9
which rise to 5,000 feet,[1] quite separated by valleys of not more than 1,200 feet from the ranges of ghautes on west and east. The drainage from the Neemgiris and the neighbouring country flows directly in a south-east direction to the sea, forming the river at Calingapatam (the 'Vamsadhara' from the bamboo (vamsa) growing on its banks) and that at Chicacole (the Nagávali.)
16. Exclusive of large tracts held by semi-independent Khonds,
the upper portion is occupied by three powerful chiefs, one at Godairy,
one at Bissemcuttack, and the third at Singapore, feudatories of Jeypore, while the lower taluqs are managed by the Rajah of Jeypore directly. The Officers of the Meriah Agency indicated seven Khond
Sirdarpur.
Godairy.
Bijipur.
Chandrappor.
Rayabiji.
Bisernouttack.
Dargi.
Muttas as addicted to human sacrifice; they
are noted in the margin. The first, Sirdarpur,
congist of some twenty villages; the chief village lies twenty miles north-east of Gunapur;
it is in a very wild part of the country, surrounded with lofty hills covered with dense
jungle. The second, Godairy, has its chief village on the banks of the
Vamsādhārs river. It was first visited by General Campbell some
fifteen years ago, and finding it very central as well as tolerably
healthy, he constructed a guard-house and a small bungalow for the
occasional visits of an officer, with other conveniences. The country
betweeen Godairy and Gunapur is perfectly open. The Godairy
chief, Chaitan Deo, is a member of the Rajah's family; he holds this
taluq and that of Naorangpur on the east of the ghauts. The Godairy
tāluq, comprising the four Muttäs of Dippagudda, Navera, Jalanidhi
and Burukudu, consists of 150 villages; seventy of these are in the
occupation of Khonds, whose payments are nominal; his income from
the rest comes to 5,850 Rupees a year in money besides twenty-one
garce of grain. The villages are rented for three or five years to one
of the principal ryots; and the renter, whoever he is, is always considered the Patro or Majji (Headman) of the village, performing the
duties without extra emoluments. The office is frequently held for
generatione by the same family, for there is a disposition not to disturb those once in, if it can be avoided. Each village too hies its serf
or vetty, but in very few cases is there any land attached to the office,
which is remunerated by fees in grain by the general community.
- ↑ Height ascertained by Colonel Saxton.
