IO

EASTERN HINDOOSTAN.

City of
Madura.

DEtTA OF THE

Vaygaroo.

Madura be-
sieged in x75l

Barra-mahal (which includes Selim) is to the north-eaft of
Dind/gul, and extends in length norfh-eafterly about a hundred
and fifteen miles. Thefe provinces border on the Carnatic,
and on Coimbetore, and, containing the paffes through which
Tippoo muft force his way into our territories, are of no fmali
importance to the fecurity of our pofTeffions *, and alfo give us
the entrance into the dominions of our ambitious neighbor.

The city of Madura was a fquare defended by a double wall
and a fofs; each fide was in extent a thoufand yards : it had
been in antient times the feat of a prince, fovereign not only
of this province, but alfo thofe of Tritchinopoly and Tinevelly.
Madura ftands on the river Vaygaroo, about fixty miles from
the fea, and in Lat. 90 52' 30". This is the firit river on the eaft-
ern coaft which has its Delta : it includes the great projection
Koyel; and between the mouths of the fouthern and moft
northern itream prefents a front of about fifty-fix miles.

To return to Madura!—The city was befieged in 1751, by
a Captain Cope. This is one of the many inftances in which
the Europeans interfered in the difputes of thofe very people,
among which they obtained a fettlement in the guife of hura-
ble and fuppliant raerchants. Sometimes the Frencb, and
fometimes the Engliflj, were the aggreffors, i. e. fided, and took
a warm part with the Indian princes, who had held up the
allurement of gold, the price of their affiftance. Cope made his
breach in the firft wall in Madura with the only cannon he
had. The Europeans, and the Sepoys, or Indian foldiers trained

* See Mr. RenneFs moit accurate Memoir on the fubje& of ths Partition Treaty, and the
>U endant map, 1792.

§ to