V^i]'




THE LIBRARY

OF

THE UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES



Cni/^>l-w'u l\\i W1.I jiiWtll^



AGENTS FOR THE SALE OF MADRAS GOVERNMENT
PUBLICATIONS.



IN INDIA.

A. C. Barraud & Co. (Late A. J. Combridge & Co.), Madras.

R. Cambray & Co., Calcutta.

E. M. GoPALAKRiSHNA KoNE, Pudumantapam, Madura.

HiGGiNBOTHAMS, (Ltd.), Mount Road, Madras.

V. Kalvanarama Iyer & Co., Esplanade, Madras.

G. C. Loganatham Brothers, Madras.

S. MuRTHY & Co., Madras.

G. A. Natesan & Co., Madras.

The Superintendent, Nazair Kanun Hind Press, Allahabad.

P. R. Rama Iyar & Co., Madras.

D. P.. Taraporevala Sons & Co., Bombay.

Thacker & Co. (Ltd.), Bombay.

Thacker, Spink & Co., Calcutta,

S. Vas & Co., Madras.



IN ENGLAND.

B. H. Blackwell, 50 and 51, Broad Street, Oxford.

Constable & Co., 10, Orange Street, Leicester Square, London, W'.C.

Deighton, Bell & Co. (Ltd.), Camb. idge.

T. Fisher Unwin (Ltd.), i, Adelphi Terrace, London, W.C.

Grindlay & Co., S4, Parliament Street, London, S.W.

Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. (Ltd.), 68—74, Carter Lane, London,

E.C. and 25, Museum Street, London, W.C.
Henry S. King & Co., 65, Cornhill, London, E.C. .

P. S. King & Son, 2 and 4, Great Smith Street, Westminster, London, S.W.
LuzAC & Co., 46, Great Russell Street, London', W.C.
B. Quaritch, II, Grafton Street, New Bond Street, London, W.
W. Thacker & Co., 2, Creed Lane, London, E.C.



ON THE CONTINENT.

Ernest Leroux, 28, Rue Bonaparte, Paris.
Martinus Nijhofk, The Hague, Holland.



MADRAS DISTRICT GAZETTEERS.



I I



GODAVARI

VOLUME I.



[Price, 2 rupees.] [3 shillings.]




\f • _NaBavaram "'-■' 'O '^''^'^'*°'''-'^ cj.jji'p h '^' "/ '*^'




^.•^



MADRAS DISTRICT GAZETTEERS



godAvari



BY

F. R. HEMINGWAY,

INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE,



MADRAS:
REPRINTED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT, GOVERNMENT PRESS.

I 9 lis .






/9/S
PREFACE. /. /



This Gazetteer has been prepared on the plan prescribed by
Government according to which statistics have been rele-
gated 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 answer-
ing 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. Partha-
saradhi 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 Gazet-
teer. I have also to thank Mr. J. A. Gumming, I.C.S., for
reading through the proofs and for many valuable sugges-
tions.



F. R. H.



1111157



PLAN OF CONTENTS.



Chapter pages

I. Physical Description ... ... 1-16

II. Political History ... ... ... ... ... 17-37

III. The People 38-67

IV. Agriculture and Irrigation... ... ... ... 68-91

V. Forests ... ... ... ... ... ... Q2-101

VI. Occupations AND Trade ... ... 102-123

VII. Means of Communication ... ... 124-134

VIII. Rainfall AND Seasons ... ... 135-147

IX. Public Health ... ... ... ... ... 148-152

X. Education ... ... ... ... ... ... 153-159

XI. Land Revenue Administration ... ... ... 160-180

XII. Salt, Abkari and Miscellaneous Revenue 181-187

XIII. Administration of Justice ... ... ... ... 188-195

XIV. Local Self-Government ... ... ... ... 196-199

XV. Gazetteer —

Amalapuram Taluk ... ... ... ... ... 200-206

Cocanada Taluk ... ... ... ... ... 207-216

Nagaram Taluk ... ... ... ... ... 217-220

Peddapuram Taluk ... ... ... .>. ... 221-226

Pithapuram Division ... ... ... ... ... 227-239

Rajahmundry Taluk ... ... ... ... ... 240-248

Ramachandrapuram Taluk ... ... ... ... 249-254

Tuni Division ... ... ... ... ... ... 255-257

Bhadrachalam Taluk ... ... ... ... ... 258-265

Chodavaram Division ... ... ... ... ... 266-277

Polavaram Division ... ... ... ... ... 278-283

Yellavaram Division ... ... ... ... ... 284-288

Index 289-302



TABLE OF CONTENTS.



