all sorts is imported in large quantities from the Vizagapatam district, especially from Anakápalle and Yellamanchili, and hawked for sale at all the important festivals.
Of the local manufactures, the brass-work of Peddápuram and the bell-metal work of Pithápuram and Rajahmundry are of good quality and well known. The bell-metal vessels are always cast, but the brass ones are made of three or more pieces soldered together. The lead-work is cast at Rajahmundry, but everywhere else both lead and silver vessels are hammered out of one piece.
Besides the manufacture of household vessels, a little ornamental metal-work is done at Rajahmundry, Cocanada, and Peddápuram. At the two former places brass and copper armour and canopies are made for idols, and at Peddápuram and Dowlaishweram idols of copper are made. In both cases the work is first cast, and then finished with the chisel.
A little painting of a rude kind is done in the district. At Gollapálaiyam (eight miles south-south-west of Cocanada) a family of Kápus paint Hindu gods on curtains and punkah frills with a good deal of skill. Their only tool is a short sharp stick with a piece of cloth tied near the end; the point is used for drawing the outlines and the cloth for applying the colours, which are imported from Europe. Their work was considered worthy of being sent to the Delhi Durbar Exhibition, and they say that it is in demand in China, whither it is exported from Yanam. Two Múchis execute frescoes on walls at Rajahmundry, and one of them paints on cloth. A Múchi of Antarvédi in Nagaram taluk also paints figures on cloth gummed on to wood.
A little inferior pith-work is done by a few Muhammadans at Nagaram and Jagannapéta. They make flowers and images out of sóla pith.
Tamburas and vinas are made (by one Kamsala at each place) at Pithápuram and Rajahmundry, and also at Rájavólu, Sivakódu and Tátipáka in Nagaram taluk. The sounding-boards are carved out of solid blocks of wood. Teak and jack are used, but preferably the latter. The work done at Sivakódu is good.
Wood-carving of excellent quality is done in a number of places. In almost all considerable villages there are a few Múchis or Kamsalas who can carve furniture and door-frames, and make the váhanams, or carved platforms on which gods are carried. The work at Cocanada, Drákshárámam, Rajahmundry, Dowlaishweram and Sivakódu is especially noteworthy.
