292 Dr. R. B. Thomson, on the [April 



rectangular bay or recess, which lies between Tull Point in 

 N. lat. 18° 47', and Basseen, in N. lat. 19° 19', and between 

 the parallels of E. Ion. 72° 47' and 73° 3', possessing, therefore, 

 an extreme length of thirty-two miles, and an average 

 breadth of sixteen miles. The island of Salsette occupies 

 seventeen miles in the length of the northern part of the 

 bay, acquiring a breadth of from fifteen to seventeen miles, 

 while its circumference has been computed at seventy miles. 



A considerable proportion of the remaining part of this 

 bay is occupied by Bombay, Caranja, Elephanta, Butcher, 

 Woody, and Cross Islands, which, being disposed in a 

 crescentic manner, form the harbour of Bombay, an open 

 and extensive bason eight miles in diameter, affording 

 good anchoring ground and secure shelter for fleets of 

 ships of the largest burthen. It is these insulated por- 

 tions of land, that I have designated the Bombay Islands. 

 The appearance presented by these islands is highly pic- 

 turesque, as they are in many places adorned with thriving 

 woods, which, between the tropics, always produce rich 

 and refreshing scenery. But, in the Island of Bombay, the 

 present trees appear of recent origin ; for, we learn from 

 older writers that the land was formerly swampy, and 

 afforded no plants or trees worthy of mention. At present 

 the higher parts of Salsette and Caranja are nearly destitute 

 of trees, but they are for the most part thickly clothed 

 with straggling jungle. 



The general contour of these islands corresponds closely 

 with that of the adjacent continent, and as far as the latter 

 has been investigated, the formation appears identical. 

 The altitude attained by the rocky masses in these insulated 

 lands is never great, although they are all considerably 

 elevated above the level of the ocean. The dark hills of 

 Salsette reach the greatest height, next to them in order 

 come the rugged masses of Caranja and Elephanta, but 

 Bombay and the remaining islands approach more nearly 

 the character of plains. 



Before taking a separate view of each of the more con- 

 siderable of these islands, it seems satisfactory to present at 

 one view a description of the rocky masses and minerals, 

 which form their essential constituents, and here it may be 

 premised, that the rocks belong all to that class which has 



