173 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [Coast of Malabar. 



Cananore, in coir and coco-nuts, and at this island is caught the fish 

 called commelmutch, so much esteemed in Malabar. 



UNDEROOT is about 31 miles long from E. to W., and \{ broad; 

 it is in latitude 10° 48 N., and longitude 74° E>, well planted with coco- 

 nut trees ; the town is on the N. side of the island, and consists of a few 

 houses scattered along the sea-side. Turtle may be taken here. The water 

 is tolerably good, and the inhabitants are poor and iiiofiensive. This island 

 is the nearest of the group to the Malabar Coast, and is about 38 leagues 

 distant from Mount Dilla. 



The inhabitants of the greater part of these islands are Moplas, and 

 very poor; they subsist chiefly on coco-nuts and fish, having no grain; 

 their boats are made of coco-nut stems, and their houses are entirely con- 

 structed of that tree. The principal export is coir, and that which is made 

 here, is esteemed the best in India ; it has always been used by the Arabs, 

 and our ships in the Indian Ocean generally prefer it to hempen cordage 

 for running rigging. Ambergris is occasionally to be met with among 

 these islands. 



TELL I CHERRY, the principal English settlement on the Coast 

 of Malabar, is in latitude 11° 44 N., and longitude 75° 32 E., and about 

 ten miles to the S. of Cananore. In fine weather, ships anchor in the roads 

 in five fathoms, the flagstaff bearing N. E. by N. oft' the town 1 \ to 2 miles ; 

 but when there is a chance of unsettled weather, they should anchor well 

 out in 7 or S fathoms. There is a ledge of black rocks facing the fort, 

 where small vessels have been known to lie during the S. W. monsoon. 



Tellicherry Fort is of considerable size, with strong walls, though 

 rather ruinous, having convenient houses for the Chief and gentlemen of 

 the factory ; that of the Chief is a large and handsome building. About a 

 mile to the S. is a small fort called Mile End, and at a short distance to the 

 N. of Tellicherry is a blockhouse. There arc two towns, one bordering on 

 the sea-coast, the other in the wood: the principal inhabitants of the former 

 are Portuguese ; those of the latter natives. Between the town and the 

 fort is an extensive and open place ; on one side is a pleasant garden 

 belonging to the Chief, who has likewise a small one adjoining his house. 

 There is an excellent ride through the wood, much frequented by the Euro- 

 pean residents. 



Trade. — A considerable inland and foreign trade is carried on here. 

 Most of the ships from China bound to Bombay and Goa, touch here, and 

 dispose of part of their cargoes, which is mostly resold to the inhabitants of 

 the interior, who make their returns in the produce of the country, such as 

 ginger, pepper, coco-nuts, coir, and cotton cloth, which L» very good and 



