Sorab
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Sorab
North-western taluk of Shimoga District, Mysore, lying between 14° 13' and 14° 39 N. "and 74 degree 53' and 75° 18' E., with an area of 443 square miles. The population in 1901 was 71,493, compared with 70,047 in 1891. The taluk contains one town, Sorab (population, 1,622), the head-quarters; and 307 villages. The land revenue demand in 1903-4 was Rs. 2,11,000. The Varada river runs through the west, at one point near Banavasi leaving and re-entering the tdhik. From the south it receives the Dandavati, which drains the east. The principal hill is Chandragutti (2,794 feet) in the west. Except in the west the country is gently undulating, with rice-fields and gardens in the valleys. Above the ' wet ' lands are stretches of open ' dry-crop ' fields called hakkal, and in the highest ground are kans, patches of virgin evergreen forest. On account of this the wood- land scenery is unique, as the kdns are detached in small portions with clearly demarcated margins, due to the distribution of laterite. Outside, on the higher ground, the soil is only about 4 inches in depth, while within, 15 feet from the edge, it is deep and rich enough to support the largest forest trees. These kdns are full of wild pepper, but more value is attached to the bagni-palm, from which toddy is extracted by the Halepaikas. Rice, jaggery, and areca-nuts are the principal products of the taluk. The best areca gardens are in the south and west. When the areca-palms reach a certain height, betel and pepper-vines are trained up the stem. Rice and sugar-cane of good quality are grown everywhere. The rice-fields are ploughed up as soon as the crop has been cut, while the ground is still damp, and are left fallow till the early rain in May, no Vaisakh crop being raised.
