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GAZETTEER

OF THE

ANANTAPUR DISTRICT.

CHAPTER I.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION.

General Description-Shape and boundaries-Taluks and chief towns - Etymology of the name-Natural divisions-Scenery. Hills-Muchukóta hills-Nagasamudram hills-Mallappakonda range-Penukonda range-Madakasíra hills-Detached peaks and clusters-Erramalla Rivers- The Pennér-The Chitrávati-Other streams-Elevation of the district. Soils-Cotton-soil-Red soils. Climate-Rainfall-Temperature-Humidity-Winds. Geology-The Dharwar band-Recent formations-Archæan rocks-Cuddapah rocks-Minerals : diamonds-Corundum-Iron-Bangle-earth, etc. Flora. Fauna - Cattle- Buffaloes, sheep and goats-Game.

CHAP. I. General Description.
Shape and boundaries Anantapur is one of the smallest Collectorates in the Presidency. It was carved out of the old Bellary district at the beginning of 1882. It is neither a geographical, historical nor ethnical entity but the product of administrative convenience, the former Bellary charge having been found to be unworkably large. It forms the southern of the four Ceded[1] or Deccan[2] districts, and is bounded on the east, north and west by the three others of this group-Cuddapah, Kurnool and Bellary, respectively-and on its southern and part of its western flanks by the Native State of Mysore. In shape it is roughly an oblong lying with its longer axis north and south, but on the west a piece of the Tumkur district of Mysore juts far into it and nearly severs one of its taluks, Madakasíra, from the rest.
  1. ↑ The 'Ceded districts' are so called because (except four taluks of Kurnool) they were ceded to the Company by the Nizam in 1800. See Chapter II.
  2. ↑ 'Deccan' or 'Dakkhan' represents the vernacular pronunciation of the Sanskrit word Dakshina, meaning 'southern,' which was used to designate that portion of the Indian Peninsula which lies south of the Narbada river.
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