COIMBETOOR, a town of Hindustan, and capital of the province of the same name. This city suffered deeply, along with the whole province, in the wars which took place between the British and the Mysore sovereigns. Since it fell into the hands of the English, the town has recovered considerably, and contains 2000 houses, which is considerably more than half the number it contained under Hyder's government. It has a mosque, built by Tippoo, who sometimes made Coimbetoor the place of his residence. It is defended by a citadel or small fort. It was conquered by the Mysore family about the year 1645, and the fort was then enlarged. One of Hyder's deputies built a house which is called by the natives a palace, but is nothing better than an inconvenient pile of mud, and now serves as a barrack for cavalry. The hereditary chief of Coimbetoor is of the Vayalar tribe. It was twice taken by the British; first in 1783, and secondly in 1790. It was afterwards besieged by the troops of the sultan, who, in an attempt to storm it, were repulsed by a weak garrison; but it subsequently surrendered to Tippoo, who broke the capitulation and imprisoned the garrison. It came permanently under the jurisdiction of the British in 1799. Long. 77. 6. E. Lat. 10. 5. N.