Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 2 (2nd edition).pdf/260

 bellary taluk and town.

250

Report of the Indian Famine Commission (London, 1880),

article,

see

and

Appendices.]

its

—

Taluk of Bellary District, Madras Presidency. Situated Bellary. between lat. 14° 57' and 15° 42' n., and long. 76° 44' and 77° 16' e. ; 925 square miles; containing 162 towns and villages, with 29,359 houses, and a total population in 1881 of 148,937, being 75,821 males, and 73,116 females. Land revenue (i88r-82) £,'^1

area,

excise, jf662o. The taluk lies in the angle formed by the Tungabhadra and Hagari rivers, a level expanse of black cotton soil. The Copper mountain, so called from the mines worked by Haidar Ali, and the Bellary Rock, on which the fort is built, are the only important physical features. Nearly two-thirds of the total area are under

which about 7000 acres are artificially irrigated. The number, are all insignificant. The channels from the rivers irrigate only 4000 acres, and the normal rainfall is very light. This taluk, therefore, is considered one of the most arid in the District It contains three civil and three revenue courts. Bellary ( Valahari ). Chief town of Bellaiy' District, Madras Presicultivation, of

tanks,

in

5

—

Lat

dency.

15°

8'

51" N., long.

76°

57'

15"

E.



houses,

10,611;

population (1881) 53,460, namely, 34,636 Hindus, 15,068 Muhammadans, 3566 Christians (including the European garrison), and 190 ‘others;’ municipal income (r88i-82) ;^6ooo

per head,

is.



incidence of taxation

Being the head-quarters of the

i^d.

District Administra-

and of a brigade of the Madras army, Bellary possesses all the public establishments and offices pertaining to a civil and military station of the first class. Situated on an arid plain that stretches from the foot of a mass of granitic rock, 450 feet in height and about 2 miles The in circuit, the town is defended by two lines of fortifications. upper fort crowns the rock, and being inaccessible in the face of even tion,

may be

the smallest force,

lower

fort,

The

considered impregnable by assault.

containing the arsenal, guards the eastern base.

On

this

and comCowle Bazar,

side stand several public buildings, including the post-office

Southward stretches the native quarter,

missariat stores.

Bruce-pettah, and Mellor-pettah, containing the finest military market in

Southern

when

quite

India.

A

large tank,

nearly 3 miles in circumference is as a rule dry for a

but which, being very shallow,

full,

On the west are lies on this side of the rock. grouped the regimental lines, substantial buildings with accommodation for two European and two Native regiments; the present force consists of one regiment of British infantry, a battery of artillery, two regiments of Native infantry, and one of Native cavalry total strength, 2809. part of every year,

—

On

the northern side stand the civil lines, with the public offices,

churches, dispensary, and school, railway station and telegraph

By

rail,

Madras

is

305 miles

distant.

office.