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We have already noticed the fact, that Sir R. Arkwright, the inventor, or at all events the introducer, of the spinning frame, was a native of Bolton. He was the youngest of a numerous family, and was brought up to the humble occupation of a barber! With the exception, perhaps, of Watt, there is no individual to whom the manufactures of this country owe so much. Crompton, the inventor of the mule jenny, was a native of Bolton parish.

The Reform Act conferred upon Bolton the privilege of returning 2 mem. to the H. of C. The limits of the parliamentary bor. and municipal bor. coincide, the pop. of both, in 1831, being estimated at 42,395; the number of houses being 7,632, of which 1,612 were worth 107. a year and upwards. At present the pop. of the bor. is probably not under 50,000. Registered electors, in 183738, 1.405.

has been completely lighted with gas: 3 new squares area of 136 acres, have been formed on the adjoining have been formed; and a considerable number of hand-hills; whence, in seasons of drought, the stream is sup some houses and villas have been erected, mostly near the S. entrance. It is well supplied with excellent water, There is a joint stock banking company at Bolton; a from a reservoir covering an area of 15 acres, placed at private banking company, and branches of some other such an elevation as admits of this indispensable fluid banks. being conveyed into the upper rooms of every house in town. This important improvement was effected by a company, under an act obtained in 1824, at a cost of 40,000. The church, on an eminence at the E. end of Great Bolton, is a plain ancient structure with a low tower, built of the dark red sandstone of the district. There are besides this, 3 cpiscopal chapels of case; 2 in Little, and 1 in Great Bolton: the last, an elegant Gothic edifice, built by the parliamentary commissioners in 1826, cost 13,4007, and has 923 free sittings. The Methodists, of various denominations, have 7 places of worship; the Baptists, Independents, and Unitarians, have each 2; and the Catholics, Friends, and Swedenborgians, I each. It has a free grammar-school, founded in 1641, with an annual revenue of about 4857.: Ainsworth and Lempriere, compilers of the well-known dictionaries that bear their names, were masters of this school. Three other charity schools educate, in all, about 230 children, at an expense of 1,2004. a year, defrayed by subscription. The Sunday schools of the different sects educate upwards of 10,000 children. The other charities are-Gosnel's, which consists of lands producing 801. a year, 2-3ds of which is sepropriated to a church lecturer, 1-6th to the grammarthe rest to the poor; Hulton's, lands and houses producing 2771. a year, for a church lecturer, apprenticing poor boys, and providing a classical teacher; and various smaller ones, amounting in all to 677. a year, distributed amongst the poor. The above all belong to Great Bolton, the charities peculiar to Little Bolton being quite incon-held every Monday and Thursday. Bolton is the centre siderable. But all parts of the town participate equally in the munificent donations left by Mr. Popplewell, who died in 1829, and his sisters, amounting to 27,7001. 3 per cent. consols, for the promotion of religion, learning, and charitable purposes.

Bolton has an exchange; a town-hall in Great, and another in Little Bolton; 2 cloth-halls, a theatre, assembly and concert-rooms; a dispensary, established in 1825, and 3 public libraries, all well-built modern structures. Two weekly newspapers, the Bolton Chronicle, and Bolton Free Press, are published in the town.

The progress of Bolton has been greatly promoted by its command of coal, and its improved communications. The Bolton Canal extends to Manchester (12 m.), and a branch from it to Bury; a railway from Bolton to Leigh (8 m.), and thence to Kenyon, where it joins the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, was completed in June, 1831. A railway along the canal banks, via Bury, to Manchester, has also been formed since 1833. The weekly market for general provisions is held on Monday, and is well supplied; there is also a market for store cattle, held every alternate Monday, between 5th Jan. and 12th May; and 2 annual fairs, 1 on the 30th and 31st July, the other 13th and 14th Oct. The first day of each is for cattle; the last for hardware and toys.

The entire consequence of Bolton is derived from its manufactures, which were carried on at a very remote period. As early as 1337, some Flemish clothiers established themselves in the town; and in the reign of Hen. VIII. it was famous for its cottons, that is, for a peculiar description of woollen goods that went by that name. Cotton goods, however, began to be produced in Bolton, in considerable quantities, about the middle of last century. But the real prosperity of the town dates from 1770-1780, when the wonderful inventions of Arkwright, himself a native of Bolton, began to come into operation. From that epoch its progress has been rapid in the extreme; and it is now a principal seat of the cotton manufacture. The articles chiefly produced aremuslins, superfine printing calicoes, quiltings, and counterpanes, dimities, salteens, jeans, cotton shawls, &c. The average quantity of cloth bleached in the parish is estimated at between 6,000,000 and 7,000,000 pieces. The principal manufacturers have warehouses in Manchester, where they generally attend on the Tuesdays, to effect the sale of their goods; but sales are also effected on other days, though not to the same extent. In the town and its immediate vicinity, there were, in 1835, 44 cotton-mills, employing in all 7,620 persons, and worked by 41 steam-engines and 10 water-wheels, of the aggregate power of 1.419 horses; with 1,085 power-looms, weaving calico, and 546 weaving fustian; 1 large flax-mill, employing 480 persons, 23 bleacheries; 12 iron-foundries, some of them on a very extensive scale, and employed in the construction of steam-engines, mills, and machinery of various kinds; with paper-mills, flax and saw.mills, and chemical works, &c. In these, and the various coalmines (of which there are about 30 in work), upwards of 200 steam-engines, having an aggregate power of upwards of 2,500 horses, were employed; besides a number of water-wheels, worked by the river; to increase and equalise the power of which, reservoirs, covering an

