 
many fields ; and almost every where the country is overrun with low 
prickly bushes, such as the Rhamnus circumscissus of Linnaus , Rham - 
nus scandens of Roxburgh, Paulinia Asiatica , and Monetia Barle- 
rioides. Except in a few fields, which in the rainy season are sown 
with Ragy (Cynosurus corocanus ), and other dry grams, there is here 
no cultivation ; and I am assured by the natives, that in most places 
the crop would not be worth the seed. It appears too dry for any 
useful purpose, except giving a scanty pasture. Perhaps some 
forest trees might be planted on it with advantage, such as the 
Gurgions of Bengal, and the Lager stromia regime. The Palmira 
thrives on it without trouble ; but the produce is so cheap and 
abundant, from those which spring forth almost spontaneously, 
that, I am assured, the planting them on a large scale would not 
be profitable. The wild date ( Elate sylvestris) is in a similar pre- 
dicament. 
-ml ‘ 
The Tdri, or fermented juice, and the Jagory, or inspissated juice of Borassus fa- 
the Palmira tree ( Borassus fiabellijormis) , are in this country more bcU if orms - 
esteemed, than those of the wild date, which is contrary to the 
opinion of the Bengalese. The people of the Carnatic allege, that 
the produce of the latter is very heating. They pretend to be very 
moderate in the use of the Tdri , but consume much of the Jagory b 
