the eastern coast of the peninsula on this side the Ganges in Asia. It is bounded on the north by Golconda, on the east by the bay of Bengal, on the south by Madura, and on the west by Bijnagar. This coast so much resembles that of Orissa, that the Abbé Raynal chooses to consider them as one, and gives to both the general name of Coromandel. Here an excessive heat reigns from the beginning of May to the end of October. It begins at nine in the morning, and continues till nine in the evening. During the night it is allayed by a sea-breeze from the south-east; and most commonly this refreshing gale begins at three in the afternoon. The air is less inflamed during the rest of the year, though in all seasons it is very hot. It rains almost continually during the months of November and December. This immense tract is covered with a parched sand for the extent of two miles, and sometimes only one mile along the coast.

This country was at first neglected by the Europeans for many reasons. It was separated by inaccessible mountains from Malabar, where these bold adventurers endeavoured to settle themselves. Spices and aromatics, which were the principal objects of their attention, were not to be found there. In short, civil dissensions had banished from it tranquillity, security, and industry. At that period the empire of Bijnagar, to which this vast country was subject, was falling to ruin. The governments of Vizapour, the Carnatic, Golconda, and Orissa, threw off their dependence, and assumed the title of kings. Those of Madura, Tanjore, Myfore, Gingi, and some others, likewise usurped the sovereign authority, though they retained their ancient title of Naick. This revolution had just happened when the Europeans appeared on the coast of Coromandel. The foreign trade was at that time inconsiderable; it consisted only of diamonds from Golconda, which were carried to Calicut and Surat, and from thence to Ormus or Suez, whence they were circulated through all Europe and Asia. Malulipatan, the richest and most populous city of these countries, was the only market that was known for linens; they were purchased at a great fair annually held there by the Arabian and Malayan vessels that frequented that bay, and by caravans arrived from distant parts. The linens were exported to the same places with the diamonds. The fondness for the manufactures of Coromandel which began to prevail here, inspired all the European nations trading to the Indian seas with the resolution of forming settlements there. They were not discouraged either by the difficulty of conveying goods from the inland parts of the country, where there was no navigable river; by the total want of harbours, where the sea at one season of the year is not navigable; by the barrenness of the coasts, for the most part uncultivated and uninhabited; nor by the tyranny and fluctuating state of the government. They thought that silver would be industriously sought after; that Pegu would furnish timber for building, and Bengal corn for subsistence; that a prosperous voyage of nine months would be more than sufficient to complete their ladings; and that by fortifying themselves they should be secure against the attacks of the weak tyrants that oppressed these countries.

The first European colonies were established near the shore. Some of them obtained a settlement by force; most of them were formed with the consent of the sovereigns; and all were confined to a very narrow tract of land. The boundaries of each were marked out by a hedge of thorny plants, which was their only defence. In process of time fortifications were raised; and the security derived from them, added to the lenity of the government, soon increased the number of colonists. The splendour and independence of these settlements several times raised the jealousy of the princes in whose dominions they were formed; but their attempts to demolish them proved abortive. Each colony increased in prosperity in proportion to the riches and the wisdom of the nation that founded it. None of the companies that exercised an exclusive privilege beyond the Cape of Good Hope had any concern in the trade of diamonds. This was always left to private merchants, and by degrees fell entirely into the hands of the English, or the Jews, and... and Armenians that lived under their protection. At present this grand object of luxury and industry is much reduced. The revolutions that have happened in Indostan have prevented people from resorting to these rich mines; and the anarchy in which this unhappy country is plunged, leaves no room to hope that they will be again attended to. The whole of the commercial operations on the coast of Coromandel is confined to the purchase of cottons. The manufacturing of the white cottons bought there, differs so little from ours, that it would be neither interesting nor instructive to enter into a minute description of it. The process used in making their printed cottons, which was at first fervently followed in Europe, has since been rendered more simple, and brought to greater perfection by our manufacturers. The painted cottons which are bought there, we have not yet attempted to imitate. Those who imagine we have been prevented from undertaking this branch merely by the high price of labour among us, are mistaken. Nature has not given us the wild fruits and drugs necessary for the composition of those bright and indelible colours which constitute the principal merit of the Indian manufactures; nor has she furnished us with the waters that serve to fix them. The Indians do not universally observe the same method in painting their cottons; either because there are some niceties peculiar to certain provinces, or because different soils produce different drugs for the same uses. We should tire the patience of our readers were we to trace the slow and painful progress of the Indians in the art of painting their cottons. It is natural to believe that they owe it to length of time, rather than to the fertility of their genius. What seems to authorise this conjecture is, that they have stopped in their improvements, and have not advanced a single step in the arts for many ages; whereas we have proceeded with amazing rapidity. Indeed, were we to consider only the want of invention in the Indians, we should be tempted to believe, that, from time immemorial, they have received the arts they cultivate from some more industrious nation; but when it is remembered that these arts have a peculiar dependence on the materials, gums, colours, and productions of India, we cannot but be convinced that they are natives of that country. It may appear somewhat surprising that cottons painted with all sorts of colours should be sold at so moderate a price, that they are almost as cheap as those that have only two or three. But it must be observed, that the merchants of the country sell to all the companies a large quantity of cottons at a time; and that the demand for cottons painted with various colours makes but a small article in their affortments, as they are not much esteemed in Europe.

