GANGETIC HINDOOSTAN. 313 



ther, anchored in Bali/ore road, and under the convoy of Ad- 

 miral JVatforiy made the fpirited refolution of inftantly failing 

 up the river, the Hoogly, and making an attack on the captured 

 city. No fooner were our fliips brought into adtion, and our 

 men landed, hut Surajab abandoned the place; foon after his 

 camp was forced ; the battle of Flajfey fucceeded, the tyrant 

 taken and put to death, and the vaft kingdom of Bengal became 

 the property of a company of Britijlj merchants. 



The bulk of the inhabitants of Calcutta are Indians from all Inhabitants of 

 parts ; their houfes are equally mean with thofe of the natives ^^''^"'^^^* 

 in the other cities of India^ and built in the fame ftyle, but fuch 

 an emporium occafions it to be the refort of people of every na- 

 tion ; here are found abundance of the mongrel Portuguefe. I 

 believe they originated from fome banditti of that nation, who 

 for a long time infefted the Sunderbujid^ or rather its canals 

 and neighboring fea, with their piracies, they mixed with the 

 natives, and increafed to a great degree. 



The Armenians are a very numerous people, and the mofl Armenians. 

 commercial of the eaft. Shah Abbas, the great Sophy of Perjia, 

 gave them their firft importance. He colonized Julfa, the 

 great fuburbs of Ifpahan, with thirty thoufand of that nation, 

 who carried on the vaft commerce of the empire, efpecially that 

 of filk. ^ournefort, (ii. 291.) who travelled in 1700, gives a 

 very ample account of them. The celebrated traveller, Char din •t 

 (iii. 77. 86.) is alfo very particular. In Tourneforf^ time they 

 fettled in various parts of Europe. They are fo numerous at 

 prefent at Venice as to have a church for their peculiar fer- 

 vice. 



Vol. II. S f The 



