ABSTRACT

Cuddalore stands at one of the mouths of the River Pennar, of which mention has been made before. It is a pleasant two hours' run from Cuddalore to Pondicherry by car along the direct road which follows the coast line through pleasant flat and fertile land traversed by the slow rivers which irrigate it. Pondicherry can exploit its hinterland of South Arcot by exporting produce to France; the trade in ground-nuts has already been mentioned and is of great value to Marseilles. Close by Cuddalore is the almost abandoned Fort St. David, to which Clive and others fled from Madras when it was captured by the French under Labour-donnais in 1746. Fort St. David changed hands several times afterwards, and only finally came under British rule in 1785. Cuddalore is calling stations for coasting steamers, which, however, have to lie a mile out, and take.