an extensive and rich district in the eastern quarter of the province of Bengal, situated between the 24th and 25th degrees of north latitude, and within the 91st degree of east longitude. It is bounded on the north by Mymunsingh, on the south by Backergunge, on the east by Tipperah, and on the west by Dacca Jelalpore, or Fureedpore; and has an area of 1960 square miles. Prior to the arrangement adopted in 1800, by which this province was separated from the Backergunge jurisdiction, it was one of the largest and most valuable in Bengal, stretching as far south as the sea, and reaching north to the Garrow Mountains. The country is divided into a great number of valuable zemidaries or estates. It is intersected by offsets from the Ganges and Brahmapootra, two of the largest rivers in the world, which, with their branches crossing the country in all directions, form a complete inland navigation, every town and village having its canal or river,—the general mode of travelling or conveying goods being by water. By the confluence of these two great rivers rushing impetuously to the sea, great changes are often made in the boundaries of estates, the river encroaching on some parts and abandoning others. Hence it almost invariably happens that as much is gained on one side as is lost on the other by the operation of the current and the opposing tides; whilst repeated overflows, with rich deposits of mould washed down by the stream, give extraordinary fertility to the extensive inundated borders of the river. In point of general fertility and productiveness the district of Dacca ranks below the neighbouring zillahs of Fureedpore and Mymunsingh. The principal articles of cultivation are sugar, indigo, tobacco, cotton, betel-nut, and hemp. The grain produced is not sufficient for the consumption of the inhabitants, and supplies are obtained from Sylhet, Backergunge, Mymunsingh, and Tipperah. Attempts have been made to introduce the American cotton, but the climate appears to be unsuitable for the purpose.

This province is distinguished for its various fabrics of cotton. It has manufactures of plain as well as flowered, striped, or chequered muslins; and the beautiful fabrics of Dacca surpass in fineness the produce of any other country. Dimities of various kinds and patterns, and cloths resembling diaper and damask linen, are also made. The export of all these articles has, however, greatly decreased.

This country is entirely alluvial, and in the rainy season is mostly overflowed, exhibiting the appearance of an inland sea, with towns and villages rising out of the water. The principal towns of this district are Dacca, Narraingunge, and Islampoor. During the Mohammedan government this district was ruled by a deputy of the nabob, called the naib nazim. The last person who held the office was Jessarut Khan, who having been ordered by Cossim Ali Khan in the year 1763 to put all the English at Dacca to death, very humanely sent them under the protection of a trusty guard to Calcutta. Upon the acquisition of the Dewanny in 1765 an adequate provision was made for the Dacca Nawab; and his successors continued stipendiaries of the British government until the year 1845, when the title became extinct by the death of the last possessor without heirs. The population of the district is estimated at 600,000, which indicates a relative density of 306 to the square mile.

the 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 Gunga, or Old Ganges, at the distance of a hundred miles from the mouth of the Ganges. 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. The present town covers a great deal of ground, extending four miles along the bank 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 bazaars 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 Ushaun, Aurungzebe's grandson, who resided here towards the end of the seventeenth century, is also in ruins.

Owing to the irresistible effects of British competition, the manufactures of Dacca are at this time scarcely deserving of notice; but here were formerly manufactured the most beautiful muslins, which were exported to all quarters of the world, and which had long been famed for their delicacy and beauty. The spinning of the thread was carried on with wonderful nicety. The operation was performed with the fingers on a fine steel spindle by young women, who could only work during the early part of the morning while the dew was on the ground; for such was the extreme tenacity of the fibre that it would not bear manipulation after the sun had risen. Such was the skill of the darners that they could remove an entire thread from a piece of muslin, and replace it by one of a finer texture. From their wonderful fineness these muslins were called Abrawan, or "flowing water," and Shabnam, "evening dew." The same violent heats do not prevail here as in Benares, Patna, and other places in Bahar. 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 inundation are subsiding. During the remainder of the year the city and its vicinity are salubrious and pleasant, though the climate is more relaxing than that of the northern provinces.

Dacca is comparatively a modern city, its name not being mentioned in the Ayeen Achbery, nor by Ferishta. The houses being formed of combustible materials, it suffers frequently by conflagrations. Dacca still continues very populous. The number of its inhabitants has been estimated at 66,989, of which number 31,429 were Brahminists, 35,238 Mussulmans, and 322 Armenians and others; the whole residing in 16,279 houses. Distance from Calcutta, N.E. 150 miles. Lat. 23. 48.; Long. 90. 25. (e. t.)