accounts of the bearing and diftance between Tritchinopoly and Madura, as given by Kelly, Montrefor, and others. The two former differ 1,6 G. miles only, in diftance; but Col. Kelly's bearing, gives 12,3 G. miles, more of wefting, than Montrefor's. And a third map, communicated by Mr. John Sulivan, has the fame bearing with Kelly's, but exceeds it, 3,7 G. miles, in diftance; thereby, increafing the wefting 1,3 G. miles; and of course, exceeding Montrefor's 13,6 G. miles, or 14′ 15′′ of longitude. Col. Call's map

The latitude of Madura, I have not yet learnt. places it in 9° 52' 30"; and Col. Kelly's difference of latitude from Tritchinopoly, 53′ 12′′, gives 9° 55′ 48′′.

The authority for the remainder of this line, through Palamcotta (or Tinevelly) to Poolytopu on the fea coaft, weftward of Cape Comorin, is from the map of Madura and Tinevelly, made under the direction of Col. Call (then Chief Engineer at Madras) and from Mr. Pringle's road distances; together with the latitudes of Palamcotta and Poolytopu. First, I find in Col. Call's map, 1° 9' 30" difference of latitude S. between Madura and Palamcotta; and 18' of longitude, weft. This would place the latter in 8° 43′ (Mr. Pringle informs us, that its latitude is 8° 44′) and in lon. 77° 54′ 35′′. Then, from Palamcotta to Cotate or Cotaur, on the west of the Gauts, Mr. Call's map gives 29′ 12′′ difference of latitude S.; and 22' difference of longitude weft; to which, if we add the deduction from Mr. Pringle's measured distance to Poolytopu, ́5′ 30′′ difference of latitude S.; and 6' difference of longitude west *; the whole difference of latitude will be 34′ 42′′ S. and difference of longitude 28' weft; giving for the pofition of Poolytopu, lat. 8° 9' 18"; lon. 77° 26′ 35′′.

Poolytopu village appears to be fituated on the fea coaft, ENE. 4 G. miles from Cadiapatam Point; which point, by Mr. Howe,

The bearing between Cotate and Poolytopu, is inferred from fome MS. maps of no great authority, to be about SW W. The whole distance being only 8 G. miles, the difference of longitude would be but little affected, by any error that might reafonably be expected in the bearing.

is reckoned in lat. 8° 7′; and Poolytopu being about 1′30′′ to the N. of it, fhould be in 8° 8' 30", according very nearly with the above calculation. It muft, I think, be acknowledged, that there is nothing in this deduction, that appears forced. Poolytopu, by the best account I can get, (a French MS. map in Mr. Dalrymple's collection) is 16' of longitude weft of Cape Comorin; which Cape, by this account will be in lon. 77° 42′ 35′′.

*

We have some further light thrown on this fubject by the meafurement of the road, by Mr. Pringle, from Tanjore to Poolytopu. His whole road distance is 251 B. miles; and allowing 1 in 9 for the winding of the road, the horizontal distance will be 223 B. miles, or 193 G. miles; which, on the fame bearing as the above deduction is founded on, (S 33° 40′ W) gives difference of latitude 2° 41′ 18′′; and wefting 107,4, or difference of longitude 1° 49'. As Tanjore is in 10° 46′ 30′′, the latitude of Poolytopu comes out 8° 5' 12", and its lon. 77° 23′ 15′′ (the longitude of Tanjore, by Col. Kelly's measurement, being 79° 12′ 15′′, deduced from Negapatam) and 16′ added to it, gives for the longitude of Cape Comorin 77° 39′ 15′′, or 3′ 20′′ to the weft of the first calculation.

Again, if the proportion of 1 in 8 be adopted for the winding of the road, (a more common one) it produces 190 G. miles of distance; and the latitude of Poolytopu will be 8° 8'; and its lon. 77° 20′ 50′′; and that of Cape Comorin 77° 36′ 50′′.

This is all the fatisfaction that I have been able to obtain, concerning the longitude of Cape Comorin, as deduced from the eastern fide of the peninfula. Something depends on the truth of the affumption, refpecting the pofition of Negapatam; and still more on

+ The distance arifing on the lines of Kelly and Call is 186,25 G. miles.

the accuracy of the map of Tinevelly, the hiftory of which, I am unacquainted with: but, I think, the near coincidence of Mr. Pringle's measurement, with it (for I reckon 3′ 20′′ but a trifle in general geography) is a prefumptive proof of its general truth. It is understood that there is from 1 to 2 degrees of wefterly variation, between Negapatam and Cape Comorin: if this be allowed, it will remove the Cape 4' 30" further to the weft; and place it, according to Kelly's and Call's lines in 77° 38′ 5′′.

