328 On the Maritime Conunerce of Bengal. 



globe usually denominated the East Indies, her access in 

 rendered easy to the remotest shores Dt' Africa, Asia, and 

 America. 



On the west, and contiguous to Bengal, lies the great 

 peninsula of Hindustan. To the numerous ports and set- 

 tlements on both coasts of this peninsula, particularly the 

 coast of Coromandel, Bengal carries on a constant, exten- 

 sive, . and profitable commerce, which may properly be 

 called her home, or coasting trade. On the east she bor- 

 ders on Assam, and touches the dominions of Ava. The 

 former she supplies exclusively with salt ; and from the 

 latter receives all her teak timber for ship building and do- 

 mestic use. The bay of Bengal, embracing the west end 

 of Sumatra, and washing the coast of Malaya, affords a 

 direct commimication through the straits of Malacca to 

 China and the eastern islts, where the opium, saltpetre, 

 and piece goods of Bengal are always in great demand. 

 With the Persian and Arabian gulfs, as well as the eastern 

 coast of Africa, Bengal likewise maintains commercial in- 

 tercourse, though many obstacles have in late years super- 

 vened, to impede her commerce in that quarter. 



Calcutta, the political and commercial capiial of British 

 India, as well as the empornim of Bengal, is situated on 

 the Houghly river, or western branch of the Ganges, about 

 100 miles from the sea, and accessible to ships of all sizes 

 at all seasons. From Calcutta, foreign imports are trans- 

 ported with great facility by the Ganges and its subsidiary 

 streams to the northern nations of Hindustan ; and the 

 consumption and exports of Calcutta are readily supplied 

 through the numerous rivers which intersect Bengal in 

 every direction, and to which her prosperity has been 

 ascribed, not only as they facilitate communication and 

 conveyance, but likewise as they contribute to the fertility 

 of her soil. 



The elegant villas that adorn the banks of the Houghly, 

 and the southern aspect of Calcutta, impress the mind of 

 a stranger, on his approach, with high ideas of the opulence 

 of this great city ; but the shipping that crowd the port 

 point out to him the true source of its splendor. Nume- 

 rous, and magnificent houses, erected within a few years, 

 are undoubted proofs of prosperity, and the great population 

 and extent of the place (still rapidly increasing), with the 

 busy and animated operations of the harbour, indicate an 

 active and thriving conmicrce. I am happy to yield my 

 unqualified assent to this observation; and it is with no 

 email degree of national pride, that I can safely ascribe, in 

 7 a great 



