Gazetteer of Southern India

GAZETTEEROFSOUTHERN INDIA, THE TBNASSERIM PROVINCES AND SINGAPORE.THE preparation of this work was undertaken in consequence ofthe inconvenience felt from the absence of any compilation comprehending full and accurate descriptions of the provinces subject tothe Government of Madras.Numerous descriptive papers are to be found scattered in variouspublications, some of which the Medical Topographical Eeportsfor example have been prepared at the instance of the Government j but, from the complete absorption of the time of the publicfunctionaries, in their strictly official duties, and the difficulty experienced by private individuals in collecting authentic materials, no attempt has hitherto been made to analyse, dissect, and reviseexisting details, to accumulate additional information, and combinethe whole in one intelligible volume, valuable at once for purposesof reference and studySuch a volume has always appealed to the undersigned a greatdesideratum. They have observed, during a long experience of therequirements of Madras society, that gentlemen in the civil andmilitary services appointed to districts, have felt themselves muchat a loss iVjome starting point of information regarding the localityof their future residence and service. The stranger, the traveller, the clergyman, the missionary, the uncovonantcd functionary, themerchant, the trader, the student, have continually expressed theirregret at the absence of some trustworthy and comprehensive guideTo supply this want, in a manner worthy at once oftheir ownreputation, and of the support of the Madras community, whichthey hare so long enjoyed in other forms, has been the aim of theCompilers and they entertain the hope that the labour that hasbeen bestowed for many years, and the great expense now incurred, will not be found to have been expended in vain.As the foundation of a work professing to treat of the geographyand topography of a large extent of country, maps have necessarilybeen prepared of every province, district, and cantonment, underthe Madras Presidency. The best and latest authorities have beenconsulted for this part of the work, and it is confidently believedthat the general accuracy of the details will be found upon a parwith the care bestowed in the tracing or drawing of the maps. Toeffect this latter object in the most complete manner, the Compilershave availed themselves of the services of Mr. Walker, the ableSuperintendent of the Map Department of the East India House, and have spent upwards of 1,000 in the preparation and engravingof the maps and plans.In the descriptions of the various provinces, districts, and townsof Southern India, it has not been practicable to observe uniformityof arrangement, because the information available to the Compilershas not been in every case of the same extensive character. Stillwhenever practicable, a settled plan has been followed, placing theattributes of each division of the country in their natural seque