It is governed by a mayor, aldermen, and councillors, assisted by a recorder: the mayor is chosen by the aldermen; these, by the councillors; and the councillors, by such of the burgesses as are qualified to vote for members of parliament. Previously to the municipal act, the government of the two towns was distinct; the police of each having been managed by portreeves and constables, annually elected at the respective courts leet, in Oct.; and the paving, cleansing, and lighting of each, by trustees incorporated under distinct local acts. Petty sessions for the bor. are of a union under the Poor Law Amendment Act, which comprises 26 other townships and chapelries. The poorrates levied in 1836, in Great Bolton, were 3,970. 78. ; in Little Bolton, 1,7347. 78.

The parish within which this borough is comprised extends over 31,390 acres, and includes 19 other townships, chapelries, and hamlets; the entire population, in 1831, being 63,034. It is geologically situated in a large coal formation, and its surface is for the most part of a peaty nature. It contains numerous quarries, some of excellent flagstones, a few of roofing slate and veins of lead, none of which are worked at present. Three small streams (the Tonge, Croale, and Bradshaw) take their rise in the hills that overlook the town. It contains a few well-wooded and romantic valleys, but its general aspect is barren and cheerless, with scarcely a tree visible. About one fourth part is under the plough; of the rest no inconsiderable portion consists of unreclaimed mosses ; and though the land increases in value near the town, such is not the case in its northern townships. Bolton is a place of considerable historical interest: its inhabitants from a remote period were distinguished for their archery, which is still continued as a sport, there being a target-ground near the E. entrance of the town, for the use of a society of archers, who shoot for prizes during the summer. The labouring classes have long been accustomed to settle their quarrels by single combat, or by what is called an "up and down" fight, which includes the right of kicking and throttling! Death has often followed from these brutal contests, which used to take place at all races, fairs, and such like occasions; but the practice is now, happily, on the wane, and will, it is to be hoped, be shortly known only as matter of history.

At the commencement of the last civil war, the inhabitants took the parliamentary side, and held out till 1644, when, after a desperate struggle and several repulses, the town was at length taken by the Earl of Derby, who held it til after the battle of Worcester. He was subsequently taken and beheaded here. (Baines's Lancashire; Boundary Reports, and Municipal dilto, &c.)

BOMBA, a village of Naples, prov. Abruzzo Citra, cap. cant,. on the Monte Pallano, watered by the Sangro, 18 m. W.S. W. Vasto. Pop. 2,602. Its parish church is said to be one of the handsomest in the province. On the mountain on which Bomba is situated are the ruins of walls, gates, and towers, on the most gigantic scale. They are formed of enormous blocks of stone, united, without cement, after the Etruscan fashion. Large caverns have also been excavated in the rock, and coins of the most renowned cities of Magna Græcia have been found among the ruins. Nothing authentic is known with respect to the history of these extraordinary ruins. (Del Re Descrizione de l'Abruzzo, ií. p. 421.)

BOMBAY (PRESIDENCY OF), the most westerly and smallest of the three presid. of British India; between lat. 14° 18′ and 23° 36′ N., and long. 71° 48′ and 76° 25′ E.; having N. W. and N. the Guicowar's dom.; N.E. those of Scindia; E. those of the Nizam; S Mysore and the Madras presid.; W. the ocean and the territ. of Coa, exclusive of the détached territ. around Wyrag and Kurdla, surrounded by the Nizam's dom.: area, 68,074 sq. m. Pop. 7,000,000. It nearly encloses the territ. of the rajah

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Aspect, &c. -The N.W. parts of this presid. are more level than the S. and E.: Ahmedabad, Kaira, and Baroach are well watered, and some parts amongst the best cultivated and peopled lands in india; Surat is more undulating, its E. part hilly and jungly, and much of it waste; Candeish is interspersed with low barren hills; some spots are in good cultivation, but much is covered with jungle; Ahmednuggur abounds in rocks, hills, and waters; Poonah is irregular and mountainous, but with many fertile valleys; Darwar is an elevated table-land; and the Concan a long narrow tract stretching for 225 m. along the sea coast, having E. a chain of rocky hills, formerly crowned by a number of fortresses, and W. a low, straight shore, broken into numerous bays and harbours, till lately affording a resort to pirates, by whom it had long been infested.

The mountain ranges in the S. belong to the W. Ghauts; in Candeish, to the Sydaree (a continuation of the former) and Sautpoora ranges; and N. the Nerbudda, they are branches from the Vindhyan chain. The principal rivers are the Nerbudda, Taptee, Mhye, and Saubermuttee, falling into the Gulph of Cambay, in the N.; in the central parts the earlier branches of the Godavery and Beemah; and in the S. the Kistnah and Toombuddra.

