Read Book Online : http://www.archive.org/stream/historyofthecity035512mbp#page/n3/mode/2up

Download pdf Book : http://ia700108.us.archive.org/11/items/historyofthecity035512mbp/historyofthecity035512mbp.pdf

Ah ! The notorious surf at Madras... When Fort St.George was established as the earliest fortified settlement of the East India Company in 1640 it was completely inaccessible from the sea - and remained so until the construction of a protected harbour in the late 19th century.Ships had to anchor off-shore and land their passengers and cargo by means of small boats called 'masula' (such as the one visible in the delightful illustration above). These simple wooden craft would transport people and goods through the heavy surf and boatsmen would carry the passengers ashore on their shoulders... there are numerous accounts of this somewhat hair-raising (and sometimes fatal) process that survive from the 18th/19th centuries.

I am wondering about the dresses worn by the figures in the picture. All my life I have lived in Bombay and have know how the Madrasis dress. The first time I went to Madras, I went to the Marina beach in the evening and kept looking for the setting sun in vain.

sunrise at madras and sunset at mangalore. both are very enjoyable, indeed.

@Shekhar : In Madras, the Sun is always on TV sets!