a large province of Southern India, so denominated by Europeans. It extends along the eastern coast about 600 miles in length, and from 50 to 100 miles in breadth. It is bounded on the north by the Guntoor cirar, the limit being the small river Gunezama, which falls into the sea at Muntapilly, and thence it stretches southward to Cape Comorin. It is divided into the Southern, Central, and Northern Carnatic. The region south of the river Coleroon, which passes the town of Trichinopoly, is called the Southern Carnatic. The principal towns of Carnatic, this division are Tanjore, Trichinopoly, Madura, Tranquebar, Negapatam, and Tinevelly. The Central Carnatic extends from the Coleroon river on the south to the river Pennar on the north: its chief towns are Madras, Pondicherry, Arcot, Vellore, Cuddalore, Pullicat, Nelloor, &c. The Northern Carnatic extends from the river Pennar to the northern limit of the country; and the chief towns are Ongole, Carwarre, and Sangaum. The soil is various: in a great part of the country it is deep and rich, whilst in other tracts it is sandy, and, as water is scarce, unproductive. This defect is, however, supplied by artificial means; an extensive system of canal irrigation having been established within the delta formed by the Coleroon and the Cauvery. In such parts as are at too great a distance to have water thus conveyed to them, tanks are constructed, some of them of great extent, and formed by inclosing the waters deposited in low situations with a strong mound of earth; while others are of a smaller size, and of a quadrangular form, lined with stone, and with a flight of steps descending to the bottom. In these reservoirs are collected supplies during the periodical rains, which are afterwards distributed over the rice fields, or reserved for the use of the cattle in the dry season. The climate, except on the sea-coast, where there are sea and land breezes, is liable to excessive heats, the thermometer standing in the coolest and shadiest parts at 115 degrees. Occasional showers fall in May, June, and July; but the S.W. monsoon which prevails during those months expends its violence chiefly on the opposite coast of Mahabar. As the S.W. monsoon dies away, the N.E. sets in, and continues to blow during October and November, bringing with it an annual rainfall of about 30 inches. The principal rivers are the Kistnah on the northern frontier, the Cauvery and Coleroon, the Pennar and the Palar; all of which rise in the high lands among the Ghauts, and take an easterly course to the Bay of Bengal. The vegetable productions are numerous, and similar to those found in most other parts of Hindustan. Famines and scarcities, owing to drought, have been more frequent in the Carnatic than in the Bengal provinces. This country in former times was the scene of unintermitting violence and strife between the numerous chieftains and petty potentates among whom it was divided; and forts and fortresses accordingly crown almost all the elevated points. They are built of a square form; but from the long period of internal tranquillity which the country has enjoyed, are now rapidly falling into decay. Large temples and other public monuments of civilization abound in the Carnatic. The temples are commonly built in the middle of a square area, and inclosed by a wall fifteen or twenty feet high, which conceals them from the public view, as they are never raised above it. The Carnatic, as above defined, comprehends within its limits the maritime provinces of Nellore, Chingleput, South Arcot, Tanjore, Madura, and Tinevelly, besides the inland districts of North Arcot and Trichinopoly. The aggregate population has been returned at 10,142,319, which consists chiefly of Hindus of the Brahminical persuasion, the Mohammedans being but thinly scattered over the country. The Brahmans rent a great proportion of the land; and also fill different offices in the collection of the revenue and the administration of justice. Throughout the country they appropriate to themselves a particular quarter in every town, generally the strongest part of it.

Trade and manufactures are carried on to a considerable extent. The exports are piece goods, consisting mostly of blue cloths, coarse chintzes, and the like; also indigo, grain, and other commodities.

The Carnatic was first invaded by the Mohammedans in A.D. 1310, when they defeated the Hindu sovereign and conquered the country. After this period it was liable to an occasional tribute to the Deccany sovereigns; and early in the eighteenth century it was overrun by the armies of Aurungzebe. It was dismembered from the Mogul empire in 1717, when Nizam ul Mulk obtained possession of the Deccan and the south of India. In 1743 he appointed Anwar ud Deen nabob of the Carnatic and Arcot; in 1754 a competition for the government arose; and after a long and tedious war, in which the English and the French took different sides, Mohammed Ali was left in possession of that portion of the Carnatic which was the fruit of the successes achieved by the British. The Carnatic was laid completely waste in its central parts by Hyder Ali, but was again reconquered by the British in 1783. In 1801 all the possessions of the nabob of the Carnatic were transferred to the British by treaty, the conditions of which were, that a revenue should be reserved to the nabob of several lacs of pagodas annually; and that the British should undertake to support a sufficient civil and military force for the protection of the country and the collection of the revenue. A liberal establishment was also provided for the other branches of the family of Mohammed Ali Khan.

The Southern Carnatic, when it came into the possession of the British, was occupied by military chieftains called polygars, who ruled over the country, and held lands by doubtful tenures. They were unquestionably a disorderly race; and the country, by their incessant feuds and plunderings, was one continued scene of strife and violence. They were transferred to the dominions of the British in the year 1792, in virtue of a treaty concluded by Lord Cornwallis with the nabob of Arcot. But the conditions of that treaty were variously understood; and it was found necessary, for the peace of the country, to reduce these refractory polygars to obedience. In 1801 an insurrection took place, which was crushed by a military force; after which their forts and military establishments were abolished, the country was searched for arms, and some severe examples being made, tranquillity was restored. (p. n—x.) (e. t.)