Porphyritic trap, extending as far N. as Bulsaur, forms the inland hill ranges; sandstone, with many shells, and conglomerates containing fossils, are common in N. Concan and the N. parts of the presid. A primitive range of red sandstone formation, extending from Delhi, terminates at the head of the Gulph of Cambay. The great basaltic district of India, which commences at Nagpoor, occupies the whole coast from between Goa and Bombay to the head of the Cambay Gulph; which coast has been the theatre of volcanic phenomena, earthquakes, and tremendous whirlwinds, even within the last few centuries. Basalt and amygdaloid, yellowish porphyry, and green elaystone, are found at Salsette and Elephanta, and near Rattanpoor an abundance of cornelian stones, imbedded in red gravel. A black soil, well suited to the culture of cotton, is widely diffused throughout the centre of this presidency.

Climate. The mean temp. at Bombay, about the centre of the presid. is between 810 and 820 Fahr. But though Bombay be rather unhealthy, the Concan and Malabar coast generally is by no means so, except in the marshes below the Ghauts. The climate of the N. distr. is reckoned amongst the worst in India: the thermom. in the hot season rises sometimes to 116 Fahr.; and Europeans are affected with fever, ague, and other tropical complaints. Some amelioration must, however, have lately taken place, or greater care been adopted in guarding against it; since, between 1826 and 1832, the number of dead and invalided among the troops serving in the Bombay presid. had decreased from 357 to 126, while the average number of Europeans had been augmented from 3,000 to 3,700 nearly.

Vegetable Products. - Teak of very good quality grows on the Ghauts and lower hill-ranges, and in some parts poon is plentiful; the district of Surat abounds with the wild date and babool. Cocoa-palms cover an immense tract of sandy land, bordering the coast of the Concan; and various other trees of the same family are abundant. The N. part of this presidency is remarkable for the great variety of fruits it produces; the district of Ahmedabad, in particular, is noted for the size of its mango-trees, and their fruit. Rice, cotton, and the other chief articles of culture, will be mentioned presently.

Animals. Wild elephants are met with in the Ghauts, that is, in the woody chain of mountains running along the W. side of Southern India; and tigers, panthers, leopards, and hyenas, are numerous in the jungles and wooded parts; buffaloes, wild boars, deer, antelopes, jackals, generally so, and in the N. the flying macanco is found. Birds in great variety inhabit this part of India.

People. — Besides Hindoos, Mohammedans, Parsees, Jews, and Europeans, many distinct tribes, some of whom are supposed to be aboriginal, inhabit this presidency. Bucols live E. of the Ghauts, from the hills near Poonah to the banks of the Nerbudda and Taptee; the Ramooses

meet these S. of Poonah: W. of the Ghauts and around the Gulph of Cambay, Koolies, a very barbarous tribe, reside; Catties, Aheers, and Babrecas, are found in Kattywar; Dhooblas and Koombies in Gujrat, &c. All these are met with in the Bombay British army. The Jain sect is very numerous in the Gujrat districts; and nearly all the Parsees in India have settled within the limits of the Bombay presidency. A tribe, called Boras, reside in the district of Surat and its neighbourhood, who are Mohammedans as to religion; but in ali other respects are similar to Jews.

Agriculture and Cattle. Rice and cotton are the chief articles of culture; compared with these, the other great staples of Indian produce are grown only in insignificant quantities. An important item in the public revenue is the sum derived from the transit duties on opium; but none of this drug is grown within the limits of the presidency, the whole being brought from Malwah, where the soil is peculiarly adapted for its culture, and where the native princes are under engagements to dispose of the whole of the produce to the British authorities. Rice is largely grown in the central parts of the presidency; and in S. Concan it constitutes 4-5ths of the whole crops. The culture of cotton is extensive, and the produce is an important article of export. The cotton of this side of India is decidedly superior to that of the other; that grown in Baroach is particularly good. Sugar and indigo are cultivated in Candeish; where the first occupies a considerable extent of country, and where late reports speak of an intention on the part of government to erect sugar-mills. The indigo of Candeish has been said to be as fire as that of Bengal, but wanting in depth of colour. The mulberrytree grows in some parts with immense rapidity, and great exertions are being made by various private indi viduals to introduce the culture of silk, and to render it important as an article of trade. Wool has lately been imported in considerable quantities from Bombay, and efforts are making by the government to improve the breed of sheep, by importing stocks into the presidency from Caubul, Sinde, and Cutch, and crossing them with Merino and Saxon breeds from the Cape of Good Hope. The cattle of Gujrat are of a remarkably large size, and in great request throughout India; at Surat there is a diminutive species of ox, 2 ft. only in height. S. of Surat the ox supersedes the horse for both draught and carriage: below the Ghauts the only other domestic animal is the buffalo. Poultry are not generally kept by the natives.

