ABSTRACT
Th e city of Madras dates to the early years of the English East India Company, which was founded in 1600. European traders were attracted to the southeastern (or Coromandel) coast of India because of its skilled weavers and the fine textiles-calicoes, muslins, and chintzes-that were pro duced in the area. These were much sought after for export to Southeast Asia and Europe. The English East India Company first tried to establish itself at Machilīpatnam (Masulipatam), but was hindered by rival Dutch traders and the exactions of Indian officials. A base at Armagon also proved unsatisfac tory, and in August 1639 Francis Day, chief agent factor there, found a more suitable site, on a sandy spit of land facing the Bay of Bengal and protected to the west and north by the brackish Cooum River. Day concluded a treaty with the local ruler, the raja of Chandragiri, a subordinate of the decaying Hindu empire of Vijayanagara, which granted the company half the revenues of "Madrasapatam" and permission to build a fort.
