S U R A T T E. 1750. 173 



like other Afiatick nations, make much ufe of 

 earthen ware. 



After rowing or failing from the anchor- 

 ing-place, about three Swedijh miles, you 

 come on the river Tapti or Tapta to the city 

 of Suratte. The thing that firft ftrikes the 

 eye is a confiderable building, called the caflle. 

 It has formerly had four baftions, one of which 

 is tumbled down ; and the bad wall which has 

 been built inftead of it feems ready to follow 

 its fate. It has a good number of cannons on 

 feveral terraces j but their muzzles are drop- 

 ping, and they are fo ill ranged that often 

 an eighteen pounder (lands clofe by a fix 

 pounder. 



The caftle is the centre of a low wall, 

 which makes almofl a femicircle, and has an- 

 gular baftions, and a dry ditch, which includes 

 the city. Thefe are again furrounded by the 

 fuburbs, which have the fame kind of fortifi- 

 cation, and are faid to contain above a hun« 

 dred thoufand inhabitants. 



The fearch at the gate for the firfl time 



feemed fomewhat rigorous to us, becaufe the 



cuftonvhoufe officer would know how much 



3 money 



