DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2373#0195
SMS
170
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
June 13.
Face of the
country.
■
CHAPTER powder and ball, on condition of receiving a part of the game. The
birds are killed with the pellet-bow, or caught by hair springes.
The Chensu possess no domestic animals.
Lac is produced in several of the neighbouring hills, upon the
tree called Jala, which seems to be of the same genus with the Shorea
of Gartner, and this is probably not different from the Vatica of
Linnaeus. The tree is never planted, but grows naturally; and the
persons who rent the Lac carry the insect from one tree to another.
The tree grows to a large size; and there are a great many, on
which no insects have been put. The Chensu and JVoddar are the
persons who commonly rent it; but they allege, that they are dis-
couraged from the employment, by the want of leases for a number
of years. Stick-lac sells here at three Fanams for the Maund of 40
Beers, or 9s. 4§d. a hundred weight.
13th June.—I went to Magadi, which in our maps is called Ma-
ghery. This stage was very fatiguing for my cattle; and the road
passed through a wild but romantic country, which consists of low
hills, intermixed with little cultivated vallies. The soil of these is
tolerably good ; and, like the Rdma-giri valley, they are cultivated
with dry grains only. The higher parts are covered with trees,
which, owing to the poverty of the soil, are in most places very
small; but near Savana-durga, and in a few other parts, the timber
and Bamboos grow to a good size. The summits of all the ridges
of hills are bare rocks of the granitic porphyry, and often rise into
high sharp peaks, or immense masses of naked stone. By far the
most remarkable of these is occupied by Savana-durga, which the
army of Lord Cornwallis took by assault; ever since which time
it has been deserted.
On my way I examined some iron forges, of which there are
many in this hilly tract of country ,• and from a man, who employs
twelve labourers, I procured the following account of the opera-
tions performed on the ore. The iron is made partly from the
bUck sand which is found in. the rainy season in the channels of all
Iron mines.
170
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
June 13.
Face of the
country.
■
CHAPTER powder and ball, on condition of receiving a part of the game. The
birds are killed with the pellet-bow, or caught by hair springes.
The Chensu possess no domestic animals.
Lac is produced in several of the neighbouring hills, upon the
tree called Jala, which seems to be of the same genus with the Shorea
of Gartner, and this is probably not different from the Vatica of
Linnaeus. The tree is never planted, but grows naturally; and the
persons who rent the Lac carry the insect from one tree to another.
The tree grows to a large size; and there are a great many, on
which no insects have been put. The Chensu and JVoddar are the
persons who commonly rent it; but they allege, that they are dis-
couraged from the employment, by the want of leases for a number
of years. Stick-lac sells here at three Fanams for the Maund of 40
Beers, or 9s. 4§d. a hundred weight.
13th June.—I went to Magadi, which in our maps is called Ma-
ghery. This stage was very fatiguing for my cattle; and the road
passed through a wild but romantic country, which consists of low
hills, intermixed with little cultivated vallies. The soil of these is
tolerably good ; and, like the Rdma-giri valley, they are cultivated
with dry grains only. The higher parts are covered with trees,
which, owing to the poverty of the soil, are in most places very
small; but near Savana-durga, and in a few other parts, the timber
and Bamboos grow to a good size. The summits of all the ridges
of hills are bare rocks of the granitic porphyry, and often rise into
high sharp peaks, or immense masses of naked stone. By far the
most remarkable of these is occupied by Savana-durga, which the
army of Lord Cornwallis took by assault; ever since which time
it has been deserted.
On my way I examined some iron forges, of which there are
many in this hilly tract of country ,• and from a man, who employs
twelve labourers, I procured the following account of the opera-
tions performed on the ore. The iron is made partly from the
bUck sand which is found in. the rainy season in the channels of all
Iron mines.