Coast of Mahihar,] OMENTAL COMMERCE. 1 71 



fathoms, abreast of which ships may anchor in three to five fathoms, about 

 two miles off shore. 



CANANORE is at the bottom of a small bay, one of the best on the 

 coast. The town contains many good houses belonging to the Mussulman 

 merchants ; the remainder arc chiefly huts. The fort, which is strong, is 

 situated on a kind of peninsula, which forms the bay, and is in latitude 

 11°51'N., and longitude 75° 25' E. Ships may anchor abreast the fort, 

 in from 4j to 5 fathoms. 



Trade. — The Chief of Canauore, to whom most of the Laccadives 

 belong, has several vessels trading to Arabia, Bengal, Surat, &c. The 

 European articles imported are chietly for the consumption of the Com- 

 pany's servants stationed here. 



Provisions and Refreshments. — Indifferent bullocks and poultry are 

 to be had ; watering is difficult and expensive, and fire-wood scarce. 

 Coins. — All Indian money passes here. 

 Weights and Measures are the same as at Tellicherry. 

 LACCADIVE ISLANDS, an archipelago of low islands, opposite 

 the Coast of Malabar, extending from latitude HP to about 12 J N., a large 

 channel separating them from the coast. There are 19 principal islands, 

 mostly surrounded with coral reefs and steep rocks ; but their positions are 

 not well determined, nor their description well authenticated. An American 

 navigator states, that in 1818 he traversed them, and that they are in gene- 

 ral safe to approach, and well inhabited, the natives not shy. but inoffen- 

 sive. He recommends the Island Xau Jtattea, in latitude 10° 34 N., 

 longitude 72 50" E., as furnishing abundance of poultry, eggs, coco-nuts, 

 and very line water. " The ship may lie off and on within a mile of the 

 landing-place. The natives will bring off poultry and coco-nuts at a rea- 

 sonable rate. If you want water, you must land, and make a bargain with 

 the Chief, who understands the use of money. You then send your boat 

 with the empty casks, and the natives fill them. The boat harbour is 

 inside the reef; the entrance near the N. end of the island, a fine sandy 

 beach, and the water perfectly smooth. 1 * — He adds, that the old Charts are 

 extremely erroneous, which is perhaps the only part of the account that 

 can be implicitly depended upon. 



MINICOY, or MALACOY, is the southernmost of the islands, in 

 latitude 8° 17' N., and longitude 73 1 18 E. It is about 6 J miles long, and 

 half a mile broad, extending in the form of a crescent to the N. W,, having 

 a coral reef across it, the channel through which Is very intricate and nar- 

 row, having only two fathoms water. The town is situated within this 

 reef; the inhabitants are very civil. A trade is carried on from hence to 



