equipment, as to mafts, fails and furniture; which might be calculated just to answer the purpose of the home paffage, at the best season and crews could be provided in India. The letter fubjoined in a note, and which was written with the best intentions, 9 or 10 years ago, will explain the circumftances of the cafe *. Teek ships of 40 years old and upwards, are no uncommon objects in the Indian feas: while an European built ship is ruined there, in 5 years. The ships built at Bombay are the best, both in point of workmanship and materials, of any that are conftructed in India: and although 4th rates only are mentioned in the letter, there is no doubt but that 3d rates may be constructed; as there is a choice of timber. The Spaniards build capital fhips in their foreign fettlements. The East India Company have a Teek ship on her fourth voyage, at prefent; which fhip has wintered in England: therefore any objection founded on the effects of froft, on the Teek timber, is done away.

"Frequent have been the opportunities I have had, of obferving how very rapid the decay of hips built of European timber, is, in the Eaft Indies: and, on the contrary, how durable the hips are that are built of the wood of that country, namely, the TEEK: which may not improperly be styled INDIAN OAY. The number of fhips of war that were ruined in thofe feas, during the late war (1757 to 1762) may be admitted as a proof of the former remark ; and the great age of the hips built in India, may ferve to prove the latter. What I mean to inter from this, for your Lordships ufe, is, that fhips of war under third rates, may be conftructed in India; and with moderate repairs, laft for ages: whereas, a flip of european conftruction can remain there but a very few years: to which difadvantage, may be added, that of lofing, in the mean time, the fervices of the fhips that are fent to relieve the worn out ones. Bengal produces iron and hemp; and the neighbouring forefts, pine malls nothing is wanted to bring all thefe into ufe, but a fit opportunity, and proper encouragement."

August 20, 1778.

SECTION

SECTION V.

The Countries contained in that Part of the PENINSULA, lying on the South of the KISTNA River.

TH

HIS tract, which in extent is not a fifth part larger than the Bengal provinces; yet, by its political divifions, by the talents and ambition of its Princes, and moreover, by their being ftimulated by the different European powers, whose mercantile views led them thither; it has furnished of late years, more matter for fpeculation and history, than perhaps, all the rest of the Mogul empire put together*. But although it has been the theatre of repeated wars between the Europeans and the natives, as well as between the Europeans themselves; yet fo ample a fupply of geographical matter has not been fupplied, as by the wars and negociations in the north. The geography of fome of the western parts of the peninfula, are as little known to us, as that of the central parts. of Hindooftan.

It is lamentable to a feeling mind to reflect how large a portion of their miferies, the unhappy natives of the Carnatic owe to the English: I mean from the infufficient protection afforded. them, at the commencement of the war of 1780. The faying of the old woman to Philip, "BE NO LONGER KING," might well have been applied to the executive government in the Carnatic. Much eloquence has been employed in defcribing the wretched ftate of the inhabitants of Bengal; when, in reality, they are to be claffed among the happiest nations throughout Afia. Poets deal in fiction: but a plain tale of woe will beft defcribe the fufferings of the helpless inhabitants of the Carnatic, during Hyder's invafion. And here I cannot refufe a tribute of applaufe to the character and abilities of the Nobleman, who affumed the government of Madras, at a period when the British interests could hardly be faid to have an existence in the Carnatic Hyder having nearly the entire poffeffion of the whole country. I cannot exprefs my opinion of this Nobleman's character,, in a more forcible manner, than by regretting that fuch fhining talents, controlled by a difinterested mind, fhould not be employed for the benefit of the public.

The figure of this tract is a triangle, of which the courfe of the Kistna river forms the bafe, and the coafts of Coromandel and Malabar, the fides. Its extent from the Kiftna to Cape Comorin, which forms the apex of the triangle, is about 600 British miles; and its breadth, in the wideft part, is about 550.

The construction of the fea coafts, has been already described in the first section; and that of the courfe of the Kistna river, in the latter part of the fourth.

Madras, or Fort St. George, as has been observed (in page 13) lies in lat. 13° 5', lon. 80° 25′; and clofe on the margin of the fea. It is the principal fettlement of the British East India Company, on the east side of the peninfula; and is a fortress of very great ftrength, including within it a regular, well built city." But as it was impoffible to fortify and garrifon, in an effectual manner, a city of such extent as the political and commercial confequence of Madras, muft give birth to; there is a fecond city, feparated from Madras, by the breadth of a proper efplanade only; and although near four miles in circuit, is fortified in fuch a manner, as to prevent a furprise from the enemy's horfe; an evil to which every open town in the Carnatic, is fubject; from the drynefs and evenness of the country. Madras was fettled by the English about the year 1640, and was hardly defenfible, until the destruction of Fort St. David in 1758, pointed out the neceflity of it. It is now perhaps, one of the best fortreffes in the poffeffion of the British nation: and although not of fo regular a defign as Fort William, yet from the greater facility of relieving it by fea, and the natural advantages of ground, which leaves the enemy lefs choice in the manner of conducting his attacks; it may on the whole be deemed at least equal to it.

