62 VOYAGE FROM INDIA TO SIAM AND MALACCA. 



with water, and a low rampart, surrounded by a double wall, with 

 many bastions well provided with cannons. The fortress is almost 

 oval, and measures three English miles in circumference. It is 

 situated directly on the arm of the Kisna, which passes it on its 

 south western side. The country round about this fortress is 

 low and flat, and completely covered by the sea when the flood 

 is high. The eastern and western expanse is unutterably vast, 

 and the ground all round the fortress is covered with mud. One 

 way only, broad and straight, leads to the town, which used to 

 have one of the forts of the fortress just in front, but now the 

 bridge leading to it is demolished, the fort is closed and will be 

 walled up, and at present the fortress has only two approaches, 

 one of them leading to the stream and the other on a slope 

 towards the land. 



There are few houses within the fortress and they lie 

 scattered about. All are built of a kind of wood which I did not 

 know before. They are commonly two stories high, and have at 

 the second story a gallery at least on two sides. They seemed 

 to be built in a very cool and convenient fashion though very 

 iiregularly. All have been erected by the native Mohammedans, 

 who are here called " Moors. " The different stories are seldom 

 higher than 1^ ; they have flat roofs covered with hollow bricks. 



The present head officer, Mr. Ledler, is very energetic ; he 

 has made broad level lanes, flanked with trees, some of which are 

 even now already in excellent condition. The Dutch and French 

 used also to have factories here before ; the former left this place 

 few years ago, and the French resident was forbidden to show 

 his flag anywhere here in India, as soon as the war broke out, 

 and he has been told to consider himself as prisoner of war, and 

 therefore to keep quiet. Half a German mile from the town 

 towards the North, one finds first some gardens and villas of the 

 English living out here, and further on the big village, where 

 really all the manufacturers live. The factory productions con- 

 sist of a striped or flowered kind of cotton. The red Indian pocket 

 handkerchiefs are of a pink colour, but are just as durable; and 

 many things not actually maimfactured here, are brought hither 

 from distant parts of the country and offered for sale. There is 

 also another kind of cotton material manufactured here, it is 

 dyed pompadour, wears well, and is at this moment a very 

 fashionable dress material at Madras. 



