2 
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH 
CHAPTER 
-T. * 
Accommo- 
dations for 
travellers. 
Improve- 
ments. 
Irrigation. 
Manner of 
securing the 
rent. 
this time of the year, is dreary. It is almost as level as Bengal: and 
in general forms a naked, brown, dusty plain, with few villages, or 
any thing to relieve the eye, except a ridge of abrupt detached 
hills toward the south. The roads are good; and many of the 
huts being built of mud, and neatly covered with tiles, have a 
better appearance than those in Bengal: but the roofs of such 
as are thatched look ragged ; as the thatch is not composed of 
smooth straw, but of palmira leaves, which never can be put on with 
neatness. 
Near the road, charitable persons have built many resting-places 
for porters, who here carry all their burdens on the head. These 
resting-places consist of a wall about four feet high, on which the 
porters can deposit their burdens, and from which, after having- 
rested themselves, they can again, without assistance, take up their 
loads. The inns, or Choultries , which are common on the road, 
evince an attention to travellers not to be found in Bengal. At 
these places, the poorest, without expense, have shelter from the 
inclemencies of the weather; and the richer traveller, can purchase 
both for himself and for his cattle, at least the necessaries of life. 
This part of the country, although at present naked, seems 
capable of raising trees and hedges ; and shows evident appear- 
ances of its being in a state of improvement, there being in view 
many new plantations, especially of fruit-trees, and coco-nut palms. 
Leaving on the right the road to Poonamalee , I went to Conda- 
turu , near which the country assumes a very different, and a very 
pleasing aspect. Numerous small canals, from the Saymbrumbacum 
tank, convey a constant supply of water to most of the neighbour- 
ing fields, and fertilize them without the trouble of machinery. 
They consequently yield every year two crops of rice. The one 
at present on the ground will be reaped in June, and has a very 
promising appearance. 
Instead of preventing the crops from being cut down, till the 
rent is paid, as is usual in Bengal , the custom here is, to collect 
