helmsman directs the boat into the most favourable position; when it begins to rise on the wave, they at once burst out singing, "Alé, alé,” (“A wave, a wave,") and pull away with all their might, till the wave has expended itself; while the passenger does well to cover himself from the spray with his boat cloak: they then rest, waiting for the succeeding wave, which is passed in the same manner, till the boat is thrown almost dry upon the beach, and the men jump out to secure it from being carried back.

In passing the surf, I have often noticed that the wave, before it is expended, strikes the boat so severely, as to excite some apprehension; and there have been instances of the boat having been dashed to pieces by its force, with the consequent loss of the lading, and endangering of the lives of the persons on board: the boats employed in embarking or disembarking passengers, are therefore often attended by cátamárams.

A Cátamáram, (a term derived from two Tamul words, kattal, to tie or bind, and maram, wood, literally tied wood, or timber lashed together,) is a raft, from twelve to fifteen feet long, by three to five feet in breadth, composed of three spars or logs of light wood, lashed together; and managed by two or three kareiars, or beachmen, persons of the same caste as those employed in the Masoola boats.* When the surf is so high that Masoola boats cannot

*The kareiars, or persons thus employed on the beach at Madras, amount to many hundreds, residing chiefly at Royapooram, a village to the north of the town they are generally Roman Catholics. A Masoola boat can make three or four trips to merchant vessels, in the course of one day; the regulated charge for each trip is fifteen fanams, or nearly two shillings and four-pence sterling. Vessels of war anchor at a greater distance from the shore, consequently, a trip to them is charged double the amount, and two trips only are made in the day. When in full employ, therefore, these men do not gain more than one shilling each per day: small as this sum appears, they have, of late years, contributed out of it so liberally, as to raise for themselves a large and substantial church, in Royapooram, the erection of which cost several thousand pounds.

22

CATAMARAMS-BLACK TOWN.

venture, cátamárams are used to communicate with the shipping, usually anchored two to four miles from the shore: the men secure letters, or small parcels, in their conical caps, formed of the leaf of the palmyra tree: larger packages, covered with canvas or wax-cloth, are lashed to the raft; and they fearlessly venture into the most tempestuous seas. Though sometimes washed from the raft, their dexterity in swimming and diving, enables them to regain it; and the loss of a man, in this perilous occupation, is of rare occurrence.

Besides these important services, the cátamárams are generally used in conveying the mails, in stormy weather, from the coast of Coromandel to Ceylon, a passage of sixty miles. They are also used by the fishermen, all down the coast. On fishing excursions, they generally go in a party, setting out early in the morning, well supplied with nets and baskets. When outside the surf, they carry a neat three-cornered sail, and proceeding many miles to sea, do not usually return till evening.

I remember to have seen the Captain of a vessel, driven by a heavy storm from her anchorage off Negapatam, while he was ashore, set out in quest of her, seated on a chair lashed on one of these cátamárams: he thus crossed the straits, which divide Ceylon from the Continent, and succeeded in finding his ship.

The accompanying sketch, exhibits cátamárams venturing into the surf at Madras, and a few dhoneys, or native vessels, in the offing.

The town of Madras, usually called Black Town, is about a mile in extent from north to south, and not much less from east to west; fortified to the north and west, by a wall, kept in constant repair, having five gates, opening to main roads leading to the surrounding country; and to the south, lying open to the fort, which is a sufficient protection on that side. It contains numerous public offices, markets or bazaars, shops and taverns. Many Armenians reside in