MYSORE , CANARA, AND MALABAR, 6fy

whole. Owing to the badnefs of the foil in the hills near Chinapatam, few of thetrees come to great perfection.

nth June. — I remained at Chinapatam, taking an account of the palm-gardens inthe vicinity. A traCl ot land runs near this from Madura towards Magadi, which isabout eighteen miles in length, and varies from one mile to a quarter of a mile inwidth. The whole of this, except a few barren fpots interfering it, is planted withcocoa-nut and betel-nut palms. All this ground might be cultivated for rice, and has afupply of water from refervoirs ; but the plantations are much more valuable.

12th June.'—I went to Rama-giri. A part of the way I had travelled before ; buton coming to the Arkawati river, I turned to the north, and palled through a valleynaturally beautiful, but which appeared difmal on account of its having been in a greatmeafure deferted. Near its head I found a few fmall villages furrounded by a littlecultivation.

Since the acceflion of Tippco, Rama-giri has been ftrangely agitated. The town,which was then confiderable, he removed from the weft fide of the river, and placedclofe under the hill upon which the fort is built. It was then furrounded by a wall,and fome other defences of no great importance. The army of Lord Cornwallis fummoned the fort; and the.garrifon, intimidated by the taking of many ftrong placeswhich they had feen fall, furrendered without any refiftance, and for fome time ourtroops kept poffeflion. Afer the peace Tippoo difmantled the fort, and now theamildar has again removed the town to the weft fide of the river, and placed it lowerdown than its original fituation. During the incurfions of Lord Cornwallis the inha-bitants were deprived of the means of fubfiftence, and a large proportion of themperiflred of hunger. I give this, and other fimilar accounts of the ftate of population,from the information of the natives, which I believe is juft, and rather partial to theBritifh fide, partly from flattery, and partly from their being fenfible that they neverbefore were under the protection of a people fo humane, juft, and powerful. Theplace is dreadfully infefted by tigers, efpecially the fort, which occupies a large rockykill, capable of a very tedious defence, even without any afli'ftance from art. SeveralBrahmans refide near the fummit, for the place is reputed holy ; but it is kept in avery flovenly ftate. It is plentifully fupplied with water from feveral large cavities, orchafms in the rock, which receive the rain, and by their coolnefs prevent its fuddenevaporation. Such cavities are called by the natives donays, and in all the rocky hillsof this great chain of mountains are very common. In the hotteft feafon they neverbecome dry; but they have no fprings to give a fupply of frelh water, and of courfeafford but unwholefome drink.

The granite, of which the rock of Rama-giri confifts, Is very beautiful, and is cora-pofed of fmall grains of black mica, or perhaps micarelle, and of white glaffy quartz,in which are immerfed large maffes of red felfpar. It feems to agree exadlly withMr. Kirwan’s definition of granitic porphyry. It is a very elegant ftone, and might beprocured in very large maffes. 1

In this hilly tract, there is a race of men called by the other natives Cad’ Eriligaru ;but who call themfelves Cat’ Chenfu. Here they live in little huts near the villages,and have a fmall piece of blanket, or cotton cloth, to cover their nakednefs. Theyare reconciled to the other natives, and pay a trifling capitation tax to government.Where the woods are more extenfive, they are terrified at the fight of any civilizedbeing, and live abfolutely without any clothing, but cover their nakednefs with afew leaves. In thefe forefts they dwell in caves, or under bulhes, which they makea better Ihelter from the weather, by adding fmall branches from other trees. When,mu viii. 4 K the