Abstract

The Madura ryot is usually a farmer in a very small way owning less than 6 acres of land. The fact that since the famine of 1876-78 no relief works or gratuitous relief have been necessary shows that he is generally industrious. Tirumangalam taluq has hardly any irrigation tanks or channels and possess but few wells, so that it is more at the mercy of adverse seasons than any other part of the district. Of late the number of wells have increased. Eighty to ninety per cent. of the cotton of the district is grown in this taluq. In the north of Villur, the regar soil is exclusively found while red sandy loam prevails in the east. These are owned by the Telugu- speaking Reddis who are good farmers. The soil to the south and west is much inferior and good farming is rarely found. Location and administration. The ryotwari village of Villur com- prises of four other smaller settlements in close proximity. It is about 20 miles south of Madura, the headquarters of the district. Tiruman- galam, the taluq headquarters, is 10 miles to the north, where there are the usual judicial, revenue and police offices. The sub-registrar's office, police and railway stations are at Kalligudi four miles from the place. The establishment at Villur consists of one Village Munsif (headman), one Karnam (accountant) and eight servants. Besides, there are a Panchayat court, a post office and a stamp vendor. Recently n Panchayat Board has been organised at Maravarpatti, one of the settle- ments.

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