CHAPTER I.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION.

PAGE
General DESCRIPTION (page i) — Chief towns (2) — Etymology of the name-
Natural divisions (3). Hills— The Ghats. Rivers (4)— The Godavari —
Its sanctity (6) — Its islands and encroachments — The season of its floods
(7) — Its tributaries — The Yeleru, Soils (8). Geology — Physical changes
now in progress (9). Minerals (10) — Coal — The Gauridevipeta field —
Bedadanuru — Gold (11) — Iron — Graphite — Mica — Building stone — Rock-
crystals, garnets, sapphires. Climate — Rainfall — Temperature (12) —
Wind and weather. Flora. Fauna (13) — Cattle— Buffaloes — Sheep and
goats (14) — Cattle-breeding — Feeding methods— Cattle diseases — Cattle
fairs (15)— Game— Fish — Native sportsmen (16) ... ... ... ... 1-16

CHAPTER IL

POLITICAL HISTORY.

Early History (page 17)— Asoka's conquest, 260 B.C. — The Andhras, down
to 200 A. D. (18) — The Pallavas, about 200-615 A.D. — The Chalukyas —
Their conquest of Vengi, about 615 (19)— Separation of the Eastern and
Western Chalukyas, about 630 — Hiuen Tsiang's description of the former
(20) — Eastern Chalukya rule, 630-999- -Chola conquest, 999 — Kulottunga
Chola I (21) — He obtains the Chola and Vengi thrones, 1070 — His viceroys
in Vengi — His death in 1119 and the decline of the Cholas (22)— The
Velanandu chieftains, twelfth century (23) — The Kona chiefs of the delta
— Local chiefs of Ellore, Nadendla, etc, — The Kakatiyas of Warangal
conquer Kistna about 1200 (24) — And Godavari about 1300— Pratapa
Rudra's viceroys — Temporary Musalman conquest of the district, 1323 (25)
— The Korukonda Reddis, 1325-95 — The Reddis of Kondavid, 1344-1422
— The Rajahmundry Reddis, 1422-50 (26) — The Gajapatis of Orissa take
the district, 1450 — But cede part of it to the Muhammadans, 1470 — The
latter ousted, 1489 (27) — Conquest by Vijayanagar, 1 515— Musalman
conquest of Kistna, 1540 — And of Godavari, 1571 (28). Muhammadan
Period — Weakness of their rule — Aurangzeb establishes his authority,
1687 (29) — The Subadar of the Deccan becomes independent, 1724 — The
Northern Circars ceded to the French, 1753 (30)— Their difficulties there —
Eussy at length obtains possession, 1757 (31) — Forde's expedition against
the French, 1758 — His victory at Condore — The country cleared of the
French (32) — Cession of the Northern Circars to the English, 1765 (33).
English Period (34) — Early administration — Disturbances of the peace —
In 1785-go (34)— In 1790-1800— Quieter times thereafter (36)— Subba
Reddi's rebellion, 1858 — Outbreaks in Rampa 17-37



X TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER III.

THE PEOPLE.

PAGE

General Characteristics (page 38)— Density of the population— Its growth
— Parent-tongue — Religions. The Jains (38). The Musalmans. The
Christians — American Evangelical Lutheran Mission — The Canadian
Baptist Mission (40) — The Church Missionary Society (41) — The Roman
Catholic Mission (42). The Hindus — Villages— Houses (43)— Dress (44)
— Food (44) — Amusements — Superstitions (46)— Village, caste, and family
gods (47) — Marriage rules and ceremonies (49) — Funerals (50). Prin-
cipal Castes — Telugu Brahmans (51) — Razus (53)— Komatis (54) — Kapus
(55) — Kammas — Perikes (56) — Idigas (57) — Gamallas — Kamabattus (58)
— Sanis— Malas — Madigas (60) — Koyas — Hill Reddis (66) 38-67



CHAPTER IV.

AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION.

