GANGETIC HINDOOSTAN. 311 



The Bbyfe was created from his thighs and belly. His bufi- TheBhyse. 

 nefs was to fupply, by agriculture and traffic, the neceflaries of 

 life. 



The Soodera he created from his feet, and to him devolved TheSoodera, 

 the duty to labor, to ferve, and to obey*. The Khatres alfo 

 have their Zennar, but it is diftinguiflied by the number of 

 threads : that caft having fewer threads than that of the Brab~ 

 min, and the £4>y^ than that of the Khatre\ as to the Soodera, 

 none of them are permitted to wear that badge of diftindlion. 

 The Soodera is a moft numerous caft, confifting of near a hun- 

 dred inferior cafts. 



But to return to Calcutta. — The firft fort was built of brick, Old Fort at 



Caicutxa 



and named Fort William^, in honor of King lVUUa7n. Num- 

 bers of people, attracted by the commercial advantages, flocked 

 to this new fettleraent. The goods of the provinces on the 

 Ganges were brought down to feed the luxuries of the weft, and 

 thofe of Europe conveyed acrofs the vaft ocean to fupply the 

 new^-acquired wants of the eaft. I cannot trace the progreffive 

 increafe ; let it fuffice to fay, that the prefent number of inha- 

 bitants amounts to five hundred thoufand. The EngliJ/j quarter 

 is built in the moft elegant and fuperb manner in the European 

 ftyle ; and the buildings have more the appearance of palaces 

 than the refidence of private perfons. Some that are built quite 

 on fpeculation will take a rent of a thoufand roupees, or J^. 125 

 Engli/b a year. A fine fet of prints, lately engraven by Mr. "Tbo- 

 mai DiinieJlj (hew the moft fplendid parts of the city, and many 



* Sketches of the Hindoos, i. p. 127. 



of 



