Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 2 (2nd edition).pdf/248

 BELGAUM SUB-DIVISION AND TOWN

238

The number of pilgrims varies from 15,000 to 40,000. November ceremonies represent the death of Yellama’s husband,

three days. I'he

and those

in April his return to life.

performed

at

main temple.

At a

tude raise a deep wake.

With

In November, the mysteries are

a small shrine about a quarter of a mile distant from the

this

certain stage in the

wail,

ceremony the immense

multi-

not unlike the crone of watchers at an Irish

mingles a crackling sound, arising from the great

throng of women, numbering about two-thirds of the whole assembly, who, in sympathy with the goddess in her widowhood, shatter the glass bangles on their arms. see Mr. Stack’s

[For further information regarding Belgaum,

Memorandum on Land Revenue

Settlements, pp. 462-468 and the forthcoming volume of the Bombay Gazetteer, edited by Mr. J. M. Campbell, C.S. also the Bombay Census Report for 1881, and the Bombay Administration

(Government

Press,

Calcutta),



Reports from 1880 to 1883.]

Belgaum. — Sub-division Area,

662

square

miles;

of Belgaum District, contains 201

villages,

Bombay

Presidency.

of which

122 are

Population (1881) 128,477, of whom Of Hindus, 66,709 were returned as males, and 61,768 as females. there were 110,839; of Muhammadans, 11,151; and of ‘others,’

Government and 81

alienated.

6487.

Belgaum.

— Chief

town of the

southern Maratha country,

District of the

Bombay Presidency



same name,

in the

situated at an elevation

of nearly 2500 feet above sea level, on the northern slope of the basin of a watercourse called the Bellary 7idld, an affluent of the Markandi river,

which flows into the Ghatprabha, one of the numerous

of the Kistna (Krishna).

Lat.

15° 51' 37" n., long.

tributaries

74° 33' 59"

e.



population (1881) 23,115, including 9582 in the cantonment. The municipal population, numbering 23,115, comprised 16,519 Hindus, 5169 Muhammadans, 1171 Jains, 254 Christians, and 10 Parsis. The

cantonment contained 5247 Hindus, 1975 Muhammadans, 2 Jains, Municipal revenue 2227 Christians, 43 Parsis, and 88 ‘others.’ (1880-81) ;^3i7o; rate of taxation, is. ii:Jd. per head. The native towm lies between the fort on the east and the military cantonment, which extends along its western front, separated from it by a watercourse. It forms an irregular ellipse, approximating to a circle, of which The rock on which the town the shorter axis is about 1300 yards. The is built consists of laterite, lying upon the trap of the Deccan. Bamboos, from which Vennugrama, the ancient site is well wooded. Kanarese name of the town, is said to be derived, are plentiful, and mangoes, tamarinds, and banyans are also abundant. The fort, about 1000 yards in length and 700 in breadth, is surrounded by a broad and deep wet ditch, cut in hard ground. In 1818, after the overthrow of the Peshwa, the place was invested by a British force.