PONDICHERRY, pon-di-sheri (French, PONDICHERY, pon-de-sha-re), India, the capital of the French possessions in India, on the east or Coromandel coast, 85 miles by rail south west of Madras. Its territory, with an area of 107 square miles, is surrounded on the land side by the British district of South Arcot. It stands on a sandy beach, and consists of two divisions separated by a canal. The "White Town," or European quarter, on the east, facing the sea, is regularly laid out, contains a spacious square, in which is the government-house, handsome planted boulevards and a number of well-built houses. The °Black Town," or native quarter, on the west beyond the canal, consists mainly of huts of brick or earth and a few pagodas. Its streets are broad and shaded by palm-trees, but filthy. The fortifications, formerly strong, were destroyed during the war with the British, and by the Treaty of Paris they are not to be rebuilt nor is Pondicherry to be garrisoned by a native French force. The province is partly
watered by the Gingee River, but is not very fertile: some rice, indigo, tobacco, betel, cotton and cocoanuts are raised; which, with cotton cloths and oil seeds, form the chief exports. The imports consist chiefly of manufactured goods. There is no harbor, but only a road stead, where the surf beats almost as strongly as at Madras. There is, however, an iron pier. The town has been provided with a good supply of drinking water. The settlement was pur chased by the French from the Bejapoor rajah in 1672. It was several times taken by the British, the last being in 1803, being restored in i 1815. The population of the town in 1916 was 47,398; of the province, 168,344.