Wet Cultivation (page 68)— Paddy; its seasons — Its varieties — Rain-fed
paddy (69)— Sowing 7'ersiis transplantation — Methods of raising seedlings —
Preparation of fields (70) — Transplantation and care of the crop — Second-
crop cultivation (71) — Third crops — Agricultural maxims — Wet crops
other than paddy (72) — Rotations — Cultivation of sugar-cane — Jaggery-
making (74) — Ratooning — Varieties of sugar-cane — Recent sugar-cane
disease and the Samalkot experimental farm (75). Dry Cultivation (76)
— Seasons, etc. — Cultivation (77)— Cholam — Tobacco (77) —Improvement
of the leaf — Shifting cultivation in the Agency— Storage of grain (79).
Irrigation — Protected area. Thk Godavari Anicut — Origin of the idea
(So) — First estimates — The site and design (81) — Progress of construction
(82) — Subsequent difiiculties (83) — Alterations since effected (84) — Distri-
butarv works (85) — The Gannavaram aqueduct (86) — Completion of
distributaries (87) — Financial results of the scheme — Possible extensions
of it (88) — Its administration. Other Irrigation Sources (89) — Minor
channels and tanks— Wells— Artesian wells (90). Economic Condition
OF Agriculturists 68-91



CHAPTER V.

FORESTS.

Early Operations (page 92)— Progress'of reservation. Settlement (93)—
Proprietary rights -Susceptibilities of the jungle tribes (04)— P6r/z< cultiva-
tion. Administration (95)— In Rampa— In the rest of the Agency (96)
— River transit rules (97)— Fire-protection — Artificial reproduction (97);
casuarina— Mangrove Introduction of exotics, etc. General Charac-
ter OF the Forests— On the coast— In the uplands (99) — In Polavaram
and Yellavaram— In Rampa (100)— In Bhadrichalam— Timber and the
market for it (loi)— Minor forest produce— Forest revenue 92-101



TABLE OF CONTENTS. xi

CHAPTER VI.

OCCUPATIONS AND TRADE.

PAGB
Arts and Industries (page 102) — Silk-weavers — Cotton-weavers (103) ;
their numbers — Their methods — Tape-weaving (104) — Gunny-weaving —
Cotton-dyeing — Chintz-stamping (105) — Mats and tattis — Metal-work —
Painting (106) — Pith-work— Musical instruments — Wood and stone carving
— Ropes (107) — Oils — Tanning — Shoes (108) — Baskets — Bangles — Pottery
(109) — Country sugar - Mercury — House-building (no) — Printing-presses
—Rice-mills — Indigo factories — Ship-building— Dowlaishweram workshops
— District Board Workshops at Cocanada (in)— Samalkot distillery and
sugar-factory — Dummagudem lace (112). Trade — Markets — Grain-deal-
ing — Exports — Imports (113) — Trade of Cocanada— The harbour — Port
conservancy (114) — European business houses at Cocanada (115) —
European Chamber of Commerce— Steamers visiting the port — Amount of
trade — Character of trade (116). Weights and Measures (117) —
Goldsmiths' weights — Commercial weights — Measures of capacity (118) —
Miscellaneous commercial notations (120)— Lineal measures — Land
measures (121) — Measures of time (122) — Local monetary terms ... ... 102-123

CHAPTER VII.

MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.

Roads — (page 124)— Their length and condition— Quarries — Maintenance,
establishment and allotments (125) — Bridges — Ferries (126). Water
Carriage (127)— The rivers — Upper Godavari project (128)— Navigable
canals (129) ; their history — Expenditure and traffic (130) — Nature of
traffic (131) — Conflicting interests of irrigation and navigation (132).
Madras Railway. Accommodation for travellers (133)—
Bungalows — Chattrams ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 124-134

CHAPTER Vm.

RAINFALL AND SEASONS

Rainfall (page 135). Famine (136) — The conditions existing —Famine
in 1791 (137)— The ' Guntiir famine' of 1833 (138) — Distress in
1835-38 (139) — Disasters of 1839-41 (140)— Improvement resulting from
the anicut — Scarcity in the Agency, 1897. Inundations by the sea
(141) — About 1706 — In 1787 (142) — Its extent and effects — The accom-
panying hurricane (143) — The landholders' losses — Inundation of 1839.
Cyclones (144). Floods- In 1614 (X4<;)— In 1875, 1878, 1882,1883
and 1884— Great flood of 1886— Floods of 1887 and 1892 (146)— Of 1895-

96— Of 1900 (147) 135-147

CHAPTER IX.

