“I suppose you have often heard the expression, ‘in the Carnatic,’ for it is memorable as the scene of the struggle in the last century between England and France for the supremacy of India.  Though there is no state with that name, nearly the whole coast region south of the Godavery River retains this name.  In fact, there is no little confusion of names in many parts of India.  The country near the Arabian Sea still receives the designation of the Deccan, from the Kistna River to the Gulf of Cambay on the north.  But this name does not belong to a political division,” continued the speaker, pointing out every location and river he named.

“Madras extends along the shore nine miles, and is thus exposed to the fury of the sea for this distance; for it is not on a river, like Calcutta, or a sheltered bay, like Bombay.  Formerly, on the approach of a cyclone, vessels lying in the roadstead, as the only harbor it had, which was no harbor, had to put to sea to avoid being driven on the shore.  Decidedly it was a very inconvenient place to build a city; but the town formerly consisted of a number of villages, which have been united, after the fashion of some of your American cities.

“An attempt has been in progress the last twenty years to make a harbor in the shape of an enclosure of strong walls, about half a mile square.  It was seriously damaged by a cyclone a dozen years ago; but they are still at work upon it, though it is said to be doubtful whether or not it will ever be safe for ships in a violent storm.  There is always a heavy surf rolling in on this coast, even in what the commander would call a smooth sea.”

“Then how shall we get ashore there?” inquired Mrs. Belgrave.

“The natives construct a boat, which is a sort of raft of planks, tied together with ropes, called a masulah, which passes through the surf very well in ordinary weather; but no boat could live in a cyclone in a sea there, for the waves are fourteen feet high.”

“I should like to try it with the second cutter, so far as the waves are concerned; but bumping on the bottom might spoil the attempt,” said Mr. Gaskette, who was standing by his map.

“It would not be prudent in a cyclone, and I trust you will have no occasion to try the experiment,” added Sir Modava.  “But cyclones are rare here, except from the last of May and into June, and in October, November, and early in December; so that the port is not liable to more than two storms a year.  The average rainfall is forty-nine inches, falling on ninety-five days; but in seventy-four years, ending two years ago, it varied from a foot and a half to seven feet and four inches.  It is dry here some years, and rather damp when they get eighty-eight inches.

“Going to Madras in March, the temperature of the place is of no consequence to you, except as a matter of curiosity, being in the Torrid Zone.  It will be from 76 deg. to 88 deg. while you are here.  The average temperature for the year is 82 deg.; in the hot months it rises to over 100 deg.; the highest in twenty-seven years was 113 deg., and the lowest 57.6 deg..  A sea-breeze often sets in about noon, lasting till sunset, greatly modifying the heat.  I think I need say no more about the city till we get there.”