tudes of very low wooded iiles, formed by a thoufand fivers,
that tumble from the Ghauts. This flat country extends thirty
miles inland, and has intermixed a great affemblage of lakes,
rivers, and forefts, the whole marihy, and moll unwholeiome:
it abounds with fiih and game, which makes Cochin, in that
refpedt, a moft luxurious reiidence,
.Sweiied Legs. A diftemper prevales in thefe parts, fuppofed to arife from
the badnefs of the water, or from an impoveriihed Rate of blood
from poor living. Its fymptoms are a violent fwelling in one,
and fometimes in both legs, fo that it is not uncommon to fee
them a yard in circuit round the ancle*. It is not attended with
any pain, but with an itching; the fwollen leg is not heavier
than the unaffected. The diftemper is called the Cochin-leg
and, from the fize, the Ekphant-leg; no remedy has yet been
difcovered. The Butch procure their water in boats from a
diftant place, yet Hamilton fays, that he had feen both men and
•women of that nation afflidted with the malady. This deftroys
the hypothefis of its being the cil'eci either of the water or of
poor living.
From Cochin to the termination o f the iilands, the coaft is
flat, and fo low, as to be diftinguiihed only by the trees, or by
the flags on the enfign Hafts; the fea clear of fhoals,- and with
Jorcah. good foundings. Porcak, on the ifland beyond Cochin, is a
Coulakc. fmall Dutch fettlement. Suilon, or rather Coulang, is another,
now funk into an inconfiderable place. On the firft arrival o f
the Portuguefe it was governed by a Queen-Regent, who ruled
* See the Plate 65, in Linfcottan’s Voyage.
over
over a fmall principality. The city was feated on a navigable
river, had an excellent harbour, and its buildings were very
fplendid ; but its commerce had declined on the rife of Calicut.
Numbers of Chriftians o f St. Thomas were found fpread oyer the
country. It Was taken from the Portuguefe by the Dutch, in
1.662. The country was at that time alfo governed by a Queen,
who refided at Calliere, an inland town. Nieuhoff was intrufted
with a commiflion to her, and found her a woman o f majeftic
mien, and excellent underftanding*.
To this place there continues a iimilarity of low, and morally
country. At-a few miles diftance, to the fouth of Coulang, the
coaft immediately alters, the land rifes into high and precipitous
red cliffs ; near them is good frelh water; at Anjenga, a fmall
fettlement (with a fort belonging to. the Pnglifh) it is very bad
and fcarce. The fort was built by the Eafi India Company, in
i 695- They pay for the ground rent to the queen o f the country.
By. my frequent mention o f the Queen, it ihould feem,
that a female reign in thefe parts was not uncuftomary. The
trade of the neighborhood is pepper, and a fine long cloth.
Mr. Pranklin, p. 7, remarks, that this is the beft place in India
for intelligence, and that very lately a poll to feyeral parts of
India has been eftabliihed. “ A regular poft," fays Mr. Rennet,
p. 317, “ is eftabliihed throughout the parts of Hindoojlan fub-
•“ je<St to the Raft India Company, and alfb from Calcutta to
" Madras. The pollmen always travel on foot. Their ftages
are commonly from feven to eight miles; and their rate o f
A n j e n g a .
♦ Nieuhoff’s Voyage, in Churchill’s Coll. ii, p. 267.
" travelling,