Cuddalore

Cuddalore (Kúdalúr or Gudulúr), the chief town in South Arcot, Madras, on the Coromandel or east coast of Hindustan. It is situated on a backwater formed by the confluent estuaries of two rivers, 16 miles S. of Pondicherry, and 127 S. of Madras by rail. It has a large trade by land with Madras in oils, indigo, and sugar, and exports grain by sea. Though the river itself is silted up, and admits only native craft, yet there is good anchorage off-shore at the distance of a mile and a half. Cuddalore was at one time a place of great strength; and in that respect it was frequently an object of contention in the wars which, during the later half of the 18th century, so long desolated this neighbourhood. In 1758 it was taken by the French from the British, who had held it for 77 years; and was finally ceded to the British in 1785. Pop. (1891) 47,355.