journ at Cuddalore.

The possibility of visiting the native town was precluded by the
peculiar strictness of the regulations imposed upon us.

SECTION VI.

THE AUTHOR'S DEPARTURE FROM CUDDALORE AND ARRIVAL AT
PONDICHERRY--DEPARTURE THEREFROM, AND ARRIVAL AT MADRAS,
WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE SAME--ACCOUNT OF THE RELIGION,
CUSTOMS, AND MANNERS OF THE NATIVES--DEPARTURE FROM MADRAS,
ON HIS ROUTE TO NAGPORE,--ARRIVAL AT PONAMALEE, AND
DESCRIPTION OF THE SAME--HIS DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL AT
CUDDAPAH.

After I had thoroughly recovered, through the interest of a young
German widow, I obtained my acquittal from the ship, and then
proceeded to New Town for my passport. New Town lies about two miles
and a half E. N. E. of Cuddalore, and is the residence of the
Europeans in that neighbourhood; the houses of the Europeans are
generally built of brick and those of the natives of wood. The day
after I had obtained my passport I proceeded on my route and arrived
at Pondicherry the same evening.

Pondicherry is about four leagues in extent; the houses are built with
brick, but the Indians use only wood, in the manner which we call lath
and plaster. In a few days after I arrived in Madras, and took up my
residence with a friend in Pursevaulkum.

A few days after my arrival I proceeded with my friend to town.
Madras, or Fort St. George, is a fort and town of the peninsula, on
the coast of Coromandel. It is the principal settlement of the English
on the east side of the peninsula, and is a fortress of great extent,
including within it a regular well-built city. It is close to the sea
shore, from which it has a rich and beautiful appearance, the houses
being covered with a stucco, called _chunam_, which, in itself, is as
compact as the finest marble, bears as high a polish, and is equally
as splendid as that elegant material. There is a second city, called
Black Town, nearly four miles in circumference, separated from Madras
by the breadth of a proper esplanade. Madras, in common with all the
European settlements on this coast, has no port for shipping, the
coast forming nearly a straight line, and being incommoded with a high
and dangerous surf. The citadel is situated in the middle of the
White, or English Town, and is one of the best fortresses in the
British possessions. The town is also encompassed with a strong wall
of the same stone as that with which the citadel is built, and is
def