DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2375#0181
■MM
176
CHAPTER
XVI.
Feb. 28.
Ancola.
March 1,
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
, Ancola is a ruinous fort, with a small market (Bazar) near it*
Robbers have frequently burned the market; but it is now reco-
vering, and contains forty shops. It is not the custom here for
the people to live in towns. A few shops are collected in one place;
and all the other inhabitants of what is called a village are scattered
upon their farms. Most of the people here are of Karnata extrac-
tion ; and few of Kankana descent remain, except a particular kind
of Brahmans, who are all merchants, as those of Haiga are all cul-
tivators. Being originally descended from Pansh Gauda, or Brah-
mans of the north of India, those of Kankana are held in great
contempt by the Dravada Brahmans, or division of the south ; one
of the strongest reasons assigned for which is, that they eat fish.
1st March.—I went five cosses to Chandya. At two computed
cosses from Ancola, I crossed a considerable salt-water inlet called
Belicary. The country between is level, but very sandy, and little
cultivated. The banks of the Belicary are well planted with coco-
nut gardens; and being broken into many islands and points are
very beautiful. At the mouth, although it admits boats of some
size (Patemars), it is not above two hundred yards wide. Small
boats can ascend two cosses, to where the inlet receives from the
Ghats a stream of fresh water. A little north from its mouth is a
high island, called by the natives Sonaka Guda, which with a high
promontory, projecting far to the west, forms a large bay, in which
at this season there is scarcely any surf. Here the road for some
way leads along the beach. At the head of the bay there is a fine
plain between the hills toward the Ghats, and those forming the
promontory which projects into the sea. The soil of this plain is
good, but in many places is spoiled by the irruption of salt water
creeks. Money has this year been advanced to make a bank, which
which will be a great improvement. Toward the north the plain
becomes narrower, and is overgrown with trees. Part of this has
been formerly cultivated ; and, if there were inhabitants, the whole
might be rendered productive. Farther north the valley opens
176
CHAPTER
XVI.
Feb. 28.
Ancola.
March 1,
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
, Ancola is a ruinous fort, with a small market (Bazar) near it*
Robbers have frequently burned the market; but it is now reco-
vering, and contains forty shops. It is not the custom here for
the people to live in towns. A few shops are collected in one place;
and all the other inhabitants of what is called a village are scattered
upon their farms. Most of the people here are of Karnata extrac-
tion ; and few of Kankana descent remain, except a particular kind
of Brahmans, who are all merchants, as those of Haiga are all cul-
tivators. Being originally descended from Pansh Gauda, or Brah-
mans of the north of India, those of Kankana are held in great
contempt by the Dravada Brahmans, or division of the south ; one
of the strongest reasons assigned for which is, that they eat fish.
1st March.—I went five cosses to Chandya. At two computed
cosses from Ancola, I crossed a considerable salt-water inlet called
Belicary. The country between is level, but very sandy, and little
cultivated. The banks of the Belicary are well planted with coco-
nut gardens; and being broken into many islands and points are
very beautiful. At the mouth, although it admits boats of some
size (Patemars), it is not above two hundred yards wide. Small
boats can ascend two cosses, to where the inlet receives from the
Ghats a stream of fresh water. A little north from its mouth is a
high island, called by the natives Sonaka Guda, which with a high
promontory, projecting far to the west, forms a large bay, in which
at this season there is scarcely any surf. Here the road for some
way leads along the beach. At the head of the bay there is a fine
plain between the hills toward the Ghats, and those forming the
promontory which projects into the sea. The soil of this plain is
good, but in many places is spoiled by the irruption of salt water
creeks. Money has this year been advanced to make a bank, which
which will be a great improvement. Toward the north the plain
becomes narrower, and is overgrown with trees. Part of this has
been formerly cultivated ; and, if there were inhabitants, the whole
might be rendered productive. Farther north the valley opens