Bombay.] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 123 



merchants principally reside; at its commencement stands the theatre, a neat 

 handsome structure. 



The dockyard is large, and well contrived, having naval stores deposited 

 in warehouses, together with large quantities of timber for repairing and 

 building ships, and forges for all kinds of smith's work. The dry dock has 

 scarce its equal for size or convenience ; it has three divisions and three pair 

 of strong gates, so as to be capable of receiving three ships of the line at the 

 same time. Near the dock is a convenient place to heave down several 

 ships at once, which is done well, and with great expedition. Here is also 

 a rope walk, which for length, situation, and convenience, equals any in 

 England, that in the King's yard at Portsmouth only excepted ; and like 

 that, it has a covering to protect the workmen : cables, and all sorts of 

 lesser cordage, both of hemp and coir, are manufactured here. 



Close to Bombay, separated only by a small creek, fordable at low 

 water, is Colabah, or Old Woman's Island, which partly forms the N. 

 side of the harbour; it is about 2. J miles long. Near its S. extremity stands 

 the light-house, of a circular form; the height is upwards of 150 feet above 

 the level of the sea, and the light may be seen in clear weather the distance 

 of 7 leagues. There is also a signal station, where a regular watch is kept 

 day and night, the expence of which is defrayed by a rate levied on all vessels 

 frequenting the port. On this island are barracks for the military, and 

 occasionally a camp is formed here, being esteemed a healthy situation. It has 

 many delightful villas scattered about. The point of Colabah, on which the 

 light-house stands, is guarded on all sides by an extensive reef of rocks, 

 divided into prongs ; the most dangerous is the S. W. prong, which forms 

 the N. boundary of the entrance into the harbour, and Tull Reef the other ; 

 the breadth of the channel between them is about three miles. 



The Island of Salsette is separated from Bombay by a narrow arm 

 of the sea, capable of receiving small craft only; it is about 20 miles long, 

 and 15 broad. The soil is rich, and by proper cultivation, capable of pro- 

 ducing any thing that will grow in tropical climates. Here are excavations 

 of rocks, much more numerous than those of Elephanta, but not equal to 

 them either in size or workmanship. 



Nearly opposite to Bombay Castle, at three miles' distance, is 

 BuTciiEn's Island, on which is a smul! fort with a guard of soldiers. About 

 two miles from this, and still fronting the fort, is the small, but celebrated 

 Island of Elephanta, The immense excavations and figures cut out 

 of the solid rock, afTord an attraction to Europeans frequenting Bombay. 

 Cahaujaii produces rice, poultry, and vegetables. 



At the entrance of the harbour are two small islands, Henery and 



