a town and district of Hindustan, province of Bengal, on the W. bank of the Hooghly River. It is the first town which is seen after entering the river. Here ships formerly used to anchor, but they now run up to Kedjeree or Diamond Harbour. There is here an extensive salt manufactory belonging to government. This place is very unhealthy. It was to Hidjellee that the English retreated in 1687, after escaping from Hooghly. They fortified the island, and held possession of it for three months, against all the efforts of Aurungzebe, till peace was concluded. The vicinity abounds with tigers, and the creeks with sharks and alligators. E. Long. 87° 50', N. Lat. 21° 50'. The district is bounded E. by the Hooghly, and S. by the sea. Some of the land is good, and produces a great quantity of rice, cocoa-nuts, betel-nuts, &c. Area of district, 1014 square miles. Pop. 133,265. Its chief towns are Hidjellee and Contai.

**Hierapolis**, in Ancient Geography, the name of several cities, of which the most important were those in Phrygia and Syria.