Madras, in common with all the other European fettlements on this coaft, has no port for fhipping; the coaft forming nearly a straight line and it is alfo incommoded with a high and dan

gerous

gerous furf* or wave, that breaks upon it; and induces the neceffity of ufing the boats of the country, to land in. These are of a fingular conftruction; being formed without ribs, or keel; with flat bottoms, and having their planks fewed together iron being totally excluded throughout the whole fabrick. By this conftruction, they are rendered flexible enough to elude the effects of the violent shocks which they receive, by the dashing of the waves, or furf, on the beach and which either overfets, or breaks to pieces, a boat of European conftruction. No port for large veffels occurs between Trinkamaly and the Ganges: that is, in an extent of 15 degrees: fo that the comparative proximity of the former, to Madras and Pondicherry, renders it a capital object, both to the Englifh and French.

The Company's lands (or Jaghire †) extend from Madras to the Pullicate lake, northward; and to Alemparvé, fouthwards: and weftward, beyond Conjeveram: that is, about 108 B. miles along shore, and 47 inland; in the widest part. This whole tract hath had a regular furvey: and Mr. Pringle, who furveyed the marches of the army under Sir Eyre Coote, during the late war, has afcertained fome interefting geographical pofitions, beyond it; and by this means extended very confiderably, the dimensions of what may be called the furveyed tract: fo that we are enabled, with a little adventitious help, to fill up with tolerable accuracy, all the country between the parallel of Pullicate northward, and Cuddalore, fouthward; bounded on the west, or inland fide, by a line drawn from Cuddalore through Arnee, Velore, and Chittoor; and eastward by the fea. The whole of this tract is a triangular space of 106 G. miles in length, by 70. wide. By means also of Mr. Pringle's bearings and measured routes,

The reader will find in my friend Mr. Marsden's very excellent hiftory of Sumatra, an account of the SURF: a phenomenon which I do not recollect ever to have feen difcuffed in a philofophical manner, in any former treatife. The account will be found in page 28, to 33.

The term Jaghire means generally, a grant of land from a fovereign to a fubject, revokable at pleafure; but generally for a life rent. The Jaghire in question, is, I believe, under! food to be held in perpetuity. It contains 2440 fquare miles, and its revenue is reckoned at about 150,000l. per annum.

the

the pofitions of Portonovo, Sautgud, and Amboor are obtained; which last may be confidered as the westmost point determined with accuracy, any where to the north of Tritchinopoly: and Amboor is only one fourth of the whole diftance across the peninfula. I cannot find that the road to Colar, was measured, during the campaign of 1767.

Arcot is found to be nearer to Madras than was before fuppofed. I have fixed it by a series of triangles, by means of Wandiwath, Narnaveram, and Sholingur hills; and a bafe, furnished by the Jaghire map; at 56,6 G. miles, in horizontal distance, from Madras; and about 13′ 30′′ fouth of its parallel; whence, its latitude will be 12° 51′ 30′′, lon. 79° 28′ 15′′. I do not know that its observed latitude is recorded any where. Mr. Pringle's map makes its distance from Madras 57,9; and M. D' Anville: 58,2 in his MS. of pofitions and another French MS. map, 59.1..

Arcot is reckoned the capital of the Carnatic; and must be a place of great antiquity, by its being taken, notice of by Ptolemy, as the capital of the Sora, or Sora-mandalum; from whence corruptly Choro-mandel. It is a pretty large city, and its citadel is efteemed a place of fome ftrength, for an Indian fortrefs. The defence which it made under CLIVE, in 1751, established the military fame of that illuftrious nobleman; whose foibles expofed him to the attacks of enemies, who were better qualified to obferve his defects, than to imitate him in the higher parts of his character: to which posterity will do ample juftice, when it is placed beyond the reach of the envy of cotemporaries: and when his foibles will be as little remembered, as the malice of his enemies.

The pofition of Velore, is from Mr. Pringle's distance, corrected by the bearing of Sholangur hill. In his map of Coote's campaigns, he has given too much distance between Arcot and Velore: for it is 17 B. miles in the map, and only 15 by the road, in the tables. Alfo, between Conjeveram and Arcot, the road distance exceeds the