MYSORE, C ANAR A, AND MALABAR. 139 
8th June.-— I went to Madura. Since the 4th instant, when we CHAPTER 
had a heavy storm of wind, rain, and thunder, the weather has been 
remarkably pleasant. The sun is in general clouded, and the tern- 
perature of the air like moderate summer weather in England. Weather. 
The proportion of ground in actual cultivation does not appear to 
exceed one tenth part of the country. At Madura there is a very 
tine reservoir, which indeed waters more ground than the inhabi- 
tants can cultivate; for they are much reduced in number. In Depopula- 
. - , . tion. 
Hyder's time they amounted to 250 houses ; and they rose to 400 m 
the early part of the Sultan’s government. By the expeditions of 
Lord Cornwallis the houses sunk to 250, and Tipped’s late oppres- 
sions have reduced them to 100. The people, however, seem to be 
much satisfied with the protection they enjoy under the British 
forces, and are betaking themselves with industry to the re-esta- 
blishment of their country. 
The reservoir, and an old pagoda in the fort, are said to be the 
work of Vishnu Verdana Raya , a prince who, about 700 years ago, 
had very extensive dominions in this country. The reservoir is a Reservoir, 
very valuable work, and ought to render this prince’s name venerable 
to the latest posterity. It receives a supply from the river by means 
of a dam and canal ; and, with the repairs which it is now about to 
receive, is expected to be able to supply with water, through the 
whole year, all the fields under the level of its bank. The extent of 
this land is very considerable ; but the supply of water having been irrigation, 
for some years deficient, the farmers have been obliged, on many 
fields, to content themselves with a Hainu crop of Car lay, and a 
Caru crop of Jo la. 
Two crops of rice are never taken from the same field in one Rice, 
year ; but in order to divide the labour, part of the rice ground is 
cultivated in the Hainu , and part in the Caru season. 
