MADRAS, British India, the capital of the presidency of Madras, on the Coromandel coast, lies on an open, sandy shore, exposed to the swell of the Bay of Bengal, which breaks upon the beach with great violence. It is 835 miles southwest of Calcutta. A modern harbor formed by two piers obviates the former dan gerous passage through the surf. The city is built on level ground and with its nine suburbs occupies 27 square miles. The chief commer cial portion is Black Town, about a mile square, closely and irregularly built, containing the native and East Indian (or mixed) population. with a few European merchants and their families. On the south is the ancient Portu guese settlement Saint Thome founded in 1504, with a Roman Catholic cathedral. One of the chief objects of interest is Fort Saint George, which commands the Black Town and the net work of roads; and may be considered the nucleus of the city. It was built in 1639, and is admirably situated for the defense of the town and shipping. It contains a church, the bar racks, and an arsenal. The government-house, the cathedral of Saint George and some of the other churches and public buildings, are handsome structures. Besides the university, the Presidential College and a medical college, supported by government, there are large mis sionary institutions. The public park, contain ing a small zoological collection, is the chief recreation ground of the city. From the meridian of the observatory connected with the university all India takes its time. Madras is the chief seat of the provincial government offices, of the Supreme Court, a board of revenue, marine board, etc. Notwithstanding the disadvantages of its position it is a place of great trade, and a new harbor has greatly tended to increase traffic. The landing and shipping of goods is effected partly by lighters to the pier-head inside the harbor, and partly by the old massula or surf boats, which land their cargoes on the beach.
The imports are chiefly manufactured goods from the United Kingdom, especially cottons, wines, spirits, metals, stationery, etc. Among the principal exports are cotton, grain, indigo, coffee, tea, hides, oil-seeds, dye-stuffs, pepper, etc. The chief industries are connected with the preparation of goods for export, such as coffee pressing and cotton cleaning. Cotton spinning factories have been established at Madras. The country at a short distance from the city presents a remarkable contrast to its barren sandy shore, having the appearance of a fine park. The mean annual temperature is 82°, which rises in the hot weather to 96° in the shade. The city has railway communication with all the principal places of India, has good water supply and sewerage systems, is lighted by electricity and gas and is administered by a body of 32 commissioners.
Madras was founded in 1639 by the English, who obtained the grant of a piece of ground for the erection of a town and fort (Fort Saint George) from the Rajah of Chandgherry. it soon became a flourishing city and the chief station of the English on the Coromandel coast. In 1746 it was taken by the French, who kept it until 1749, when peace was made and the place was restored to the English by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. In 1758 it was again besieged by the French tinder the celebrated Lally, who was obliged to retreat after a siege of two months. Pop. about 518,660, of whom 79 per cent are Hindoos, 11 per cent Mohammedans and 8 per cent Christians.