Public Revenue.-The whole of the Bombay territories, excepting Surat and Kaira dist., where the ryotwarry settlement is established, are assessed under the village land-revenue system. By this system an arrangement is entered into with the heads of the different villages, to which the various tracts of land belong in common. These heads are called mocuddims or potuiis, and either by descent, or sometimes by personal influence, have obtained a superiority in the village, and' the management of its affairs. They do not, however, hold this power by any hereditary right, but are appointed or removed at the pleasure of the villagers. The village communities are little republics, providing for all their own wants among themselves, and independent, generally, of any relations with other villages: certain rights are possessed by the schoolmaster, accountant, washerman, barber, blacksmith, watchman, &c., in the produce of the soil; some portions are also set aside for certain recognised expenses of the village, and for defraying the expenses of hospitality toward strangers, &c. The land-tax here is higher than in Bengal; and the portion of the produce paid to gov. is besides uncertain, and dependent on the crops, which have often failed extensively in many districts. The assessment is fixed, after inquiring into the prospe rity of the village- what it has hitherto paid - what it is capable of paying the state of the village lands - and what assessments they ought to bear with reference to the produce. Should any of the brotherhood fail to pay his portion, it becomes an internal village arrangement, with which government has nothing to do; the rest come forward and pay it for him, and the mocuddim has no power from the government to enforce the assessment from the individual. In a great part of Poonah there are a number of acknowledged proprietors of usually small estates, called meerassdars, and generally cultivate their lands themselves, and pay their rent direct to government, unconnected with any village republic: in Surat and Kaira, although another is more general, the village settlement prevails pretty extensively. Col. Sykes (Rep. Revenue, îii. 164.) thinks that the mouzawar or village system realises more revenue to government than the ryotwarry system; that it occasions the officers little trouble; maintains a class of respectable persons (potails, &c.) in society; pre. vents peculation; and advances the comfort of the cultivators generally: but, on the other hand, Mr. Campbell (Rev. p. 201.) observes, that the potails often oppress

the ryots; shut them out from communication with I the government; "in good seasons pocket all the profits, and in bad cast upon them (the cultivators), by extra assessments, or saddling them with the waste land, the greater burden of the losses."

Manufactures are not in a flourishing state; nor can they ever become so, until better means of transit for goods be constructed, to afford a vent for their products: the principal are woollens and cottous. In Poonah city silks, ornamented with gold and silver, are woven. A discriminating duty was formerly laid on Indian sugar imported into Great Britain, but that is now repealed, and its manufacture, as well as the manufactures of silk and indigo, is on the increase.

could be more extended; " but this statement is evidently extravagant, and must be received with much modification. The Native Education Society, consisting of a nearly equal proportion of natives and Europeans, disbursed, in 1830-31, nearly 8,000l.; and have about 56 schools, educating 3,000 children: at Poonah there is a Hindoo college. The total number of public schools in this presid. is 1,705; scholars, 35,153: in Candeish the boys receiving instruction are, to the whole male pop. of that distr., as 1 in 18.

History. In 1617 Bombay was created a regency, and made supreme over all the company's establishments in India, but in 1707 Calcutta was declared independent of it. In 1726 a chartered court for penal causes was established; and in 1775 Salsette, Bassein, and the revenues of Baroach, and other places, were acquired by treaty with a Mahratta chief. In 1780 Dobhoy and Ahmedabad were taken, but restored to the Mahrattas were acquired, and the latter, with Poonah and Ahmedabad, were formally ceded in 1817. Concan, Marwar, Candeish, and the remainder of the ex-peishwa's dom., fell to the British in 1818. The seat of gov. was transferred from the city of Surat to that of Bombay in 1686. (Hamilton's E. I. Ġaz. i.; Rep. on E. I. Affairs before the Select Committees, &c., 1830 to 1832; Bombay Calendar, 1838; Reports of the Chamber of Commerce, Bambay, 1838.)

Trade. This presid. is much less favourably situated than that of Bengal for commerce and internal communication. It has no large navigable river, like the Ganges, intersecting its richest provinces; the streams of the Deccan are too impetuous for navigation; and, notwith-in 1782. In 1803 Baroach and Ahmednuggur districts standing the internal trade is thus wholly dependent on land-carriage, the entire length of all the roads which have been constructed does not exceed 450 m. Most of the roads are impassable for carriages, and merchandise has therefore to be conveyed chiefly by pack-bullocks; indeed, the only good line of road is from Panwell to Ahmednuggur, a distance of 165 m.; and it is both unconnected with the S. of India, and at a distance unavailable for the produce of Candeish and Berar. Government has recently, however, ordered a survey for a road between Bombay and Agra.

For an account of the foreign trade of the presidency, see BOMBAY (City).

The revenue and expenditure of the Bengal presidency, during the year 1835-36, were as follows:

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The Government is vested in a governor independent of local control; but subordinate to the authority of the gov.-general of India, in matters of general and internal policy, and the disbursements of the public revenue. He is assisted by three counsellors, and the whole administration is conducted by a single board.

Military Force. The Bombay native army, although the smallest, is the most ancient of the three presid.; sepoys having been disciplined toward the end of the 17th century. The sepoys are said to be brave, patient, capable of enduring fatigue, and bear the highest character for fidelity; still, however, it is very doubtful whether they would oppose any effectual resistance to an army of Europeans. The Bombay army has been always more ready than those of the other presid. to volunteer for distant expeditions. By recent returns the total armed force of this presid. is 30,190, of which number 6,252 are Europeans.

Marine Force.. -The whole of the Indian marine is attached to this presid. It has been of late much diminished, with the diminution of piracy, and now (Martin, 1839) consists of only one frigate, four 18-gun ships, six 10-gun corvettes and brigs, two armed steamers, and some surveying vessels. These are manned by about 1,200 seamen, with 143 officers; and the whole costs annually 211,1287. Measures are now, however, taken for converting this force into an armed steam flotilla.

Church Establishment, &c.— Bombay is the see of a bishop, subordinate to the Bishop of Calcutta, who has under him 14 chaplains: the total ecclesiastical charges in 1837 were 19,038. Roman Catholic Christians are more numerous in this than in either of the other presid., and their religious estab., which receives the aid of the gov., is subordinate to an apostolic vicar at Bombay, with authority direct from the pope. But the most numerous body of Christians within the Bombay gov. are

Nestorians.

