a handsome, pleasant, and strong town of Asia, seated on the western side of the island of Ceylon in the East Indies. It was built by the Portuguese in 1638; and in 1658 they were driven from it by the natives, assisted by the Dutch, who were afterwards dispossessed by the British. It is about three quarters of a mile long, and as much in breadth. The natives live in the old town, without the walls of the new; the streets of this last are wide and spacious; and the buildings are in the modern taste, particularly the governor's house, which is a handsome structure. E. Long. So. 25° N. Lat. 7° 10'.