Though cottons of all sorts are in some degree manufactured through the whole country of Indostan, which extends from Cape Comorin to the banks of the Ganges; it is observable, that the fine sorts are made in the eastern part, the common ones in the centre, and the coarse ones in the most western parts. Manufactures are established in the European colonies, and upon the coast; they are more frequent at the distance of five or six leagues from the sea, where cotton is more cultivated, and provisions are cheaper. The purchases made there are carried 30 or 40 leagues farther into the country. The Indian merchants settled in the European factories have always the management of this business. The quantity and quality of the goods wanted are settled with these people; the price is fixed according to the patterns; and at the time a contract is made, a third or a fourth part of the money agreed on is advanced. This arrangement is owing to the necessity these merchants themselves are under of advancing money to the workmen by the partners or agents who are dispersed through the whole country; of keeping a watchful eye upon them, for fear of losing what they have advanced; and of gradually lessening the sum, by calling for the cottons as fast as they are worked off. Without these precautions, nothing could be depended on in an oppressive government, where the weaver cannot work on his own account, either because his circumstances will not permit, or because he dares not venture to discover them for fear of exactions. The companies that have either success or good management, constantly keep the stock of one year in advance in their settlements. By this method they are sure of having the quantity of goods they have occasion for, and of the quality they choose, at the most convenient time; not to mention that their workmen, and their merchants, who are kept in constant employment, never leave them. Such nations as want money and credit cannot begin their mercantile operations till the arrival of their ships. They have only five or six months at most to execute the orders sent from Europe. The goods are manufactured and examined in haste; and they are even obliged to take such as are known to be bad, and would be rejected at any other time. The necessity they are under of completing their cargoes, and fitting out their vessels before hurricanes come on, leaves no room for nicety of inspection. It would be a mistake to imagine that the country agents could be prevailed upon to order goods to be made on their account, in hopes of selling them with a reasonable advantage to the company with whom they are engaged. For, besides that the generality of them are not rich enough to embark in so large an undertaking, they would not be certain of finding their account in it. If the company that employ them should be hindered by unforeseen accidents from sending the usual number of ships, these merchants would have no vent for their commodities. The Indians, the form of whose dyes requires different breadths and lengths from those of the cottons fabricated for our use, would not purchase them; and the other European companies would be provided, or certain of being provided, with whatever the extent of their trade required, and their money enabled them to purchase. The plan of procuring loans, which was contrived to remedy this inconvenience, never has, nor can be useful. It has been a custom, time immemorial, in Indostan, for every citizen who borrows money, to give a written instrument to his creditor. This deed is of no force in a court of judicature, unless it is signed by three witnesses, and bears the day of the month and the year when it was made, with the rate of interest agreed upon by the parties. If the borrower fails to fulfil his engagements, he may be arrested by the lender himself. He is never imprisoned, because there is no fear of his making his escape. He would not not even eat, without obtaining leave of his creditor.

The Indians make a three-fold division of interest: one kind they call *vice*; another neither *vice* nor *virtue*; and a third, they say, is *virtue*. The first is four per cent. a month; the second two; and the third one. The last is, in their opinion, an act of benevolence that only belongs to the most heroic minds. Yet, though the Europeans, who are forced to borrow, meet with this treatment, it is plain they cannot avail themselves of the indulgence without being involved in ruin.

The foreign trade of Coromandel is not in the hands of the natives. In the western part, indeed, there are Mohammedans known by the name of Ghalias, who, at Naour and Porto-Nuovo, send out ships to Acken, Merguy, Siam, and the eastern coast. Besides vessels of considerable burden employed in these voyages, they have smaller embarkations for the coasting trade for Ceylon and the pearl fishery. The Indians of Massilipatan turn their attention another way. They import from Bengal white calicoes, which they dye or print, and sell them again at the places from whence they had them, at 35 or 40 per cent. advantage. Excepting these transactions, which are of very little consequence, the whole trade is vested in the Europeans, who have no partners but a few Banians and Armenians settled in their colonies. The quantity of calicoes exported from Coromandel to the different ports of India, may be computed at 3500 bales. Of these the French carry 800 to Malabar, Mocha, and the Isle of France; the English, 1200 to Bombay, Malabar, Sumatra, and the Philippine Islands; and the Dutch 1500 to their different settlements. Except 500 bales destined for Manila, each of the value of 100 guineas, the others are of such an ordinary kind that they do not exceed 30 guineas at prime cost; so that the whole number of bales do not amount to more than about L. 150,000.

Coromandel furnishes Europe with 9500 bales; 800 of which are brought by the Danes, 2500 by the French, 3000 by the English, and 3200 by the Dutch. A considerable part of these calicoes are dyed blue, or striped blue and red for the African trade. The others are fine muslins, printed calicoes, and handkerchiefs from Massilipatan, or Paliacate. It is proved by experience that each of these bales costs only about L. 42 Sterling; consequently they ought to bring in to the manufactory where they are wrought near L. 360,000. The payments are not entirely made in specie, either in Europe or Asia; we give in exchange, clothes, iron, lead, copper, coral, and some other articles of less value. On the other hand, Asia pays with spices, pepper, rice, sugar, corn, and dates. All these articles taken together may amount to about L. 210,000; and from this calculation it follows, that Coromandel receives annually from Europe about L. 300,000 in money. The British, who have acquired the same superiority on this coast that they have elsewhere, have formed on it several settlements.