116 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE- [Coast, from Camhay. 



all present, which seldom or never is the case. Small vessels, from 50 to 

 250 tons burthen, are built here ; and ships may have any damage repaired 

 with ease and expedition, and receive a supply of necessary stores. 



Trade. — The greater part of the cotton grown in this neighbourhood, 

 and Bownaghur, is shipped from hence to Bombay ; and the vessels bring, 

 in return, various articles of European, East Indian, and China produce. 



Provisions and Refreshments. — The market is but poorly supplied ; 

 vegetables are scarce, though there are a number of Banians who subsist on 

 nothing else. Fish is not to be had at any rate, except a few mud worms, 

 called by the natives, newtee. Mutton is seldom killed, because no one can 

 afford to purchase it, but on their great feast days. Beef is never killed 

 for the same reasons, and also to oblige the Bramin and Hindoo merchants 

 who reside here. They are badly off for fresh water, all about the town 

 being brackish, as that and a great portion inland is overflowed every high 

 spring ; they are therefore obliged to bring the water for drinking, the 

 distance of lour or five miles. Firewood is likewise very scarce. Fowls 

 are good, and tolerably cheap ; these, with eggs, butter, and milk, are all 

 an European can get to subsist upon. 



SECTION XIL 



COAST OF INDIA FROM CAMBAY TO BOMBAY. 



Cambay is the seaport to Ahmcdabad, the capital of the province, 

 and is in latitude 22* 24' N. ; it is of considerable size, and was formerly a 

 place of great trade. The tides are very strong and rapid here ; at high- 

 water spring-tides there are 5 or 6 fathoms water, and ships could anchor 

 near the city ; but at low water it is quite dry, except some channels, in 

 which there remain 3 or 4 feet, so that vessels in the river must lie quite 

 aground, though they do not suffer much in that situation, from the bottom 

 being soft. The streets are large, and have all gates at the end, which are 

 shut in the night-lime; in that part next the sea, ait; to be seen the remains 

 of some fine houses, built by the Portuguese when they resided here. The 



