RAHHAD TO ITlN
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its irrigation works depend upon the capricious rivers Vaigai and
Gundar, and are often in the last state of disrepair and neglect; and
except Ramnad and Rameswaram, already referred to, it contains
no town of interest or importance. Its chief port, Kilakarai, is in
a declining state, and two others of its principal towns, Kamudi and
Abiramam, have advanced but little for many years. Paramagudi, on
the road to Madura, has some reputation for hand-painted cloths;
but the only flourishing town in the estate is Aruppukkottai on the
western border, which derives much of its prosperity from trade with
the neighbouring District of Tinnevelly.
The South Indian Railway has recently been carried from Madura
through Ramnad to Mandapam, at the extreme end of the tongue of
mainland which runs out to meet PAMBAN ISLAND. Projects for carry-
ing it over the remains of the old causeway on to the island, and for
cutting a ship canal through the island and establishing a port for
ocean-going vessels near by, are now under consideration, and if carried
out will greatly increase the prosperity of this portion of the zamindari.
Pamban and the other smaller coral islands in the Gulf of Manaar are
even at present the pleasantest portions of the estate, and are noted for
their turtles and oysters.
Ramnad Tahsil.-Zaminddri tahsil in the subdivision and estate
of the same name in Madura District, Madras. The population in
1901 was 112,851, compared with 107,6oi in 1891. It contains three
towns, RAMNAD (population, 14,546), the head-quarters ; KILAKARAI
(1 1,078), a decaying seaport on the coast; and RAMESWARAM (6;632),
which stands on the island of Pamban and is noted for its beautiful
temple. The tahsil is an unlovely tract, consisting for the most part
of poor sandy or saline soils, covered with little growth beyond stunted
scrub and palmyra palms. The sea-breezes, however, suffice to keep
it cooler than most of the rest of the District.
Ramnad Town (Rdmandtha puram, `the town of Ramanatha').-
Head-quarters of the subdivision, zaminddri, and tahsil of the same
name in Madura District, Madras, situated in 9° 22' N. and 78° 51' E.,
with a station on the Madura-Pamban Railway. Population (1901),
14,546. The town is the head-quarters of the divisional officer and
of an Assistant Superintendent of police, and contains a church
belonging to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and two
Roman Catholic places of worship. It is also the residence of the
Raja of Ramnad, whose palace, a large rambling building, stands at
the end of the chief street. It lies in the midst of ugly and uninterest-
ing country, and its redeeming point is its climate, which is never very
hot and is generally tempered by a breeze from the sea. The town
was taken by General Smith in 1772, and was under military occupation
in 1792. The fortifications, now destroyed, consisted of a wall 27 feet
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