CHAPTER VIII. 
I shall conclude my letters on Bombay with a short account of 
the European inhabitants, and their mode of living at that settle- 
ment. The principal town takes its name from that of the island, 
and is situated near the harbour, at the southern extremity; on the 
north side is a smaller town, called Mahim, and several villages in 
different parts of the country. 
The town of Bombay is about two miles in circumference, 
surrounded by modern fortifications; with a fosse, draw-bridges, 
three principal gates, and several sally-ports; but the works having 
been constructed under different engineers, without any regular 
plan, cannot boast of the strength or uniformity which would 
otherwise have characterized them. 
The harbour is large, and secure from the storms and hurricanes 
which are very frequent and destructive at Surat bar, and on the 
Malabar coast: near it were three excellent docks, which I believe 
are since increased in number; and a spacious marine-yard, amply 
supplied with naval stores of every description: here they build 
vessels of all sizes, from a ship of the line, to the smallest grabs 
and gallivats, employed in the Company's service: the timber 
used is chiefly teak (Tectona grandis), the most valuable of the 
