Coast of Conran.] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 1G1 



BANCOOT. — Bancoot River, in latitude 1 T 57' N., and longitude73° 9' 

 E., is about 12 miles E. of Bombay ; it has 10 feet on the bar at low water, 

 and on spring tides 21 feet The channel is on the E. side of the entrance 

 of the river ; but being narrow, ought not to be approached without a pilot. 

 The anchorage for large ships is in 5 fathoms abreast of the fort. Upon 

 tfie S. side of the entrance of the river, and on a very high hill, stands Fort 

 Victoria, commanded by a Resident 



Trade. — Bancoot was a port of great trade before it fell into the hands 

 of Angria, but at present it is very insignificant* 



Provisions and Refreshments.— Ships occasionally stop here to 

 procure bullocks, which are far superior to those purchased at Bombay ; and 

 when homeward bound from Bombay, a supply of cattle and poultry may be 

 secured by application to the Resident, and appointing some conspicuous 

 signal, that the ship may be known on her appearance off the river, 

 when the stores are immediately supplied. The general mode of payment 

 for supplies is by draft on Bombay, payable at sight. 



GHERIAH. — Gheriah Point and flagstaff are in latitude 16° 31' N. ; 

 and the fort at the entrance of the harbour about a mile further to the N. 

 The point which forms the S. side of the entrance, is high and bluff, and is 

 in longitude 73° 25 E. The flagstaff stands on a hill to the S. of the fort, 

 and may be seen a considerable distance. The harbour is excellent, the ves- 

 sels in it being land-locked, and sheltered from all winds. There is no 

 bar at the entrance, the depths there being from 5 to 7 fathoms, and from 3 

 to 4 fathoms inside at low water. 



The fort stands on a promontory of rocky land, about a mile long, and 

 a quarter broad. Nearly a mile from the entrance of the harbour, which 

 forms the mouth of a large river, the promontory projects to the S. YV. on 

 the right of the harbour, and on the sides contiguous to the water, is enclosed 

 by a continued rock, about 60 feet high, on which the fortifications are 

 built ; these are a double wall with round towers, the inward wall rising 

 several feet above the outward. The neck of land by which the pro- 

 montory joins to the continent, is a narrow sand, beyond which, where the 

 ground expands, is a large open town, or pettah. The river directing its 

 course to the S. YV., washes the N. side of the town, the neck of land, 

 and the promontory. On the neck of land are docks, where grabs are 

 built and repaired. 



MELUNDY, or MAL WAN.— This island, in latitude 16^3 N., is 

 the principal place of the pirates on this coast, and is strongly fortified. 

 None but the Rajah fits out vessels, which are of three kinds, gallivats, she- 

 bars, and grabs : the first have in general two masts, are decked fore and 



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