Madras.] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



215 



Inland there are high mountains, the northernmost of which is known 

 from the others round it by being rounder and flatter, with a church 

 built on its top. This is called St. Thomas's Mount, in the neighbour- 

 hood of which are the country houses of many of the European residents 

 in Madras. 



SECTION XIX. 



MADRAS. 



MADRAS, or Fort St. George, our principal settlement on the Coast 

 of Coromandel, and to which all the others, and some on the Malabar Coast, 

 are subordinate, is in latitude V3' 41 4o" N., and longitude 80' 20 53" E. 

 It is the seat of a Governor and Council, subject to the controul of the 

 Governor General. 



Madras is divided into two parts, the Fort, or White Town, and the 

 Black Town. The Fort stands close to tbe sea-side, and is one of the best 

 in the possession of the British nation ; although not of so regular a design 

 as Fort W illiam at Calcutta, yet, from the greater facility of relieving it by 

 sea, and the natural advantage of the ground, it may on the whole be deemed 

 at least equal to it. 



In the middle of the fort stands the old or original fortress, erected on 

 the first arrival of the English here; it is about 100 yards square, surrounded 

 with battlements, having four bastions and two gates ; one to the W., where 

 the main guard is kept ; the other to the E., facing the sea. This building is 

 now converted into the offices of Government, and the town residences of 

 many of the Company's civil servants. To the N. of the old fort stands the 

 exchange, which is a magnificent building ; on the top is a lighthouse, which 

 is of essential service to ships coming into the roads in the night. The light 

 is 90 feet above the level of the sea at high water; it may be seen from the 

 decks of the Company's ships above 17 miles, and from their mast-heads near 

 2o miles. The S. part of Pulicat Shoal bears from it N. by E. £ E., 

 distance 13 miles. To keep clear of the shoal, the light should always bear 

 to the W. ofS. S. W. | W. 



