MYSORE, CANARY, AND MALABAR. 
317 
right, Rymabad, or Rymangur ; on my left Chintamony ; and on my CHAPTER 
rear, Ambaji-durga. By the way I passed three large villages, all 
strongly fortified with mud walls and hedges. July & c. 
Silagutta is a town containing about live hundred houses, several Silagutta. 
of which are occupied by weavers. It formerly belonged to a 
family of Poly gars, named Narayana , who possessed Demmd-hully 
(corrupted into Deonelly), Nandi-durga , and the two Rala-puras . 
The country around is the prettiest of any that I have seen above 
the Ghats. It has two fine tanks, like small lakes ; and their 
banks are covered with gardens. At a distance it is surrounded by 
hills occupied by durgas , or hill-forts, of which five are in sight. 
I assembled here some intelligent Panchctngas, or astrologers, and Seasons of 
..... ,. . the central 
farmers, and procured from them the following account or the pre “ parts of the 
vailing seasons; which may be considered as applicable to the P emnsula * 
north-eastern, and middle parts of the dominions of the Mysore 
Raja. 
The almanacs divide the year into three equal portions, called 
Candaia; and each of these again is divided into two Ritugalu , or 
seasons, of which each contains two months. The names of these 
seasons having been taken from the climate of a country not 
entirely similar to this, are not always applicable to the seasons of 
this place. They are, I. Vasanta Rita , or spring season ; which 
contains Chaitra and Vaisdka, or this year from the 26th of March 
to the 2.‘3d of May. In this the trees flower, the weather is hot 
and clear, with very gentle winds from the westward. There are 
occasional showers of rain, or hail, but they are not accompanied 
by squalls of wind. II. Grishma Ritu, or the scorching season, 
includes Iyaishtha and Ashada , or in this year from the 24th of 
May to the 21st of July. The air is rendered cool by clouds, and 
strong westerly winds. The rains are heavier than in Vasanta , but 
are not at their height. Thunder is common, but not very severe. 
III. Varshd Ritu, or the rainy season, comprehends Sravana and 
Rhadrapada , or from the 22 cl of July to the 18th of September. 
