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Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 10, p. 377.

CO.NjFF. VFRAM TO WY 377 Along the northern bank of this river, palmyra, coco-nut, and tamarind trees have been largely planted. It is the chief source of irrigation, but the Korttalaiyar also furnishes a supply to a few villages in the north-west. The water from the Palar is led either by direct flow from the river or by spring channels dug on both banks. A channel called the Kambakkal also takes off at the dam which has been built across the river in North Arcot District to supply the Kaveripak tank. This flows along a ridge on the western and northern sides of the tdluk, and fills chains of tanks-sometimes two, three, and four in number-on each side of its course. Conjeeveram Town (AUnch puram).--Head-quarters of the tdluk of the same name in Chingleput District, Madras, situated in 12° 5o' N. and 79° 42' E., 45 miles west-south-west of Madras City on the branch line between Arkonam and Chingleput. It had a population in 19o1 Of 46,164 : namely, 44,684 Hindus, 1,313 Musalmans, 49 Christians, and 118 Jains. The real name of the town is Kanchi or Kanchipuram, and the English form is merely a corruption of this. It is one of the most ancient towns in Southern India, and in the early centuries of the Christian era was the capital of the dynasty of the Pallavas. In the seventh century Hiuen Tsiang, the` Chinese pilgrim, visited it ; and he says the city was 6 miles in circumference and the people in it superior in bravery and piety, as well as in their love of justice and veneration for learning, to many others whom he met with in his travels. Jains were very numerous in his day, and Buddhists and Brahmans of about equal influence. The town passed to the Cholas in the eleventh century. Conjeeveram became the capital of Tondamandalaln, and continued in the hands of the Cholas until they were overthrown by the Musalmans of the north in 1310. When the Vijayanagar kings came into power they speedily annexed the town. It was taken from them by the Musalmans in 1646; the Marathas succeeded in 1677; they were ousted by Aurangzeb's army shortly after; and it remained in the possession of the Musalmans till 1752, when Clive took it from them in the wars with the French. In 1757 the French, beaten off in an attack upon its great temple, set fire to the town. In 1758 the English garrison was temporarily withdrawn on account of the expected advance of the French upon Madras, but was soon sent back with re- inforcements; and during the siege of the capital and the subsequent wars the place played an important part. Conjeeveram is now accounted by Hindus as one of the holiest places in the South, and it is indeed placed among the seven sacred cities of India. It is crowded with temples and shrines. The old Jain temple is situated in the hamlet of Tirupparuttikunram, about z miles south of the weaver quarter of Conjeeveram, called Pillapalaiyam. Its florid architecture and the artistic merit of some of the details, notably