DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2375#0133
m;
130
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CHAPTER
XVI.
Feb. 18.
Batuculla.
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
CHAPTER XVI.
JOURNEY THROUGH THE NORTHERN PARTS OF CANARA.
"IT'EBRUARY 18th.—I went four cosses to Batuculla, which means
the round town. A very steep barren ridge separates Beiduru
from a fine level, which is watered by the Combara, a small slow-
running stream, that in several places is dammed up for the irri-
gation of the fields. Here was formerly a market (Bazar) named
Hosso-petta, which General Mathews destroyed. After passing this
level, I came to a very barren country, but not remarkably hilly.
It is covered with stunted trees, and intersected by a small rapid
stream, the Sancada-gonda, and farther on by a narrow cultivated
valley. Batuculla stands on the north bank of a small river, the
Sancada-holay, which waters a very beautiful valley surrounded on
every side by hills, and in an excellent state of cultivation. At the
public expense eight dams are yearly made in order to water the
rice grounds. They are constructed of earth, and are only intended
to collect the stream in the dry season. In the rains they would
be of no use, and the violence of the stream would then sweep
away the strongest works. The dams are repaired between the
17th of November and the 16th of December, and are carried away
in the two months which precede the summer solstice. There are
here many coco-nut gardens, and these in the best condition of
any that I have seen in Canara. They are well inclosed with stone
walls. Their produce is partly shipped for Mangalore, or Raja-pur a,
and partly sent to the country above the Ghats.
Batuculla is a large open town containing 500 houses. It has two
mosques; one of which receives from the Company an allowance of
130
i\
CHAPTER
XVI.
Feb. 18.
Batuculla.
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
CHAPTER XVI.
JOURNEY THROUGH THE NORTHERN PARTS OF CANARA.
"IT'EBRUARY 18th.—I went four cosses to Batuculla, which means
the round town. A very steep barren ridge separates Beiduru
from a fine level, which is watered by the Combara, a small slow-
running stream, that in several places is dammed up for the irri-
gation of the fields. Here was formerly a market (Bazar) named
Hosso-petta, which General Mathews destroyed. After passing this
level, I came to a very barren country, but not remarkably hilly.
It is covered with stunted trees, and intersected by a small rapid
stream, the Sancada-gonda, and farther on by a narrow cultivated
valley. Batuculla stands on the north bank of a small river, the
Sancada-holay, which waters a very beautiful valley surrounded on
every side by hills, and in an excellent state of cultivation. At the
public expense eight dams are yearly made in order to water the
rice grounds. They are constructed of earth, and are only intended
to collect the stream in the dry season. In the rains they would
be of no use, and the violence of the stream would then sweep
away the strongest works. The dams are repaired between the
17th of November and the 16th of December, and are carried away
in the two months which precede the summer solstice. There are
here many coco-nut gardens, and these in the best condition of
any that I have seen in Canara. They are well inclosed with stone
walls. Their produce is partly shipped for Mangalore, or Raja-pur a,
and partly sent to the country above the Ghats.
Batuculla is a large open town containing 500 houses. It has two
mosques; one of which receives from the Company an allowance of