OR CUTTACK. 191 



whom lies buried within the enclosure. The Mogul and Marhatta Suba- 

 dars always resided in the palace of the Lai Bagh on the banks of the Ca- 

 jori, which we must suppose to be the " Stately Court of Malcandy," 

 (whatever that word may mean,) described by Mr. Cartwright who visited the 

 " Governor of Coteke" in 1632, though there are no traces of splendour re- 

 maining to warrant the high wrought description of the palace, given in 

 Bruton's narration. 



The Town of Cuttack contains a population of about 40,000 souls, resid- 

 ing in 6,512 houses, exclusive of cantonments, amongst which are several 

 fine mansions of stone that belonged formerly to the Gosain and Parwar 

 merchants, who engrossed all the trade and principal official employments 

 of the province under the Marhattas. It is divided into a number of Mehal- 

 las and Bazars, named after the Sirdars who founded, or the trades or classes 

 residing principally in them, as the Tatar Khan, Ali Shah, Una, Telinga, 

 &c. Bazar. The Chandni Chouk is a fine broad street, consisting of 

 neat stone houses disposed with much regularity, but owes its respecta- 

 ble appearance chiefly to European interference. There is of course no 

 deficiency of small modern temples in and about the town, amongst which 

 that dedicated to Sita Ram is the most conspicuous both in size and form ; 

 and from its existence having been officially recognized by the British Re- 

 gulations, vide Section XXX. Regulation XII. 1805. 



Balasore, distant about 105 miles from Cuttack, is a large straggling town, 

 containing several small brick houses inhabited by merchants, who carry 

 on an inconsiderable traffic with Calcutta. Its situation is extremely un- 

 favourable, on a low dreary plain, deformed by numerous unsightly ridg- 

 es and ant hills, near the muddy banks of the Bura Baking, and it is con- 

 sidered in consequence unhealthy during the rainy season. The number 

 of inhabitants does not exceed 10,000. Balasore is nevertheless the prin- 

 cipal port of the district, and is provided with dry docks on the banks of 

 the river, to which sloops, drawing not more than fourteen feet water, can be 

 floated during the spring tides. It is frequented chiefly by three descrip- 