PUBLIC HEALTH.

Prey.\lent Ijiskases (page 148) — Malaria ; in the Agency — In the uplands
(149) — In the delta — Cholera— Small-pox (150) — Other diseases— Sanita-
tion. Medical In.stitutions (151) — Public hospitals and dispensaries
— Mission institutions — Institutions in Cocanada— Rajahmundry hospital
(152^ 148-152



xii TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER X.

EDUCATION.

PAGE

Census Statistics (page 153)— By taluks — By religions. Educational
Institutions — Early beginnings — Schools now existing (154) — The
Government college, Rajahmundry — The Government training college,
Rajahraundry (156) — The Pithapuram Raja's College (157) ... 153-159



CHAPTER XI.

LAND REVENUE ADMINISTRATION.

Early History (page 160) -The zamindars — Their administration (i6i)— The
havili land — Committee of Circuit, 1785-87 (162) — Settlement with the
zamindars in 1879 (163)— Abolition °f ^^^ Chiefs and Councils, 1794 —
Collectors of the ;^c^;^7^ land. The Permanent Settlement, 1802-03
(164) — Its failure (165) — Its effect on the ryots (166)— Special Commis-
sioner appointed, 1S43 (167). Ryotwari Settlements — Before 1865 —
Settlement of 1865-66 (169) — Its scope (170) — Grouping of villages —
Classification of soils— Standard crops, grain outturns, commutation prices
— Cultivation expenses and money rates (171) — Financial results — Water-
rate in the delta (172) — The existing settlement ; its scope — Reclassifica-
tion of delta soils — Water-rate problems (173) — Settlement of wild tracts
(174) —Financial results — Bhadrachalam taluk — Proprietary rights (175) —
Fixing of the peshkash — Settlement of 1890 in Bhadrachalam (176) —
Agency tracts and rented villages (177). District and Divisional
Limits (178). Village Establishments— Re-organized in 1866 —
Revised in 18S5 (179). INAMS (180) 160-180



CHAPTER XII.

SALT, ABKARI AND MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE.

Salt (page 181) — The systems of administration — Methods of manufacture
(182) — Markets — Salt for Vanam — Fish-curing yards (183) — Contraband
salt-earth.- Abkaki and Opium — Arrack— Arrack in the Agency (184) —
Toddy (185)— Toddy in the Agency — Foreign liquor — Opium and hemp-
drugs— In the Agency (186). Customs — Land-customs — Sea-customs
(187). Income-tax. Stamps 181-187



CHAPTER Xm.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

Early Methods (page 188) — Under native rule — Under the Chiefs and
Councils. The Present System (189) — In the plains— In the Agency.
Civil Justice (191)— Existing Courts — Amount of litigation — Registra-
tion. Criminal Justice — The various Courts — Crime (192) — The
Vanadis or Nakkalas — Other criminal classes (193). Police (194) —
Former systems— The existing force. Jails (195) ... ••• •■• ... 188-195



TABLE OF CONTENTS. xiii

CHAPTER XIV.



LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT.



Page



The Local Boards (page 196) — The Unions (197) — Finances of the Boards.
The Two Municipalities — Cocanada municipality — Kajahmundry
municipality (198) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 196-199



CHAPTER XV.

GAZETTEER.

