capital of the above district, a large city, and for eighty years the capital of Bengal, of which it is still the third city in point of extent and population. It is situated beyond the principal stream of the Ganges, on the northern bank of a very large branch of that river, called the Boor Gunja, or Old Ganges, at the distance of a hundred miles from the mouth of the Ganges, or four hundred by the winding course of the river. Its position is admirably well adapted for inland trade, as the river which flows past it communicates with all the other inland navigations by a direct course. Dacca succeeded to Sunergong as the provincial capital of the eastern quarter of Bengal. The present town covers a great deal of ground, extending, if the suburbs be included, six miles along the banks of the river, though it is not of proportional breadth. The houses of the wealthy are built of brick, but there are many thatched houses, with very narrow and crooked streets; the bazars are only tiled or thatched; and as every vacant spot is covered with trees, the town looks from a distance like a grove. The ancient citadel was situated on the western side of the town; but it is now in ruins, great part of the wall having been washed away by the river. An extensive and magnificent palace, built by Azim Ushain, Aurungzebe's grandson, who resided here towards the end of the seventeenth century, is also in ruins.

In Dacca and the vicinity are manufactured the most beautiful muslins, which are exported to all quarters of the world, and which have been long famed for their delicacy and beauty. The same violent heats do not prevail here as in Benares, Patna, and other places in Bihar. This is owing to the low lying situation of the surrounding country, which is always covered with verdure, even during the dry months. The unhealthy season is in autumn, from the 20th of August to the 10th of October, when the rivers and the inundation are subsiding. During the remainder of the year the city and its vicinity is salubrious and pleasant, though the climate is more relaxing than that of the northern or western provinces.

Dacca is comparatively a modern city, its name not being mentioned in the Ayeen Acheery. In 1658 the seat of government was removed from Rajemul to the city of Dacca; and in compliment to the reigning emperor, Jehangire, its name was changed to Jehangire Nuggur. During the Mogul government, a large establishment of war and state boats, consisting of 768 armed cruisers, was maintained at Dacca, for the purpose of defending the country against the Mughals and the people of Assam, and occasionally to add splendour to the ceremonies of religion or the parade of the court. For the support of this marine the land revenue of several districts was assigned, amounting to about L45,000 per annum; the gunners belonging to it were principally Portuguese, of whose descendants a number still reside in the town and neighbourhood.

The houses of Dacca being formed of combustible materials, it suffers frequently by conflagrations, which, when they break out, as they do once or twice a year, spread rapidly. The inhabitants look with the utmost indifference on the destruction of their habitations, and throwing the few valuables which they possess into earthen pots sunk in the floor, they easily procure mats, thatch, and bamboos, which are abundant, and soon replace their houses in their former condition. There was formerly at Dacca one of those curious and enormously large guns which were to be seen in the Deccan and in the south of India, which weighed 64,814 pounds, and which would have required a ball weighing 465 pounds. This city still continues very populous; the number of its inhabitants exceeds 150,000, of whom more than one half are followers of Mahomed. It is the head-quarters of the court of circuit for the eastern division of Bengal. Travelling distance from Delhi 1107 miles. Long. 90. 17. E. Lat. 23. 42. N.