MADRAS the deck of a steamer in the grey dawn of the morning Madras rising from a long stretch of bright sandy beach beyond the dark green sea has the appearance of a continental city. Madras has, however, kept to a large extent an early individuality, and the past is a living pres ence in the old town. The fine storehouses which line the surf-beaten shore with colonnades to the upper stories, belong to a former generation, and the old roadstead of Fort St. George recalls to mind stirring events of a bygone age.
Madras is a town with a history, as all know who have read their Orme. There was a time when it ranked higher than Calcutta, and it was from Madras, then a flourishing settlement, that Job Charnock went to found on a swamp by the banks of the Hughly, the City of Palaces.
The foundation of Fort St. George was due to the struggle between the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English as to Who should enjoy the trade between India and the Spice Islands. In 1611 (eleven years after Elizabeth had granted the first charter of " the Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading with the East Indies ") Captain Heppon, of the Globe, touched at Pulicat, then the chief port on the Eastern or Coromandal Coast. The Dutch had established a factory and built a fort there, and the Dutch Governor, Van Wezik, refused to allow the English to trade. Taking with him two merchants who had been in the Dutch Service, Heppon left Pulicat, and coasted up the Bay of Bengal until he reached Masulipatam, at the mouth of the Kistna, then the principal mart of that part of India. Here they managed to establish a small agency, which was put under a chief, and a council was chosen from the merchants. Twelve years later a factory was established and fortified at Armagon, a roadstead south of Masulipatam, and forty miles north of Pulicat. It was the first fortifi cation erected by the English in India. In the year 1628-29 Armagon is described as being defended by twelve pieces of cannon mounted round the factory, and by a guard of twenty-three factors and soldiers. To it the same year, owing to the oppression of the native Governor, the factory at Masulipatam was transferred, but Armagon was not a good entrepot for the supply of the " white cloths," and two years later the agency was again established at Masulipatam. But when the chief and merchants of Masulipatam were at Armagon they sent Francis Day, one of the Consuls, to ex amine the country in the vicinity of the station which the Portuguese who were then friendly to us had established at St. Thomas. Day was ordered to go towards St. Thomay to see what paintings those parts doth afford ; as also to see whether any place were fit to fortify upon." In August 1639, three years before the outbreak of the Civil War, Day " having dispatched what he was sent about," returned to Masulipatam and told his colleagues what he had done.
" And first he makes it appear to us that, at a place called Madraspatam, near St. Thomay, the best paintings are made, or as good as anywhere on this coast ; likewise excellent Long cloth, Morrces, and Percalla ; of which we have seen Musters—and better, cheap by 20 per cent. than any
where else. The Naque of that place is very desirous of our residence there ; for he haul made us very fair proffers to that effect ; for first he proffers to build a Fort, in what manner we please, upon a high plot of ground adjoining to the Sea, where a ship of any burthen may ride within musket shot close by a River, which is capable of a vessel of fifty tons ; and upon possession given us by him and not before, to pay what charges he shall have disbursed." Day was sent back to Madraspatam, and so important was the new acquisition considered that the agency at Masulipatam directed him to begin building the fort without waiting for the orders of the Court of Directors. But the Native Governor was " as good as his word " in all things, except " the forte exactions (the main thing of all), but in that thing he excuseth himselfe." Day offered " to pay the interest of all the moneys that should be expended till the fort was finished," but their Worships at home refused " to allow of any charges at all neither in buildinge or payinge of garrison." For in their first letter, dated loth September, 1612, " The Agent and Factors on the Coast of Coromandel write : " When wee doe (as that wee doe often) fall into Consideration how much your Worships are.displeased with vs, for proceedinge on this worke, it euen breakes some of our hearts. 'Tis now to late to wish it vndone, and yett wee may not but tell you that if soe bee your Worships will follow this Coast Trade (or rather the Karnatt) this place may proove as good as the best, but all things must have its growth and tyme, but on the Contrary if your Worships will not Contineu it, you may doe it away to proffett, and not hazard the loss of a man, if you Resolve vpon the latter, after advice given once within 12 mo, it may with ease be effected, unless the Moores Conquer the Country before." Madras proved " as good as the best." A large number of natives seeking the protection of the English, a prosperous settlement arose outside the English bounds, which port was styled the Black Town. The original settlement where none but Europeans were allowed to reside being known as the White Town. Owing to the trade from England to the coast of Coromandel, to the great return it makes in calicoes and muslin, " to its considerable trade with China, Persia and Mocha," and to its " not being a great way from the diamond mines of Golconda," Madras rose " to a degree of opulence and reputation which rendered it inferior to none of the European establishments in India except Goa and Batavia." The fort, as first erected, was but a small place, not a quarter of a mile long and only a hundred yards wide from east to west, and was situated at the north-east corner of the present fort. Five years after its first erection, its total cost had been only Rs. 23,00o, and the highest estimate of a sufficient garrison was one hundred soldiers. In 1652, thirteen years after its foundation, it was considered safe with a garrison of twenty-six men. No great change was made in it for a century.