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SECTION XIII. 

 BOMBAY. 



This island, the seat of Government for the western part of British 

 India, is situated in latitude 18° 55' 48 N., and longitude 72° 57' 40" E. ; 

 its length from N. to S. is about 6 \ miles, and its extreme breadth, near the 

 fort, about a mile. It is separated from the main land by an arm of the sea, 

 and with the islands Colabah, Salsette, Butcher's Island, Elephanta, and 

 Caranjah, forms one of the most commodious harbours in India. 



The town of Bombay is nearly a mile long, from the Apollo gate to 

 that of the bazar ; and about a quarter of a mile broad in the widest part, 

 from the bunder, or custom-house, across the green to Church gate, which 

 is nearly in the centre of the walls, between the Apollo and bazar gates. 

 There are likewise two marine gates, having commodious wharfs, and cranes 

 built out from each, with a landing-place at the dock-head, for passengers 

 only, under certain regulations. Between the two marine gates is Bombay 

 castle, a regular quadrangle, well built of strong hard stone. In one of the 

 bastions is a large tank, or reservoir for water. The fortifications are 

 numerous, particularly towards the sea, and so well constructed, the whole 

 being encompassed by a broad and deep ditch, which can be flooded at 

 pleasure, that it is now one of the strongest places the Company have in 

 India ; besides which, there are several forts and redoubts, the principal of 

 which is Alahim, at the opposite extremity of the island ; so that, properly 

 garrisoned, Bombay may bid defiance to any force that can be brought 

 against it 



In the centre of the town is a large open space, called the Green, which 

 in the fine season used to be covered with bales of cotton, and other 

 merchandise, entirely unprotected. Last year a destructive fire broke out 

 among the cotton bales ; in consequence, a part of the Esplanade, near the 

 Apollo pier, is now appropriated to this purpose, and it is intended to con- 

 struct a cotton depot, to obviate the necessity of piling the bales on the Green. 

 Around the Green are many large well-built and handsome houses; the 

 Government-house, and the church, an extremely neat, commodious, and 

 airy building, are close to each other, on the left of the church-gate. On 

 the right is the bazar, which is crowded and populous, and where the native 