Let us now turn to the other coaft, and obferve how Capt. Huddart's and Capt. Dundas's, deductions of longitude, from the west to Anjenga, accord with the reputed space, contained in the interval between Cape Comorin and Anjenga; which space, by Mr. Dalrymple's observation of the difference of longitude fhewn by his time-keeper, in 1777, was 52′ 30′′. This, taken from 77° 38′ 5′′, leaves 76° 45′ 35′′ for the longitude of Anjenga. Capt. Huddart's longitude of Anjenga, deduced by time-keeper from Bombay, reckoned in 72° 40' is

Capt. Dundas's

Mr. Dalrymple's D

76° 39′

76 30

76 38

As Capt. Huddart's series of longitudes commenced at Bombay in lat. 18° 58', and were continued to Anjenga in lat. 8° 39′, and then back again to Bombay; by which the error of his time-keeper was ascertained, and which was only as much as amounted to 24 minutes of longitude; we have every reafon to be fatisfied with this feries, as far as refpects general positions: and indeed, geography is greatly indebted to the labours of this gentleman, who has prefented us with the longitudes of 16 places on this coaft, and by that means given the true general figure of it, which exhibits, to those who have been in the habit of contemplating it, a very different form, from what it ever did before.

I am of opinion that more dependance may be placed on Capt. Huddart's longitude of Anjenga, deduced from Bombay, in the manner abovementioned, than on any other account: but at the

fame

I

fame time I have adopted Mr. Howe's obfervation of longitude at Bombay, as it appears the moft confiftent with other accounts. do not mean by this, to determine on the merits of the different obfervations (of which indeed, I am incapable) but rather because it accords with the obfervation taken at Goa, and with the routes acrofs from Negapatam to Tanore; and, as far as may be judged, with the deduction from Negapatam to Cape Comorin. It is true, that if Montrefor's pofition of Madura is admitted, it will place Cape Comorin 12′ farther eastward; and if the variation be not allowed, there will be 4′ 30′′ more to be added; in all 16′ 30′′, or the full difference between Capt. Howe's, and Capt. Huddart's obfervations; the one being 72° 38', the other 72° 54'.

It now remains, after this investigation, to be fhewn, in what manner I have compounded the above differences; that no diftortion of the intermediate parts fhould take place. Anjenga, I have placed in 76° 40', being the medium of all the different accounts, by observation; and by deduction from Negapatam. Mr. Dalrymple's difference of lon. 52′ 30′′ to Cape Comorin, is then adopted, which places the Cape in 77° 32′ 30′′. Madura, is placed in 9° 52', the latitude, given by Call; and its longitude is determined by Col. Kelly's diftance from Tritchinopoly, with the addition of 3 miles to it; that is, in lon. 78° 11'; and Palamcotta in lat. 8° 42', and lon.-77° 49′ 15′′; according to the proportions furnished by Call and Pringle, between Madura and Poolytopu.

The form of the coaft between Madras and Cape Comorin, is from various authorities. The furvey of the Company's lands (or Jaghire) extends beyond Alemparvé. From thence to Negapatam, is from a French MS. map, collated with D'Anville's map of pofitions (above spoken of) and several particulars between Pondicherry and Portonovo, from Mr. Pringle's map of the marches. The mouth of the Coleroone is from an English MS. map. From Negapatam to Tondi, is chiefly from Major Stevens's, and my own obfervations: from Tondi to Good-water Ifland, Major Stevens's alone :

D 2

of

alone from thence to Tutacorin, Capt. Delafield's cursory survey: and the remainder to Cape Comorin, is from Col. Call's map Tinevelly; corrected occafionally by a printed chart, published by Mr. Dalrymple. It is not pretended that any of these points beyond Cuddalore, are afcertained with precifion: but it is highly probable that Point Calymere cannot be out in its longitude, 4 minutes. Tondi has the bearing and difference of latitude from Point Calymere to correct its pofition; and there was also a line drawn from it to Tanjore. Ramanad is fixed by the intersection of two lines, from Madura and Tondi; and therefore must partake of the errors incident to Tondi, and Point Calymere. The Point of Ramiferam is alfo dependant on Tondi. When I conftructed the map. of India, in 1782, I concluded that the respective distances between Tondi, Tritchinopoly, and Devicotta, had been measured, and that I worked on fure ground: but I have fince been convinced of the contrary.

From Cape Comorin to Anjenga the particulars of the coast, appear to be either little known to us, or very ill defcribed; as the reports of it are various and contradictory. Between Cape Comorin and Ruttera Point, I took the particulars from a French MS. chart, the fcale of which appears to be faulty; for it gives only 35 G. miles of distance between Cape Comorin and Point Ruttera; and the difference of latitude only 13′ 48′′, by which the latter would be in 8° 14'; whereas, it cannot well be under 8° 20', according to Mr. Howe's observation: and Mr. Dalrymple observes that Ruttera Point is nearly 29 G. miles from that of Cadiapatam, which is about 19 from Cape Comorin. On these ideas, I have extended the distance to 46 miles; and ftill Ruttera is only 28' from Cadiapatam. M. D'Apres' account of the bearings and diftances between Cape Comorin and Anjenga, gives 42′ difference of longitude; but then his chart contradicts that account, and gives 441; befides an abfolute difcordance in particulars. Mr. Pringle meafured only 49 B. miles of road distance, between Poolytopu and

Anjenga,,