Page:A descriptive and historical account of the Godavery District in the presidency of Madras (IA descriptivehisto00morrrich).pdf/19

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THE GODAVERY DISTRICT.

CHAPTER I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DISTRICT,

BOUNDANIES AND AREA—- DESCRIPTION OF TIE RIVER GODAVERT— GENERAG SURVEY OF TH DELTA—STATISTICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS DIVISIONS OF THE DISTRICT.

Tue Godavery District is one of the five Northern Circars, which form the most northern province of the Presidency of Madras, I¢ is of a rather irregular shape, but compact and accessible, its length being not very much greater than its breadth, and Rajahmundry, the principal town, being situated almostin the centre. It is divided into nearly equal parts by the river Godavery. It lies between 16” 18’ and 17° 56° 35” N, lat, and 80° 56’ and 82° 40’ E. Jong. It is bounded on tho north by the territory of His Highness the Nizam, and the Central Provinces; on the north-east by the District of Vizagapa- tam; on the cast and south by the Bay of Bengal; and on the west by the Kistna District. Its area is 6224 square miles,

The District forms a portion of the rich belt of land which fringes tho Bay of Bengal, and extends to the sea from the mountains that gird the peninsula on the eastern coast. The southern part of the District is flat, and exceedingly fertile, especially where it is irri- gated by the innumerable canals and channels which branch from the river. Green fields of paddy extend in every direction, diver- sified by gardens of plantains, betelnut, and cocoa-nut, and innu- merable palmyras aro dotted over the surface of the country,