CHAPTER XVI.
PUDUKKOTTAI STATE.
General Description — Minerals — Climate and rainfall —Famines. History — Origin of the present ruling family — Development of its independence — Its relations with the British — Political position of the RSja — The present Riju. The People — The chief castes — Christian missions — Vital statistics — Agricul- ture — Irrigation — Livestock — Industries — Commerce— Means of communication. Administkation— Legislation— Finance — Land Ee venue administration — Forests — Salt — Excise — Miscellaneous revenue — Public Works— Civil Justice — Registration — Criminal Justice — Police and jails — Crime— Education — Medica.1 — Vftccination — Sanitation. Places of Interest — Ambakkdvil — Avur — Kattnbav^ Pallivisal — KiMnilai — Kudumiyaraalai — N§rttAmalai— Perunga- lur — Peraiynr — Pndukk6ttai — Sittanna vasal — Tirumananjeri — Tirumayam — Tiruvarankolam— V i r&l im a la i.
Pudukkottai is the third in importance of the five Native States which have direct political relations with the Government of Madras. It is bounded on the north and west by the Triehinopoly district, the Collector of which is ex-offfcio Political Agent for it, on the south by Madura and on the east by Tanjore, It com- prises an area of 1,178 square miles and measures 52 miles from east to west and 41 miles from north to south.
It is called after its chief town, and the name means ' the new fort,' but it has long been known as ' the Tondaiman's country ' from the family name of its ruling chiefs.
In its general physical aspects, it resembles the inland parts of the east coast of the Presidency and consists for the most part of an undulating plain of barren and sparsely cultivated land inter- spersed with small but picturesque rocky hills, some of which ai-e crowned by ancient forts and temples, 'i'hese hills are most numerous in the south-west portion, where the country is wild and rugged and where lie also the thickest of the jungles. In these last are found black buck, spotted deer, wild pig and some wild cattle which originally were village cattle of the ordinary type but arc now larger and stronger than the usual plough-bullocks. Four small rivers drain the country from west to east.
The State is not rich in minerals. Iron ore occurs in parts and was once extouHively worked at Tiruvarankulam and near Peruii- galtjr ; but the industry has died out. Mica is found, and