Amalapuram taluk (page 200) — Amalapuram (201) — Ambajipcta — Ayinavalli
(202) — Banddrulanka — Bendamiirlanka — Gannavaram — Kesanakuriu (203)
— Mandapalli Muramalla — Palivela — Peruru (204) — Rali (205) — Vadapalli
— Vanapalli — Vyagresvarapuram (206). Cocanada Taluk (207) —
Bhimavaram— Chollangi (208)— Cocanada — Coringa (210) — Gollapalaiyam
(212) — Injaram — Nilapalli (213) — Samalkot — Sarpavaram (214) — Tallarevu
(215) — Yanam Nagaram Taluk (217) — Aniarvedi — Jagannapeta (218)
— Kadali (219) — Nagaram — Rajavolu — Sivakodu — Tatipaka (220). Pedda-
PURAM Taluk (221) — Annavaram — DhiramalUipuram — Tagammapeta
(222) — Kandrakota — Ivattipudi — Kirlampudi — Peddapuram — ■ Prattipadu
(224) — Ragampeta (225) — Ratigampeta — Talh'iru — Totapalli — Viravaram
(226) — Yelesvaram. Pithapuram Division (227) — Chandurti — Kotta-
palli (232) — Mulapeta — Pithapuram (233) — Ponnada (239) — Uppada.
Rajahaiundry Taluk (240) — Dowlaishweram — Gokavaram (242) —
Korukonda — Kottapalli (243) — Rajahmundry. Ramachandrapuram
Taluk (249) — Bikkavolu — Draksharamam (250)— Gangavaram (252) —
Kotipalli — Maredipaka (253) — Ramachandrapuram — Ramaghatt;ilu —
Vegayammapeta (254). TuNi Division (255)— Bendapiidi — Hamsavaram
(256) — Kottapalli — Talliiru —Tatipaka — Tetagunta — Tuni. Bhadra-
CHALAM Taluk (258) — Bhadrachalam (259) — Dummagudem (262) —
Gundala — Kumarasvamigudem (263) — Kunnavaram — Parnasala — Rekapalle
— SriRamagiri (265). Chodavaram Division (266)— Bandapalli— Biram-
palli (267) — Boduh'iru — Bolagonda — Chavala — Chiduguru — Chodavaram
(268) — Chopakonda — Dandangi - Dorachintalapalem — Geddada — Kakuru —
Kondamodalu (269) — Kundada — Marrivada —Musurumilli (270) — Xedunuru
— Nimmalapalem -Palem Pamuleru -Peta -Rampa — Sirigindalapadu(276)
— Tadepalli — Tunmiru (277)— Vadapalli — Velagapalli — Valamiiru— Vemula-
konda, Polavaram Division (278) — Gangolu Gutala — Jangareddi-
giidem (279) — Pata Pattisam — Polavaram (2S0) Taduvayi (283). Yella-
VARAM Division (284)— Addaligela— Anigeru (285)— Dutcharti— Gurtedu
(286) — Jaddangi — Rota (287) — Mohanapuram — Nellipudi— Pandrapole —
Ramavaram — Virabhadrapuram (288) .. ... ... ... ... ... 200-288



GAZETTEER



GODAVARI DISTRICT.



CHAPTER I.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION.



General description — Chief towns — Etymology of the name— Natural
divisions. HiLLS — The Ghats. Rivers— The G6davari-Its sanctity-
Its islands and encroachments — The season of its floods — Its tributaries

The Yeleru, Soils. Geology — Physical changes now in progress.

Minerals— Coal — The Gauridevipeta field — Bedadanuru — Gold — Iron

Graphite— Mica - Building stone— Kock-crystals, garnets, sapphires. Cli-
mate — Rainfall — Temperature— Wind and weather. Flora. Fauna

Cattle— Buffaloes— Sheep and goats — Cattle-breeding— Feeding methods-
Cattle diseases— Cattle fairs — Game — Fish — Native sportsmen.

The Godavari district lies on the north-east coast of the
Madras Presidency. It has an area of 5,634 square miles and
extends from 16° 20' to 18° 4' N. and from 80° 52' to 82^ 36' E.
It is bounded on the north-east by Vizagapatam, on the north
by the same district and the Bastar State of the Central
Provinces, and on the west and south-west by the Godavari
river, which separates it from the Nizam's Dominions and
Kistna. The district, however, extends across this river at one
point to include the Polavaram division. Godavari is roughly
triangular in shape, its base being formed by the line of the
coast from the western mouth of the Godavari river to the
Vizagapatam border, one side by the Godavari river itself,
and the other by the irregular frontier of Vizagapatam and the
Central Provinces.

The district is made up of ten taluks and two deputy
tahsildars' divisions ; namely, the taluks of Nagaram,^ Amala-
puram, Ramachandrapuram and Cocanada, which make up
the fertile delta of the Godavari river; the upland taluks of

^ Nagaram taluk is also commonly known as the Tatipaka siina (' country ')
from the village of that name within it, and Amalapuram taluk as the Kona sim(f
('the end country').



