WESTERN HINDOOS TAN. 173 



over a fmall principality. The city was feated on a navigable 

 river, had an excellent harbour, and its buildings were very 

 fplendid ; but its conimerce had declined on the rile of Calicut, 

 Numbers of Cbrijiians of St. Thomas were found ipread over the 

 country. It was taken from the Fortuguefe by the Dutcb^ in 

 1662. The country was at that time alfo governed by a Queen, 

 who refided at Cailiere, an inland town. Nieuhoff was intruded 

 with a commilhon to her, and found her a woman of majeftic 

 mien, and excellent underflanding*. 



To this place there continues a fimilarity of low, and moraffy 

 country. At a few miles diliance, to the fouth of Cgulang, the 

 coaft immediately alters, the land rifes into high and precipitous 

 red cliffs ; near them is good frefh water ; at Anjenga^ a fmall Anjenga. 

 fettlement (with a fort belonging to the Engli/Jj) it is very bad 

 and fcarce. The fort was built by the Eaji India Company, in 

 1695. They pay for the ground rent to the queen of the coun- 

 try. By my frequent mention of the Queen, it fliould feem, 

 that a female reign in thefe parts was not uncuftomary. The 

 trade of the neighborhood is pepper, and a fine long cloth. 

 Mr. Franklin, p. 7, remarks, that this is the beft place in India 

 for intelligence, and that very lately a puft to feveral parts of 

 India has been eftabliflied. *' A regular poif," fays Mr. Rennel, 

 p. 317, " is eftabliflied throughout tlie parts of Hindoqftan fub- 

 ** jed to tlie EaJi India Company, and alfo from Calcutta to 

 ^< Madras. The poftmen always travel on foot. Their ftages 

 •^' are commonly from iQ\Qi\ to eight miles; and their rate of 



* NieuhofF's Voyage, in Churchill's Coll. ii, p. 267, 



« travelling, 



