Page:A descriptive and historical account of the Godavery District in the presidency of Madras (IA descriptivehisto00morrrich).pdf/11



THE following monograph is one of a series of descriptive memoirs of all the Districts in the Madras Presidency, which is being prepared under the direction of the Government. It is, however, in one respect unique. It is the history of a District which owes its prosperity to the benefits derived from judicious irrigation; and it is, therefore, of special interest at the present time. The attention of the people of England has been attracted to this subject by the terrible famine which has recently desolated Southern India. The immediate effects of this sad visitation are happily passing away; but the recollection of it cannot easily be effaced, and remedies against similar calamities are being diligently sought. The Godavery District is a proof of the incalculable advantages of irrigation, which, when carefully planned and energetically carried out, is an effectual remedy against famine, wherever it can be applied with any hope of success.

This volume has not only received the imprimatur of the Board of Revenue at Madras, to whom it was officially submitted, but those portions of it which relate to their own labours were submitted to Sir Arthur Cotton, by whose genius principally the District has been rendered prosperous; to Sir Henry C. Montgomery, whose wise suggestions tended to remove many of the evils by which it was once impoverished;