58 HINDOOSTAN. 



Generally speaking, the description of one Indian city is a descrip- 

 tion of all, as they are all built on one plan, with extremely narrow 

 and crooked streets, with an incredible number of reservoir ponds 

 and gardens. A few of the streets are paved with brick. The houses 

 are variously built; some of brick, others with mud, and a still great- 

 er proportion with bamboos and mats ; which standing intermixed 

 with each other, form a motley appearance. The bamboo houses 

 are invariably of one story, and covered with thatch. Those of brick 

 seldom exceed two floors, and have flat terraced roofs, but are often 

 so thinly scattered, that fires, which frequently happen, do not 

 sometimes meet with the obstruction of a brick house through the 

 whole street. 



Calcutta, the chief city of Bengal, and of all the British posses- 

 sions in Hindoostan, is, in part, an exception to this rule of building; 

 the quarter inhabited by the English being composed entirely of 

 brick buildings, many of which have more the appearance of palaces 

 than of private houses ; but the remainder of the city, and by much 

 the greatest part, is built according to the general description of In- 

 dian cities. Within twenty or twenty-five years, Calcutta has been 

 wonderfully improved, both in appearance, and in the salubrity of its 

 air, for the streets have been properly drained, and the ponds filled 

 up; thereby removing a vast surface of stagnant water, the exhala- 

 tions from which were particularly hurtful. Calcutta is well known, 

 to be the emporium of Bengal, and the seat of the governor-general 

 of India. It is supposed at present to contain at least 500,000 inha- 

 bitants. Its local situation is not fortunate, for it has some extensive 

 muddy lakes, and a vast forest close to it. It is a modern city,, 

 having risen on the site of the village Govindpour, about ninety 

 years ago.* 



The city of Calcutta is about 100 miles from the sea, situate on 

 the western branch of the Ganges, which is navigable up to the town, 

 for the largest ships that visit India. It extends from the western 

 point of Fort William along the banks of the river, almost to the vil- 

 lage of Cossipoor, that is, about four and a half English miles ; the 

 breadth is in many parts inconsiderable. The mixture of European 

 and Asiatic manners, which may be observed in Calcutta, is curious; 

 coaches, phaetons, single horse chaises, with the palankeens and 

 hackaries of the natives, the passing ceremonies of the Hindoos, 

 the different appearances of the fakirs, form a sight, perhaps more 

 novel and extraordinary, than any city in the world can present to a 

 stranger. f 



In 1756, an unhappy event took place at Calcutta, which is too re- 

 markable to be omitted. The Indian nabob or viceroy quarrelled with 

 the company, and invested Calcutta with a large body of black troops. 

 The governor and some of the principal persons of the place threw 

 themselves, with their chief effects, on board the ships in the river; 

 they who remained, for some hours bravely defended the place : but 

 their ammunition being expended, they surrendered upon terms. 

 The soubah, a capricious unfeeling tyrant, instead of observing the 

 capitulation, forced Mr. Holwel, the governor's chief servant, and 145 

 British subjects, into a little but secure prison, called the Black Hole, 

 a place about 18 feet square, and shut up from almost all communi- 

 cation of free air. Their miseries during the night were inexpres- 



♦ Rennell's Memoir, f Hodge's Travels in India, from 1780 to 1783, p. 15. 