Education, &c.. -Sir Lionel Smith, in his evidence before parliament, 1831, said, with regard to Bombay," Education is in such extensive progress that I hardly think it

BOMBAY (Buon Bahia, Portuguese, a good harbour), a marit. city of Hindostan, prov. Aurungabad, cap. of the above presidency, and, after Calcutta and Canton, the greatest emporium of the East. It is built at the S. E. extremity of the small island of the same name, contiguous to the Concan coast,650 m. N. W. Madras, 1,050 m. S. W. Calcutta, and 150 m. S. Surat; lat. 18° 56′ N., long. 72° 57′ E. Pop. upwards of 230,000. Bombay island belongs to a group, including Salsette, joined to it by a causeway, Caranja, Elephanta, Colabba, Butcher, Woody, and Cross islands, which, being disposed in a crescent manner, enclose its harbour. The island itself is of an oblong shape, 8 m. in length, N. to S., by about 2 or 3 m. wide; it is for the most part low, swampy, and barren, and was formerly very unhealthy; but in this respect it has been much improved, by means of drainage and embankments. The city consists of two portions; the old town, or fort, and the new town, or Dungaree. The fort stands on the S. E. extremity of the island, on a narrow neck of land immediately over the harbour; it is surrounded by extensive fortifications, which, towards the sea, are very strong; it contains some good buildings, but is, generally speaking, close and dirty, and little inhabited by Europeans; its streets are uneven and disagreeable, and the houses mostly built of wood, and mean in appearance. The Portuguese began to build the town within the walls in the same style that has ever since been followed: the verandahs of the houses are supported on wooden pillars, and shut up with Venetian blinds; the upper stories project beyond the lower, and the roofs are sloped and tiled.

Bombay bears no external resemblance to Calcutta or Madras, and its best streets scarcely equal their suburbs. There is no Asiatic magnificence; every thing has an air of dinginess, age, and economy, though the shops and warehouses are built on an extended scale. The government-house, a large but dismal-looking structure, somewhat like a German free-city stadthaus, is little used except for holding councils, and other public business; there is a castle, now occupied as an arsenal, and near it are the capacious docks constructed by, and belonging to, the E. I. Company, capable of accommodating ships of any size. These establishments, together with the barracks and the other buildings within the fort, have cost the company very large sums. The supreme judicial court, or sudder adawlut, the Protestant church, and the office of the gov. secretary, on the Green, an open irregular area, are amongst the chief edifices; there are many Portuguese and Armenian churches, both within and without the walls, some synagogues, and a vast number of mosques and temples. The new town of Bombay is larger than that within the fort, and in a low, wet, unwholesome situation, N. of the latter, and separated from it by the esplanade; it extends in one part from the harbour, on its E., quite across the neck of land to Back Bay for seven or eight months of the year the inhab. suffer from inundation or its effects, few of the ground-floors of the houses being above high-water mark. The most remarkable structure in the new town is a pagoda, the largest in Bombay, dedicated to the worship of Momba Devi. Substantial buildings now extend to near 3 m. from the fort, outside of which most of the poorer classes live in huts of clay, roofed with mats of palmyra leaf. Ground in the city is very valuable, especially within the fortress. Most part of the island now belongs to Parsees, who form a wealthy and influencing part of the population, and are comparatively more numerous, perhaps, than in any other large town in India. They are the descendants of the

Ghebers, driven out of Persia by Shah Abbas; a comely,
tall, athletic, active race; fairer than the other natives;
mild in their manners; bold, enterprising, intelligent,
persevering, successful in the pursuit of wealth, and
contributing greatly to the prosperity of the place.
"There is not a European house of trade in which one
of them has not a share; and generally it is the Parsee
that produces the larger part of the capital." In every
department connected with ship-building and the docks,
the Parsees have the chief interest; the whole N.
quarter of the fort is occupied by them; their country
houses are furnished with European decorations; and
they make no scruple to eat, drink, and hold constant
communication with Europeans. They have many tem-
ples for the adoration of Fire; and morning and evening
all the males repair to the esplanade, and prostrate them-
selves in worship to the sun: the females do not join in
these devotions, but of whatever rank, continue, as in
patriarchal times, to fetch water from the wells. The
Parsees are firmly attached to their original customs;
amongst which is that of exposing their dead to be de-
voured by vultures, in buildings open at the top for the
purpose; they are extremely dirty in their persons; but
their women, although enjoying more liberty than any
others in India, are certainly the chastest. The Parsees
provide for their own poor, and not a single courtesan of
their sect is to be found. Of the rest of the population,
about two thirds are Hindoos, one fifth part Moham-
medans, and one thirteenth part Christians, besides about
2,300 Jews: the floating pop., besides the native and
British seamen, consists of Arabs, Persians, Goa-Portu-
guese, Parsees, and the crews of vessels belonging to most
other nations frequenting the port. The harbour of Bom-
bay is one of the largest, safest, and most commodious in
India; it is 8 m. in diam., and affords good anchorage
and shelter for fleets of ships of the largest burden. It is
also the only great inlet in India where the rise of the tides
is sufficient to permit the construction of wet-docks on a
large scale, the spring tides ordinarily rising 14, and
Occasionally 17 ft. Frigates and ships of the line may be
built at Bombay in a very durable manner, and cost, it
is said, 25 per cent. less than in England. This com-
parative cheapness is ascribed to the facility with which
supplies of timber are obtained; but whether it be owing
to a defect in the building, or to the weight of the tim-
ber, it is, we believe, generally admitted that Bombay-
built ships are but indifferent sailers. It should also be
observed, that if ships really cost more in England than
in Bombay, the difference is wholly owing to our timber
duties; were these repealed, it may be safely affirmed that
British-built ships would be cheaper than those of any
other country. Previously to 1819, a considerable fleet
of small armed vessels was kept at Bombay, to check
the piracy which had prevailed on the Malabar coast ever
since the time of Alexander the Great; but at this epoch
the nuisance was finally abated, by the capture of the
strongholds of the pirates in the Arabian and Persian
gulphs.

