Coa*t ofMatahar.] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



170 



pany, and their ships occasionally stop here to receive it on board. Small 

 coasting vessels are sometimes built here. 



PORCA is situated in lat. 9 ; 20' N. about 9 leagues S. by E. from 

 Cochin, belonging also to Travancore. It is a small town, consisting of low 

 bouses covered with cadjan leaves ; there is one house with white walls 

 larger than the others, by which this place may be distinguished. The 

 anchorage is in 5 or 6 fathoms, the white house bearing N. E. by E., distance 

 off shore l\ to 2 miles. 



There are several villages on the coast between Cochin and Quilon, 

 which are only frequented by the small coasting vessels, for coir, timber for 

 shipbuilding, and pepper. 



QUILON. — The fort of Quilon is on a point of land, in lat. 8° 5? N. 

 and long. 76° 37 E., about 3 miles to the S. of Iviker river, which is a wide 

 inlet leading to several rivers, one communicating with Alipee and Cochin, 

 navigable only by flat-bottomed boats. The Company have warehouses at 

 Quilon for pepper, and their ships call here to receive it on board. 



ANJENGO, in latitude 8° 39 N. longitude 76° 49 E., about 20 miles to 

 the S. of Quilon, is the most southerly possession belonging to the Company 

 on the Malabar Coast. The fort is regular ; on the land side it is secured 

 by a broad and deep river, which, after winding round the greatest part of 

 the fort, empties itself into the sea a little to the S. This river would 

 be useful, but it has a bar navigable only for small vessels. The Chief and 

 the Company's servants reside within the fort ; and as there is no tavern or 

 place of accommodation for visiters, the Chief generally entertains them 

 during their stay in the roads. There are a few small houses and huts in the 

 vicinity of the fort, but nothing that deserves the name of a town. Ships 

 generally anchor with the flagstaff bearing E. N.E. in 11 or 12 fathoms, 

 about 2 miles from the shore. The principal intention of this settlement is 

 the procuring pepper produced in the Travancore country. 



T a ade.-— Pepper is the staple commodity, which is generally purchased 

 on account of the Company, and shipped off in donies, or country boats, on 

 account of the surf. There are some coarse white piece-goods manufactured 

 here, for the Europe market. A few drugs, such as cassia, zedoary, coculus 

 indicus, &c. are to be met with, and coir in considerable quantities. The 

 European articles imported are very trifling, consisting of a few necessaries 

 for the Chief and his establishment 



Pbovisions and Refreshments. — But few articles are to be procured 

 here. No beef, on account of the religious prejudices of the natives ; a few 

 fowls, vegetables, and fruit are all that can be reckoned upon. Water is 

 scarce and very indifferent ; but at the red cliffs, a few miles to the N. of 



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