218 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
left only three civil servants alive. In 1702 it was 
again devastated by this dreadful scourge, and the 
garrison reduced to seventy-six men. 
From its position, Bombay commands an extensive 
traffic with those countries which lie upon the shores 
of the Persian and Arabian gulfs, with both the west- 
ern and eastern coasts of India as well as with China, 
where it exports vast quantities of cotton-wool. The 
other chief exports are sandal-wood, pearls, gums, and 
drugs, from Arabia, Abyssinia, and Persia ; pepper 
from the Malabar coast ; birds’ nests and other pro- 
duce from the Maldives, Lackadives, and eastern is- 
lands, and elephants’ teeth from Cambay. The China 
ships generally arrive at Canton towards the end of 
June or beginning of July, and lie there idle, except 
delivering and receiving their return cargoes, until the 
month of December or January. 
In 1808 the quantity of cotton brought to Bombay 
for exportation was eighty-five thousand bales of 
seven hundred and thirty-five pounds, making a total 
of sixty-two million four hundred and seventy-five 
thousand pounds’ weight. 
This settlement likewise carries on a considerable 
commerce with Europe and with different parts of 
America, though their most extensive trade is to 
China. The imports from Europe are principally 
articles of the finer manufacture, such as cottons and 
other piece goods, wine, beer, and articles for domestic 
consumption. 
Here are excellent rope-walks, equal to any in 
Great Britain, except in the King’s yard at Ports- 
mouth. The dockyard is very capacious, and admi- 