CHAP. I.

General
descrip-
tion.



GODAVARL



CHAP. I.

General

DESCRIP-
TION.



Chief towns.



Etymology
of the name.



Rajahmundry and Peddapuram ; ^ the hilly divisions of
Yellavaram, Chodavaram and Polavaram ; the taluk of
Bhadrachalam beyond the Eastern Ghats ; and the two zamin-
dari deputy tahsildars' divisions of Pithapuram and Tuni in
the north-eastern corner of the district, the former of which
resembles in character the upland taluks and the latter the
three hilly divisions. Statistical particulars of each of these
areas will be found in the separate Appendix to this volume,
and some account of each and of its chief towns and villages
is given in Chapter XV below. Yellavaram, Chodavaram,
Polavaram and Bhadrachalam are tracts covered with hill
and jungle and inhabited by uncivilized tribes to whom it is
inexpedient to apply the whole of the ordinary law of the
land. Under the Scheduled Districts Act of 1874, these have
been formed (see p. 190) into an Agency in which civil justice
is administered under special rules and the Collector has
special powers in his capacity of ' Government Agent.' They
are consequently always known as ' the Agency ' or ' the
Agency tracts.'

The capital of the district is the busy seaport and
municipality of Cocanada, and with the exception of Nagaram
taluk and Yellavaram division, the head-quarters of the
various taluks and divisions are the towns or villages from
which they are named- The head-quarters of Nagaram taluk
is Rajavolu (Razole) ; and of Yellavaram, Addatigela.
Besides the tahsildars' stations, both Samalkot in the Coca-
nada taluk and Dowlaishweram near Rajahmundry are towns
of importance and interest.

Many places in the delta, such as Coringa, Georgepet,
Nilapalli, and Injaram in the Cocanada taluk and Bendamur-
lanka in Amalapuram, were notable ports or settlements of
the East India Company at the beginning of the nineteenth
century. All these have now sunk into insignificance. The
little village of Chandurti in the Pithapuram division has
given its name, under the distorted form of Condore,^ to the
decisive battle by which the sovereignty of the whole of the
Northern Circars was wrested by the British from the French.
Yanam in the Cocanada taluk is one of the few French
settlements in India.

Godavari takes its name from the great river which forms
its western boundary and the delta of which is its richest and
most fertile portion. Rai Bahadur V. Venkayya, M.A., the

' The parts of Cocanada and Peddapuram taluks and of the Pithapuram
division which are watered by the Yeleru river are often spoken of as Porlunadu.
Cf. Chapter XV, p. 221.

2 See below Chapter II, p. 31 and Chapter XV, p. 227.



TION.



Natural



PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION. j

Government Epigraphist, considers that the word means cHAP. i.
literally either 'streams giving water' (sometimes in old general
writings abbreviated to Goda or ' giving water ') or ' streams descr p-
giving kine.' Another Sanskrit authority ^ interprets the
word in a somewhat similar way as meaning ' the best (vari)
[of those that] give water ' ; and adds the alternative ' the
chief [of those that] give heaven ' with reference to the sancti-
fying power of the river. The local and popular etymology
of the name says that it means ' the expiation for killing a
cow,' and a well-known story relates how the rishi Gautama
brought the Godavari to the district to expiate the sin of
having killed a cow in a moment of anger. Kovvurin Yerna-
gudem taluk, Kistna district, the name of which is said to
mean * the village of the cow,' is pointed out as the place
where the cow was slain and the water was first made to flow.

The district consists of four very dissimilar natural
divisions ; namely (beginning in the north-west), the undu- divisions.
lating taluk of Bhadrachalam above the Eastern Ghats; the
hilly agency divisions which really form a part of that range ;
the upland taluks which divide the agency hills from the low
lands of the delta ; and the delta of the Godavari itself.

The delta presents a vast expanse of rice fields dotted
with gardens of plantains, betel and cocoanut and with
innumerable palmyras; the uplands form a gently undulating
and fairly wooded plain ; the Agency consists of broken,
forest-clad hills ; and the Bhadrachalam taluk above the
ghats resembles the uplands except that its undulations are
sharper and its woods much more dense. It is broken up by