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 PREFACE.

This Gazetteer has been prepared on the plan prescribed by Government according to which statistics have been relegated as far as possible to a separate Appendix which is to be revised decennially. The original 'District Manual' was written by Mr. H. Morris of the Madras Civil Service in 1878.

I have gratefully to return thanks for help from many quarters. The account of the early history has been almost entirely based on information supplied by Rai Bahadur V. Venkayya, M.A., the Government Epigraphist, whose kindness in reading and correcting my drafts and answering my questions I cannot too warmly acknowledge. The District officials have all given me their ready and cordial assistance, and so have many non-official residents of the district. I wish particularly to express my obligations to the Revs. J. H. Harper, J. Cain and A. Gangloff, to Messrs. E. B. Elwin, I.C.S., H. Lafiamme, C. Mildred, G. F. F. Foulkes, M. G. K. Waite, J. F. Marshall, M. Woodhouse, W. J. M. Inkster, L. D. Buchanan, H. J. Allen, F. Armitage, A. C. Pranatartihara Aiyar, R. Venkata Rao and V. Parthasaradhi Chetti and to Capt. M. N. Chaudhuri, I. M.S. All these gentlemen have helped me with the records at their disposal or with their personal experience; and they have supplied a large portion of the material found in this Gazetteer. I have also to thank Mr. J. A. Gumming, I.C.S., for reading through the proofs and for many valuable suggestions.

F. R. H.