G A N G E T I C H I N D O O S T A N. 29^) 



About fifteen miles lower down, on the eaftern bank, {lands Calcutta, 

 Calcutta, in Lat. 20° 33' north, the emporium of Bengal, and 

 the feat of government. The EngliJJj made their fettlement 

 here in 1690, at that time the moft unhealthy place that could 

 be chofen, near to marfhes and ftagnant waters, and a falt-water 

 lake which fwarms with fifh, and overflowing annually, leaving 

 amazing quantities to putrify, adding to the badnefs of the air. 

 Hamilton gives, of his own knowlege, an inftance of four hun- 

 dred burials in lefs than half a year, out of the twelve hundred 

 Englijlj then refident ; but by the care and induftry of the inha- 

 bitants by draining, and the removal of ftagnant waters, the air 

 is highly improved, yet ftill is, next to Bombay, the moft fatal to 

 the Europeans ; a foreft, and fome muddy lakes ftill remain. 

 " During the rains," fays Dodlor Liiul, (p. 80.) " this rich 

 " and fertile country is almoft quite covered by the overflow- 

 " ing of the river Ganges, and converted, as it were, into a large 

 " pool of water. Difeafes rage among the Europeans in the 

 " months of July, Augujl, September, and October, attacking 

 " chiefly fuch as are lately arrived. Here, as in all other places, 

 " ficknefs is more frequent and fatal in fome years than others. 

 " The diftempers are fevers of the remitting or intermitting 

 " kind ; fometimes they may begin under a continued form, 

 " and remain feveral days without any perceptible remiffion, 

 " but they have in general a great tendency to a remiflion. 

 " They are commonly accompanied with violent lits of rigors 

 *' or ftiiverings, and with difcharges of bile upwards and down- 

 " wards. If the feafon be very fickly, fome are feized with a 

 *' malignant fever, of which they foon die ; the body is covered 



Q q 2 " with 