Bombay has a more extensive trade with China than
either of the other presidencies: the rest of its commerce
is chiefly with Great Britain, the Arabian and Persian
gulphs, Calcutta, Cutch, Sinde, and the Malabar coast.
The imports from China consist principally of raw silk,
sugar, and sugar candy, silk piece-goods, treasure, &c.
The principal articles of export to China are, raw cotton
(44,464,364 lbs. in 1836-7), opium (20,882) chests, 1836-7),
principally from Malwa, pearls, sharks' fins, fish maws,
sandal-wood, &c. The exports to China being much
larger than the imports, the returns for several years
past have been made to a large extent by bills on London,
drawn by American and other houses in China, and in
bills on the Indian government, drawn by the agents of
the E. I. Company in China. The trade with the United
Kingdom has been regularly increasing since the aboli-
tion of the restrictive system. The chief articles of im-
port thence are, cotton and woollen stuffs, cotton yarn,
hardware, copper, iron, lead, glass, apparel, fur, sta-
tionery, wine, &c. The principal exports to Britain are,
raw cotton (68,163,901 lbs. in 1836-7), raw silk from
China and Persia, ivory, pepper, and spices, piece-goods,
coffee, and wool; the export of the last has increased
with wonderful rapidity of late years; it comes chiefly
from Cutch, Sinde, and Marwar. In 1837, 28 ships,
mostly owned by native merchants, were employed in the
China trade; there are besides many large ships engaged
in the trade to England and elsewhere; and a numerous
class of native craft, the largest of which make five or six
trips during the eight fair months, from Oct. to May, to
the chief ports N. of Bombay. They carry thither the
produce of Europe, Bengal, and China, and return laden
with cotton, ghee, oil, pulse, wheat, cotton cloths, tim-
ber, fre-wood, &c.: the capital employed in this trade,
exclusive of cotton, has been estimated to amount to
1,500,000. sterling. In 1836-7 there arrived at Bombay
253 ships (222 under British colours), of the aggregate
burden of 104,913 tons: the value of the imports and ex-
ports in that year was as follows:-

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Wages are higher here than in Bengal; palanquin bearers, for instance, receive 7 and 8 rupees each per month; but provisions are also much dearer. kets are not equal to those of Calcutta, but superior to those of Madras: there are fewer Europeans at Bombay than at the other presids., neither are their salaries so high. The Bombay Native Education Society have their central schools here, which in 1838 were attended by 1,087 native pupils. Two English newspapers are published here on alternate days, and 10 other periodicals. Several literary societies, and many charitable and religious institutions, have been established. Bombay is the seat of a Protestant bishop. Roman Catholics are numerous, and their religious establishments enjoy the support of the E. I. Comp.; one of the four vicars-apostolic of India, with direct authority from the pope, resides at Bombay, where the Catholic bishop has five different churches, all of which, except one at Colabba Island, are endowed. Sir R. Rice, in his evidence before the lords, in 1830, says, that among a pop. of 150,000 in this city, there was but one execution in three years, which was that of an English serjeant; so that, if the police be not very bad, it may be fairly concluded that crimes of violence are very rare. The jurisdiction of the supreme court is confined to the island of Bombay and to Europeans in the rest of the presid.: the civil and criminal laws are those of England; but this court is not one of appeal from provincial courts, like the sudder adawlut fourth of whom are Europeans. The garrison consists of 3,900 troops, one

at Calcutta.

Bombay is, next to Madras, the oldest of our possessions in the East; it was founded soon after the cession of the isl. to the Portuguese, and was ceded to Charles II. as part of Queen Catherine's dowry, in 1661; but the Portuguese governor refused to deliver it up, and it was not until 1664 that it came into our hands. At this period it was extremely unhealthy, and subject to the depredations of the Mahratta pirates. In 1668 the city and island were transferred, by royal letters patent, to the E. I. Comp., at an annual rent of 10., and shortly after realised to the comp. a revenue of 2,8231, a year. The seat of government was removed thither from Surat in 1686, and two years afterwards Bombay was closely besieged by the Moguls. These were ordered to withdraw by Aurungzebe, which they did in the succeeding year; but plague, piracy, and rebellion, continued for many years to devastate and disturb this colony. At present Bombay rules the whole N.W. coast of India, and its influence is ton's E. 1. Gaz. i. 256-266.; Reports on E. I. Affairs, felt along the shores also of Persia and Arabia. (Hamil1830-1832; Evid. of Sir R. Rice and Hon. Mr. Elphinstone; Dictionary of Commerce, &c., 1839, pp. 135138.; Mod. Trav. x. 241-254.; Bombay Calendar and Directory, 1838.)

