THE MADRAS HARBOUR. 



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will also facilitate the development of trade by making 

 Madras available as a terminal port rather than, as it is now, 

 almost exclusively a port of call for vessels bound to and 

 from Calcutta ; and for this its commanding position towards 

 China, the Straits and Australia gives it great importance. 



Thus the harbour will pay for itself, will confer various 

 incidental advantages on the present trade and population, 

 and will open the way to a new class of trade. 



These representations, when made seven years ago, seemed 

 oversanguine, but, so far as they have been brought to the 

 test of experience, they have as yet been confirmed. The 

 cost of the works seems likely to be within the amount 

 originally estimated, while even now, before they are finished, 

 the cost of boat hire and, notwithstanding the recent inexpli- 

 cable exception of the * Assam,' the discomfort of passengers 

 materially diminished. 



I have thought it necessary to dwell on the true objects of 

 the harbour, because, without a clear notion of them, and the 

 removal of the possibly still existing false notions, the 

 purposes of the design would be scarcely appreciated. 



Now a few words as to the general design. The natural 

 features of the Madras shore are well known — a dreary line of 

 sandy beach beaten by never-ceasing surf. There is deep 

 water and good holding ground near the shore. So much for 

 land and sea. The atmospheric conditions are less simple, 

 and they introduce complications in the shore and sea. The 

 year is divided into two monsoons — north-east and south- 

 west — when the prevailing winds are from those quarters. 

 But the winds themselves little affect our subject. These 

 winds throw a swell on shore from the north-east in the 

 monsoon of that name, and from the south-east during the 

 south-west monsoon, each, it will be observed, making an 

 oblique angle with the shore. The effect of this oblique wave 



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