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 NAMAKKAL TALUK.

Namakkal lies in the north-west corner of the district, and is bounded on the west and south by the Can very, and traversed by the Karaipottauar and Tirumanimuttdr rivers. The north-east of the taluk is covered by the KoUaimalais, and the Talaiinalai hills lie on its south-eastern border, while at Nama-kkal and Naindmalai high and isolated rocks stand ovit of the plain. The density of its population is comparatively high, being 439 persons to the square mile. It contains more zamindari and iuam villages than any other taluk in the district, because the permanent settlement was introduced in the Salem district, to which it formerly belonged.

Fifty square miles in the taluk are reserved forest and C9 cultivable waste belonging to Government. There are no statistics for the large zamindari area ; but of 212 square miles of Government land only 38 are irrigated — 14 from Government channels, 19 from wells, and 5 from tanks. The soil (84 per cent, of which is red and the rest black) is fertile, 73 per cent, of the dry land being assessed at over a rupee an acre, and of the wet land 56 per cent, at over eight rupees and 76 per cent, at over six rufoo;'. The rainfall (2631 inches) is rather small. Eice, cholam and varagu cover fairly large areas, but cambu is by far the most widely grown crop.

The great Nainamalai cattle fair is one of the largest in the district, and is a centre for the distribution of cattle to other parts. The local Iniffaloes have some reputation and arc apparently the only locally bred cattle which are exported. A good deal of weaving is done in the taluk. Good cloths are made in large quantities at Ncimakkal, Paramati, Tattayyangarpettai and Morupatti, and coarser fabrics at the last two of these villages, Anangur and Sendamangalam. Tape is woven by a few Muhammadaus at Sendamangalam, and woollen carpets at Aniyapurain, Laddivadi, and Puduiipatti. Blankets are made by the Kurumbans in the cast of the taluk, and mats of korai grass at Oravandur and Valavandi^ and of date leaves at Sendamangalam and Andippatti. Household vessels are manufactured in small quantities at Ntimakkal and Sendamangalam, and by one smith at Kondamanayakkaupatti. Two or throe stone-cutters live at ilazipalaiyam and Mohanur,