CANARA, a maritime province on the western coast of the Peninsula of India, with an area of 7800 square miles. It is arranged by the British into two revenue districts, North Canara or collectorate of Honore, and South Canara as far south as the Chundragherry river, and from that river commences Malabar. Canara formed part of the Mysore Dominions, and came under British rule after the fall of Seringapatam in 1799. Below the mountains the country is rocky, moun tainous, intersected by numerous mountain streams running to the sea, with exceedingly fertile valleys. The Garsuppa falls of the Sherranntty river have four portions. The Grand Fall falls perpendi cularly 880 feet. Three languages are spoken, viz., Tulu in the ancient Tuluva country, Malealam as far north as the Chundragherry river, and Canarese in the taluks of Honawar and Cundapore above the Ghats. In the Buntwal taluk are colossal images of Gomata Raya, carved out of single blocks of granite, and placed on the tops of hills. The interior of the Jain temple at Mood biddery is beautiful. Near Cundapore, close to the sea, is a small fresh-water lake, in which the Hoowana or flower fish is caught.
North Canara, since the 1st Feby. 1862, has been administered by the Bombay Presidency. It lies between lat. 13° 52' and 15° 31' N., and long. 10' and 75° 7' E., with an area of 4235 sq. m., and in 1872 a population of 398,406 persons, 364,402 of them being Hindus. The Havik Brahmans cultivate betel-nut gardens. The Nanaiti Mahomedans are seamen ; they are well to do, and represent the colonies of Arab merchants of whom a remnant still exists along the coast from Gogo southwards. There are
Sidi Mahomedans, descendants of African slaves whom the Portuguese held. They have the woolly hair and black skin of the pure African negro; are poor, and cultivate little patches rudely in the forests.
South Canara is under the Madras Presidency. It lies between lat. 14° 31' and 31' N. and long. 74° 1' and 75° 2' E., and has as its eastern boundary the Western Ghats, through which the Manjarabad, Kolur, and other passes lead up to Mysore and Coorg ; its area is 3902 sq. in. The people, about a million in number, consist of Saraswati, Konkani, and Sivalik Brahmans, Bant, Koragar ; Portuguese of mixed descent, native Christians, Mopla of Arab descent. The aborigines include the Malekudi, Koragar, Holyar. The Malekudi are a forest race who practise the Kumari cultivation, but labour on coffee estates. The languages spoken are Tulu, 3lalealam, Canarese, and Konkani, besides Urdu and English. Tulu, the language of Tuluva, is spoken between Udipi and Kumbla by about 180,000 people, south of the Puishwenni river and elsewhere ; with Moplas, Malealam is the prevailing tongue. Prior to British rule, the Holyar were the slaves of the Wargdar or proprietors, and even yet continue in a state of modified serfdom.—Findlay ; Imp. Gar.; Madras Records.