BOMST, a town of the Prussian States, prov. Posen, cap. circ.,10 m. N.E. Zullichau. Pop.2,000. The inhabitants are a motley breed of Germans, Poles, and Jews.

There are some manufactures of coarse cloth.

BONA (an. Approdisium), called by the natives Annabah, i. e. place of jujubes, a marit. city of N. Africa, reg. Algiers, prov. Constantina, on a tongue of land projecting into a spacious bay (Gulph of Bona), near the mouth of the Seibous, in a somewhat unhealthy country; lat. 360 53′ 30′′ N., long. 7° 48′ 20′′ E. Pop. about 12,000. It is surrounded with walls (erected 1058) 30 ft. in height, and nearly 2 m. in circ., with 4 gates. The town and harbour are commanded by the citadel (Kasba), on a hill to the N. of the city, having thick walls and a circuit of about a quarter of a mile. This citadel was much injured in 1837 by an accidental explosion of gunpowder; but it has since been repaired, and made stronger than ever. Bona has been much improved since its occupation by the French. The streets are narrow and crooked, but there are several At this period called Goa and the Concan.

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good houses, a good market, with shops, reading-rooms, |
coffee-houses, and even a theatre. The road of Bona is
far from being safe, the N.E. and E. winds throwing in
a heavy sea. The Seibous was navigable when the Ro-
mans possessed Bona; and it might be rendered so again
by clearing away a bar which has accumulated at its
mouth, where there are but 3 or 4 ft.; whereas, within
this, there are 13 ft. water. Bona is the seat of a French |
judicial court; has manufactures of bernous and other
garments, tapestry, and saddles; exports corn, wool,
ox-hides, and wax. It was formerly the centre of the
French trade on this coast, and is at present the principal
seat of the coral fishery. (See ALGIERS.) The Kasba was
taken March 25. 1832, by a few French soldiers and sailors;
the Turks left in it, being dissatisfied with their leaders,
having opened the gates to them. Bona was afterwards
pillaged and burnt by the Arabs, but the French, having
received reinforcements, took possession of it, and cap-
tured 115 pieces of cannon. Ábout a mile to the S. are
the remains of Hippo Regius, once a residence of the
Numidian kings, and afterwards the episcopal see of St.
Augustine. It was situated between the rivers Boojer-
mah and Seibous, being about 2 m. in circ. Its chief
relics are some large cisterns and part of the Roman
walls. A swampy tract extends between it and Bona,
probably its ancient haven. Hippo was taken by the
Goths, and finally destroyed by Othman, the third ca-
liph. Its materials served to build the modern town.
(Rozet, iii. 195-208.; Shaw, pp. 47, 48.; Tableau de la
Situation, &c. p. 93.)
BONAVISTA, one of the Cape de Verde islands,
which see.

BONDENO (an. Padinum), a town of the States of the Church, deleg. Ferrara, at the confluence of the Panaro and Po d'Argento. Pop. 2,500. It lies at the mouth of a defile which leads across the Apennines.

BONEFRO, a town of Naples, prov. Sannio, cap. cant., on the declivity of a mountain, 6 m. S.S. E. Larino. Pop. 3,000. It has a fine palace and a magnificent parish church, with four houses of refuge.

BONIFACCIO, a town and sca-port of the island of Corsica, cap. cant., on a small peninsula at the S. extremity of the island, on the strait which bears its name, 45 m. S.S.E.Ajaccio; lat. 41° 23' 11' N., long. 9° 9′16′′ E. Pop. 3,031. It is well built and fortified, but not strongly. Its port, which lies between the peninsula on which the town is built and the main-land, stretches nearly 1 m. inwards, has deep water throughout, and is one of the best in the Mediterranean. Its entrance, however, is not more than from 80 to 90 yards broad, which renders it a little difficult of access. (Hugo, art. Corse; Norris's Sailing Directions for the Mediterranean, &c.)

BONIFATI, a town of Naples, prov. Calabria Citra, 4 m. S.E. Bcividere. Pop. 3,000. It has several churches, and a convent; and a great number of silk-worms are raised in its environs.

