i6 E A S>T E R N H I N D O O S T A N. 



(lid belong to the induftrious Butch, and grew very confiderable 

 by the weaving bufinefs, carried on moft fuccefsfully in feveral 

 villages in the adjacent diftricft. The Dutch took it from the 

 Portuguefe in 1658, and we took it from the Dutch in November 

 1781, in our univerfai war. Ayder Alt took fliare in the de- 

 fence ; it was an inlet into his country, and he was interefted 

 in preventing it from falling into the hands of his formidable 

 enemies. After a fliort but vigorous defence, it furrendered to 

 the fpirited attacks of our commanders. Sn Edward Hughes 

 had the condu6l of our fleet. General Monro that of our land 

 forces. The garrifon confifted of eight thoufand men, of which 

 only five hundred were Europeans, the reft Myjorean troops. 

 The moll honorable conditions were granted*. The Dutch, 

 on the peace, malicioufly gave this city and its appendages up 

 to us, to increafe the over-powering weight of territory of the 

 Britijh empire. The 'Portuguefe found a town here on their 

 firft arrival ; it probably had been a place of great antiquity, 

 the Nicama or Nigama of Ptolemy. 



Tranquebar. T'ranquebar is the next place of note, it is feated in Lat. 1 1°, 



and belongs to the Danes, who firft made a fettlement here in 

 i6i7j and have, after various failures of later years, carried on a 

 flourifhing trade in the manufaclures of the country. They 

 were once reduced fo low, as to be obliged to pawn three of the 

 baftions of their fort ro fave themfelves from famine -f . 



Isle of Sering- The various branches of the Delta coalefce as they advance 

 towards the eaft : not remote from that fide of Tritchmopoly^ 



* War in Afia, i. 225. f Hamilton, i. 



they 



HAM. 



