bounded on the south 'by the peninsula of Marmagon. From Goa to Cape Ramas the coast is low, with a beach of sand. Near this cape is Salsette river, a branch oC which communicates with the river of Goa, thus making an island of the site of that town. There are few coasts so much broken into small bays and harbours, and at the same time retaining so strait a general outline, as the coast between Bombay and Goa, a distance of nearly 220 geographical miles.
After passing Cape Ramas, the coast of Canara begins. At Fort Carwar there is an inlet of the sea, with a wide and deep, but intricate channel. To the south of this is the island of Anjediva, about a mile in circumference, and two from the shore. It lies before a bay, which is formed by two promontories, so lofty, that they afford some shel ter to ships, even during the S. W. monsoon. Meerjahnr, a river of the same size, which, in the month of February, seven miles from the sea, is 700 yards across, affords the most convenient wooding and watering place on the coast of Malabar. The Lagoon of Onore, already described, succeeds in latitude 14° 15'. On the north entrance of this lagoon is an island that has been fortified by the British. To the south of this there are several promontories, form ing bays tolerably well sheltered. There are also several small islands, of which the most remarkable are Hog Island and Pigeon Island. Mangalore, in South Canara, in latitude 49', is situated on a peninsula, which stretches into a large salt lagoon that is separated from the sea by a sand beach. Across this beach there was for merly an opening capable of receiving large ships ; but at present this channel has become so shallow, as to admit only vessels drawing less than 10 feet. There is another channel with still less water. Twenty-fire miles east by south from Mangalore stands Cumly, on a high point of land between two rivers, which run into a salt water lake, that is also divided from the sea by a narrow sand bank. In the rainy season both the rivers and the lake are fresh. From Cumly, for several leagues to the south, the coast is lined by a range of salt water lakes, which, however, are of little use to navigation, in consequence of the sand banks which lie between them and the sea.
The coast of Malabar begins at the river Chamiragiri, in latitude 12° 27'. This coast is much indented by inlets of the sea and salt lagoons, lying within a chain of sandy and narrow islands. These inlets run for great lengths paral lel to • he coast, and receive the small and rapid streams that descend from the Ghauts. They open to the sea by narrow and shallow channels. The first remarkable spot on the coast of Malabar is Mount Dilla, which is separat ed from the main land by salt water creeks. The best bay cn this part of the coast is formed by a point of land, on which stands the lint that protects the entrance to the town of Catranove. The town itself is situated at the bottom of the bay. Tellicherry, in latitude 1 1° 44', succeeds ; it stands on a small river. The coast here is very low and sandy. At Vadagherry, in latitude 11° 35', the series of salt lakes commence, which run without interruption to the south, forming a kind of inland navigation, protected from the sea by a chain of sandy islands. Calicut is si tuated on a river, navigable by boats, 100 miles up the country ; it is the port principally frequented by the Arabs of Muscat. Paniany, 40 miles south-east from Calicut, is situated on the south side of a river, which flows from Animalaya, or Elephant Hill. The entrance of this river, though wide, is so obstructed by a bar, that only the trading boats of the natives can reach the town. The salt lakes, islands, and small ports situated on them, now become numerous ; but the first of consequence, to the south of Paniany, is Cochin, which is built on a very low island. The inlet to it is navigable for vessels of con siderable burden. Cape Comorin, the southern extre mity of Ilindostan, in latitude 7° 57', and longitude 77° 33', is in itself low and level ; but, about a half a mile to the north of it, there is the mountain of Koinari, the southern termination of the Ghauts, the summit of which is said to be 1294 yards above the level of the sea. This is regard ed by mariners as the cape.
The south-eastern extremity of Hindostan is occupied by the coast of Tinnevelly. In it are no ports of any mo ment. On some parts of it the tide rises only two or three feet. Between the island of Ceylon and Point Ra men is the island of Ramissoram, about eleven miles long and six broad. It is low and sandy. The strait between it and the main land is about a mile wide ; but so ob structed by rocks, and with an entrance from the north so very narrow, that it cannot be navigated, except by very small vessels. This is an island of great sanctity in the opinion of the Hindoos. From Point Calymere to the river Cavery is the coast of Tanjore, which is so ex tremely low and flat, that the first objects seen, in ap proaching it, are the tops of the cocoa palms. Negapa tarn, 48 miles to the east of the town of Tanjore, in lati tude 45', is situated on a small creek. Only coasting vessels, or ships for refreshments, frequent it. Tranque bar, in latitude IV, is situated on a small river, across the mouth of which is a bar. The best roadstead on this part of the coast is off the town of Portonovo, in latitude 11° SO' ; it is sheltered on the south by a shoal. Pondicherry, on the river Gingie, is a port of little consequence with respect to trade, as the river can only receive small ves sels even during the rainy season. Its roadstead, how ever, is not so dangerous as that of Madras ; and landing may occasionally be accomplished in ships' boats. To the north of Sadras, and about 38 miles south by west from Madras, the coast seems to have been encroached upon by the sea, to a considerable extent. About 100 yards from the sea, there is a high rock, covered with Hindoo sculp ture and imagery. There are also other rocks washed by the sea, which, by the inscriptions on them, appear to have been formerly at a considerable distance from it. Accord ing to the traditions of the brahmins, a large city, called Mahabalipurarn, or the city of the Great Ball, stood here in very remote times ; and the surf is said still to break over its ruins. Madras, in latitude 13° 5', and longitude 30° 25', lies on a coast, where a rapid current runs, and on which a dreadful surf breaks, even when the weather is the most moderate ; the shore here is perfectly strait. Hence the roadstead of Madras is the worst in India ; the most dangerous season to remain in it is from the be ginning of October to the end of December ; large ships generally anchor about two miles from the shore. When the surface is unusually high, catamarans are used to con vey passengers from the Manilla boats; the latter are formed of materials that easily yield to the stroke of the waves, and are always employed between the ships in the roads and the shore. In the latitude 1 5° 30', the coast of the Carnatic terminates, and that of the northern Circars begins. After passing Masulipatam, on a branch of the Krishnan, and some other plains of less importance, we arrive at the bay of Coringa, in latitude 16° 49'; into this bay one of the branches of the Godavery falls ; a bar of mud lies across its entrance, through which ships must he forced. This is the only place on the east coast of Hindostan where there is smooth water during the south west monsoon, so that a ship of above 200 tons can be thoroughly refitted here by being hove down. A little to the north of Coringa bay, the low coast terminates, and a ridge of high mountains commence, which line the coast to Ganjarn in latitude 19° 23'. There is nothing remarka ble as we proceed northwards, till we arrive at Point Palmycas, which forms the entrance into the Bay of Bala sore on the south. A reef extends nearly 10 miles to the E. N. E. of this point. There is but little depth of water in the Bay of Balasore; in some places the water leaves the shore for half a mile out at low tide ; and even at the dis tance of three leagues there is not more than seven or eight fathoms : this arises from the immense quantity of mud and sand carried out by the Ganges. The shores of the bay are intersected by several small streams, some of which are navigable. The town of Balasore stands on the Booree Bellaun river, where the tide commonly rises eight feet : at high water vessels of 100 tons burden can cross the bar.