A Geographical Account of Countries Round the Bay of Bengal, 1669 to 1679

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 Excerpt: ...we passed by the little town of Tutocorin, celebrated for the pearl-fishery, in which there are only two other places which can compare with it, namely Ormus...and Aynan on the coast of China...the Portuguese formerly made great profit from the fishery at Tutocorin...Tutocorin is quite open, having neither walls nor ramparts, so that it was not difficult for the Dutch to obtain possession of it when they attacked it in the year 1658. The English chiefly valued Tuticorin on account of the pepper it produced, but their factory there was not a success. In 1664 a ship was sent from Fort St George to fetch away the remaynes Letter Book, No. 3, p. 448) and it was decided to leave only one or two young factors in the place to prevent the Dutch from taking possession of it. In Jan. 1665 O. C. No. 3037+1) the Council at Fort St George wrote to England, A Factory at Tutacorey may be advantagious. No steps however appear to have been taken to settle the place. In Aug. 1668 Letter Book, No. 4) the Court ordered the Factors at Fort St George i Shell is as bigge or bigger then a man's fist, hollow, and are Sawed into rings, and soe worne by the people of Orixa and Bengala. Some weare them white (theire Naturall colour), and Others will have them painted redd, but both are esteemed highly as a rich Ornament. The River of Ganges is of large and wonderfull Extent1. Once I went through a Small rivolet of it called Dobra within the Isle of Cocks, and came into the great River, which rather deserves to be called the Sea of Ganges. The breadth of it there I cannot certainely affirme, but judge it is not less then 10 English leags broad, which is about 40 miles within Ganga Sagar, or the mouth of it2. Many to procure what Pepper possible from ...