19G 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Ceylon. 



S, S. E., about a mile distance. This harbour, one of tlie finest in the 

 world, from its centrical position, and the easy ingress and egress which it 

 affords at all seasons, is better adapted for being made a marine depot, and 

 a rendezvous for his Majesty's squadrons, than any other station in India. 

 The view of Trincomalee from Back Bay is striking and beautiful. On 

 one hand stands a projecting cliff, rising in many places perpendicularly 

 from the sea upwards of 100 feet, and the broken hill above it is elevated 

 about 200 feet more. The flagstaff is placed near to the outermost point 

 of the rock ; and along the summit and declivities of the higher ground are 

 situated the bungalows of the officers, and barracks of the private soldiers. 

 On the other hand, a line of native villages are shaded amidst groves of 

 coco-nut trees. The great body of the fort and town of Trincomalee is 

 situated at the bottom of the rock, and joined to a narrow neck of land, 

 running parallel to the sea, and separating the harbour from two adjacent 

 bays, one of which lies on each side of the promontory. The only disad- 

 vantage attached lo this noble harbour is, that the tide does not rise to a 

 sufficient height to admit of the construction of wet docks for vessels of a 

 large size. 



Trade. — This is a very convenient port for trade; but till lately none 

 had been carried on to any extent. The Government has given encourage- 

 ment to the resort of shipping, and the influx of trade hither, by lightening 

 the duties in regard to this port. 



Duties. — By Regulation, 1617, goods brought into Trincomalee, in 

 any vessel arriving from Europe or America, and East India and Chinese 

 goods brought direct from the place of growth or manufacture, or the ports 

 at which commonly they are originally exported, are liable to only half 

 duties. Bombay to be deemed a port of original export for goods the pro- 

 duction of countries bordering on the Persian Gulph and the Red Sea; and 

 Calcutta and Madras deemed ports of original export for goods the produc- 

 tion of places to the eastward of the Bay of Bengal, except China. Goods 

 thus imported are liable, upon re-exportation beyond the district of Trin- 

 comalee, for purposes of trade, whether by sea or land, to the duties 

 remitted, subject to the same exceptions as stated at Colombo, when 

 warehoused. 



Articles the produce of the district of Trincomalee, winch, by oath, 

 appear to be returns for goods imported under this Regulation, are subject, 

 upon exportation, to half duty only. 



Regulations are the same as at Columbo, with these additions : — 

 All vessels lying in Back Bay are to come to an anchor within seven 

 fathoms of water; beyond that depth double boat hire will be charged. 



