APPENDIX I.
CHOLERA INQUIRY SPECIAL REPORTS.
(Section V. of the Code of Instruction of the Army Sanitary Commission.)
PALAVERAM.
1. Station
Palaveram; 11 miles south-west of Madras.
2. Presumed
3. 
population.
About 3,000 natives, and 1,000 European and East Indian.
3. Height   above
sea level.
About 35 or 40 feet.
4. Height or de-
pression in regard
to surrounding
country.
There are two hills to the east and south, from the bases of which the
ground slopes down to the cantonment.
The cantonment lies on a gentle slope of ground with two conical, meta-
morphic hills, about 350 feet high, between it and the sea. Through
the narrow gorge between these hills the sea-breeze rushes up with
some violence. To the west and north the country is almost a level
plain, in some parts cultivated with rice, and in others with dry grains.
The plain is not densely wooded.
5. How far from
(a.) The sea
(b.) River
About 6 miles from the sea.
The Adyar river runs to the north-west of the cantonment, about half a
mile to the west of the barracks and hospitals. The river sometimes
rises so high as to flood the lower barracks and parade ground.
Usually there is a small stream of water flowing all the year round.
(c.) Tank
There are a few shallow tanks in the neighbourhood, but none which do
not dry up in the hot weather. About three miles to the south-west are
the remains of a very large tank, the bund of which is now partially
destroyed. When this tank was in order it impounded the flood
waters of the Adyar river, and an area of many miles must have been
submerged.
(d.) Marshy lands,
and in what direc-
tion do these lie
with reference to the
locality.
There is some low marshy land between the conical hills and the sea
and also along the valley of the Adyar river, which, when water
abounds after the north-east monsoon, is put under wet cultivation.
6. Level of loca-
lity as regards
water-level in adja-
cent river or lake.
The general level of the station is about 15 or 20 feet above the bed
of the Adyar river. This river, where it passes Palaveram, is an
insignificant stream as to width and size. Occasionally the barracks
of the European troops, which are built within half a mile of the river,
are flooded, and in 1844 the lines of the Native troops, which then
occupied a site between the barracks and the houses of the Officers,
were destroyed by inundation.
7. Description of
surface of country
around the station
or locality.
The country around Palaveram is quite open with some hills to the
south-west, and laterite and alluvial plains to the west and north-west.
The station is well exposed to breezes from the sea.