BONDOU, a country of W. Africa, which, like most others in the same part of the world, has not had its astronomical position precisely ascertained. On Rennell's map to Park's First Journey, it is placed between the lats. of 13 and 143° N., and between long. 10° 10' and 11° 20′ W. On the map to Park's Second Journey the long. remains unaltered, but the lat. is removed one degree more to the N., with the whole of the traveller's route, in order to make that route agree with the few observations which were taken. Though powerful among its barbarous neighbours, it is a small state, not exceed. ing in length, from E. to W., 78 m., nor in width, from N. to S., 70; it is, however, very compact in form, and its area is probably not less than 5,000 sq. m. Its pop. may amount to 1,500,000 or 2,000,000. It is bounded E. by Bambouk; S.E. and S. by Tenda and the Simbani Wilderness (wooded, not desert); S. W. by the same wilderness and Woolli; W. by Foota Toria; and on the N. by Kujaaga. (Park's Maps and First Journey, 44-57.) Bondou is tolerably elevated among the Senegambian system of mountains, and some parts of its surface rise into considerable peaks. The land slopes towards the N. and W., as is shown by the direction of the rivers, the Fo-le-me holding a N. course to the Senegal, and the Nerico a S. W. one to the Gambia. The subtributaries of these affluents are so numerous, that though neither of the first-class rivers (Senegal and Gambia) pass through Bondou, there are few districts better or more abundantly watered. As a natural consequence, vegetation is of a most vigorous kind; the hills are co. vered with thick woods, and in native fertility the soil is not surpassed by any in the world. The productions are the sarie with these of the neighbouring countries. (See BAMBARRA, BAMBOUK, &c.); but a winter or dry season harvest, though not quite peculiar to this country, is sufficiently remarkable to attract the attention of travellers. The corn, called by botanists Holcus cornuus, from the depending position of its ear, is sowed about November, is in full vigour by the end of December, and is reaped in the early part of January. It is exceedingly prolific, and appears to bear a strong resemblance to the

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Arabic dhourrah. In climate and division of seasons,
Bondou agrees also with the surrounding countries
(see as above), but it appears to possess the advantage of
being more healthy, and (probably from its comparative
density of population) it seems to be rather less infested
by ferocious animals. Though close to the richest gold
districts of Africa, it appears to be poor in metals; gold
dust, in small quantities, and iron being part of the im-
ports. (Park, 51. 58. &c.) The inhabitants differ es-
sentially in complexion and manners from their imme-
diate neighbours. They belong to the great Foulah
family, next to the Mandingoes the most considerable
of all the W. African nations. They have tawny or
rather yellow skins, with small features, and soft silky
hair. They hold the negroes to be their inferiors; and,
when talking of different races, always class themselves
among white people. They have, indeed, most of the
distinctive marks of an Arab race; but, though many of
them speak a little Arabic, their native tongue bears
no resemblance to that language, nor have they any le-
gends that trace their origin farther E. than Fooladoo
(literally, "the country of the Foulahs"), near the
sources of the Senegal. In industry, energy, and re-
sources they are superior to their negro neighbours;
they are tolerably good agriculturists, and are said to
be well versed in grazing and dairy husbandry, though
they make no cheese. Cattle is their chief wealth, and
they possess also a handsome breed of horses. There
are, indeed, but few African countries where so many
of the necessaries, and even conveniences, of life are
enjoyed, and that not by the rich only, but by the greater
part of the population.

Centrally situated between the Senegal and Gambia, Bondou has become a high road for traffic; the slave dealers from the coast usually pass through it, and by their means a considerable commerce is carried on with the neighbouring and even distant countries. The native exports consist of corn, cotton cloths, some sweet-smelling gums, and probably sometimes cattle. The transit trade consists of slaves, salt, iron, Shea butter, and golddust. The government is monarchical, and the king is often at war with his Mandingoe neighbours, and generally to their loss. When Major Houghton was in the country, he had just stripped the king of Bambouk of a considerable part of his territory.

The Mohammedan religion is very generally professed, but not exclusively; the king himself is a kafir (infidel), and it does not appear that any intolerance is practised by either sect; but the uncharitable maxims of Islamism seem to have had some influence over the Bondou Foulahs, who are less hospitable than the poorer and more ignorant negroes.

Schools are established in the different towns, where children of all persuasions are taught to read and write. The character used is, of course, Arabic, and the instructors the Mohammedan priests; by this means Mohammedanism possesses a strong hold over the people, since the impressions made on the pupils' minds in these schools are seldom eradicated.

Customs and duties on travellers are extremely high. An ass load of goods pays a bar (two shillings) at all places; and at Fathconda (the royal residence) a musket and six bottles of gunpowder, or the value of them, are exacted as the common tribute; besides which, neither the king nor any of his chief officers are delicate in requesting presents, which requests, under the circumstances, are, in fact, demands which cannot be evaded. (Park, p. 44-62.: Houghton's Afr. Assoc. cap. xiii. 8. 11. &c.)

BONN, a very ancient handsome town of the Prussian States, cap. circ., prov. Rhine, on the left bank of that river, about 15 m. S. Cologne. Pop. 18,000. The principal celebrity of Bonn is derived from its university, founded in 1818, and intended to replace that of Cologne, suppressed by the French. Niebuhr, the historian of Rome, was one of its professors; and it has still to boast of some very distinguished names. In 1836 it had 686 students. The electors of Cologne formerly resided here; and their castle, a building of immense extent, is now the university. The library that belonged to the university of Cologne, comprising from 80,000 to 100,000 vols., has been removed thither. In the museum of Rhenish antiquities, in the university, is an ancient monument, inscribed Dea Victoria Sacrum, supposed by some to be the identical Ara Ubiorum mentioned by Tacitus. (Annal. lib. i. § 39.) This, however, is doubtful. The cathedral, or metropolitan church, in the older Gothic style, with a high tower, has a statue of the Empress Helena, and is said to be built on the site of a church she had founded. There is also a good town-hall, theatre, &c. A fine avenue of chestnuts conducts to the Château of Poppelsdorff, appropriated to the use of the university, containing the museum of natural history, and having attached to it a spacious and well-kept botanical garden. The situation of Bonn is delightful. It is one of the most desirable towns on the thine as a place of residence. Beethoven, the musician, was born

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