230 



CALCUTTA. 



Calcutta, it the confidence of the inhabitants ; and though 

 many of the company's servants, whose avarice or 

 dissipation have led them to injustice, bear it a secret 

 and rooted dislike, it has contributed greatly to the 

 comfort and protection of the natives, and has in a 

 manner raised them to an equality with Europeans. 

 That discretionary power, which the English for- 

 merly claimed over the Hindoos, and which, they 

 contended, was absolutely necessary, in order to 

 maintain subordination and obedience, is now com- 

 pletely abrogated. The Hindoo can appear in court 

 without any fear of insult or violence, and rigidly de- 

 mand the payment of his wages or accounts. If the 

 debtor is unable to comply with his just demand, he 

 feels gratified rather than hurt, that he can command 

 the personal liberty of an European. The plea of 

 colour, of country, or of religion, can avail nothing 

 in the eyes of an upright judge : impartial justice is 

 administered equally to all. Petty delinquencies are 

 tried by a superintendant of police, and several infe- 

 rior justices of the peace, who are Europeans ; and 

 the peace of the city is maintained by a few compa- 

 nies of sepoys, who regularly patrole the streets. 



Calcutta is the emporium of Bengal, and the chan- 

 nel through which the riches of the inland provinces 

 pass to Europe. Ships belonging to every nation are 

 seen in its harbour, and every mercantile speculation 

 is carried on here with a zeal and activity equal to 

 that of any other city in the world. Its foreign trade 

 extends to every port of any note in Asia and Eu- 

 rope ; and the annual dealings of some houses has 

 been estimated at two crores of rupees, about 

 L. 2,400,000 sterling. Its commerce in sugar, opi- 

 um, silks, muslins, &c. is very considerable. Vast 

 quantities of salt are exported to Asam, for which it 

 receives gold, silver, ivory, musk, and a particular 

 species of silky cotton. Cowry shells, which are 

 used in the country as a small coin, are brought from 

 the Maldives in exchange for rice ; and fine muslins 

 and calicos form a principal article of exportation 

 to Europe. The advantageous traffic, however, 

 which formerly subsisted between this port, and Pe- 

 gu, Siam, and the Malay islands, and which consist- 

 ed in the exchange of silver bullion, gold dust, and 

 precious stones, for raw and wrought silks, coarse 

 cotton cloths, opium, and saltpetre, is now very con- 

 siderably diminished, and, according to Mr Forsler, 

 unless some favourable change is speedily effected, 

 bears the appearance of a total failure. " The ex- 

 tent of the private trade of Calcutta," says Dr Ten- 

 nant, ' cannot be estimated justly, either from the 

 numbers or the burden of the ships belonging to that 

 port. Till lately, there were only 60 that properly 

 belonged to the British merchants here, and their 

 burden was about 27,000 tons. But it is well known, 

 that their concern in foreign ships is very consider- 

 able." For a full account of the trade of Calcutta* 

 we must refer oui readers to the article INDIA. 



Great difficulty and expence was formerly experi- 

 enced at this port, in unshipping merchandize, from 

 the want of a proper landing place. This of late 

 has, in some degree, been obviated by the erection 

 of a quay in front of the custom-house ; and it has 

 been proposed to carry the embankment the whole 

 length of the town, which will undoubtedly be a great 



improvement. The dangerous navigation of the Calcutta. 

 Hoogly, however, is still a considerable drawback 

 to the trade of Calcutta. The banks which infest 

 the mouth of the river, and are formed by the sand 

 and mud washed down during the rains, are continu- 

 ally changing their situation and dimensions ; and it 

 requires great attention, and almost constant sounding, 

 to place the buoys in proper positions, so that vessels 

 may not be misled when entering the river. Thia 

 duty belongs to the pilot service, which is under the 

 direction of the marine board, and is, in general, per- 

 formed with great care. At the confluence of the 

 Hoogly and Old Ganges, there is a very dangerous 

 shoal called the James and Mary, on which vessels 

 are frequently lost, particularly in light winds, when 

 the stream is running strong on the flood into the 

 latter river. Ships, when attempting to turn into 

 the Hoogly in such circumstances, are often carried 

 upon the shoal, when they are upset in an instant, 

 and are rolled over and over in a most frightful man- 

 ner. 



The British merchants, who are not in the service 

 of the company, constitate a numerous and respecta- 

 ble class of the community ; and though many of those 

 who belong to the civil and military departments of 

 the government effect a superiority over them, which 

 they arc entitled to, neither by their talents, opulence, 

 nor character. Several of these merchants have acqui- 

 red large fortunes, and display an elegance and splen- 

 dour in their mode of living, to which few ot that or- 

 der in society ever aspire. Among the foreign mer- 

 chants, the Armenians approach nearest to the Eng- 

 lish in number and respectability, and also in their fond-, 

 ness for show and elegance. They are a peaceable and 

 inoffensive people, regular and diligent in business, 

 and much attached to the British government. Many 

 of them are possessed oi large capitals, and carry on 

 an extensive trade to China, and to the ports towards 

 the west as far as the Persian Gulf. The Moguls, 

 however, are the most wealthy ; and from the exor- 

 bitant rate of interest at which they let out their 

 money, some of them draw an annual revenue amount- 

 ing to three times more than is yielded by any capi- 

 tal in Britain. But however rich, the Hindoos still 

 retain their narrow ideas, and parsimonious habits. 

 Their houses and shops are mean and disagreeable ; 

 and the only seasons when they launch out into any 

 extraordinary expence are at marriages, and religious 

 festivals. At these ceremonies the company, com* 

 posed of all ranks and denominations, assemble under 

 a large canopy illuminated with splendid lustres. 

 Otto, rose-water, and other perfumes, are scattered 

 with great profusion, and the sweetmeats are served 

 in vessels of gold. These, with the monotonous drawls 

 of singing girls, and sometimes a pantomimical per- 

 formance, constitute the whole entertainment. 



The retail trade of Calcutta is chiefly in the hands 

 of the Banians, Sarkars, and Writers, who go about 

 lia-.vking their commodities, and searching after cheap 

 purchases ; and such is their eagerness for money, 

 that every species of low cunning and deceit is em- 

 ployed to over-reach the purchaser. So far, how- 

 ever, is imposition in this way considered as any dis- 

 credit among their countrymen, that those who are 

 noted for it, obtain the appellation of pucka a 



