of the suburb runs a wide street, which is said to have been laid out by the French in the seventeenth century during their occupation for a few years of Mylapore. The houses in Triplicane are of the same character as those in the back streets of Georgetown, insignificant in appearance and not more than two storeys in height. Their occupants are dhirzis, small shopkeepers, and dealers in wares from the north of India the silks and satins of Indian make, embroidery, and gold thread. Over some of the doors in the Mount Road, as well as in Triplicane High Road, are some quaint notices. Over a small door leading into a tiny shed I noted:
'Indian Cycle and General Engineering Company. Agents for Aluminium. Madras Rickshaw Company.'
The single room would not have held more than half-a-dozen bicycles at most.
'Decent furniture for sale or hire ' was upon a house of one storey, which was overcrowded with a dilapidated sofa, a round table, and five chairs.
'The City Stables, Government Auctioneer, Commission Agents, and Carriage Builders,' was more than full with two ancient gharries past all hope of repair.
'The Carleton Billiard Saloon. Ale, Wine, Spirits, Best Colombo arrack and English liquors sold by the bottle or glass,' had one room eight feet square for the accommodation of the imaginary billiard-table and the gay company that might frequent the place. A bench outside was perhaps more inviting.
'Optician very cheap. Very cheap pebles [sic] for old and young to be had at any price.'
The windows of all the houses in Triplicane, whether they belonged to the dwellings of the well-to-do merchants or to the poorer classes, were all closely shuttered with Venetians, indicative of the strict gosha preserved by the inmates. The Mohammedan seems to hold the same
