ARRACAN, the capital of the above province, situated on a river of the same name, about 40 miles from the sea. The town is chiefly built of bamboo huts, and stands in a valley surrounded by hills, and covered with marshes and canals, communicating with a number of small streams, running between low muddy banks. The tide overflows to a considerable extent the flat borders of the river Arracan, and by its reflux converts these into a pestilent swamp, on which a great part of the town of Arracan is built. In such an unfavourable situation, it is necessary to drive wooden posts into the ground to obtain a foundation for the houses, under which the water flows. We need not wonder that a place so situated should be unhealthy for Europeans. The town is perpetually involved in the putrid exhalations from these swamps, which are a perpetual source of disease. Where the ground is not swampy it consists of a soft species of rock. The surrounding ground is irregularly diversified by hills, connected by narrow ridges, and separated by ravines, either occupied by a stream or a marsh. The houses are connected by wooden bridges; and in its centre is a square surrounded by a wall containing pagodas and images of Gaudma, of all sizes, from an inch to 20 feet in height. The town and fort were taken by the Burmese in 1783.
Arrack It was taken by the British army in 1825, and was found to be in a most miserable condition, and the air most pestilential.