Calcutta
a city of Hindustan, capital of the presidency of Bengal, until the East and seat of the supreme gov- 1912 capital of the British dominions in ernment, on the Hooghly river, an arm of the Ganges, about 100 miles N. of the Bay of Bengal. On approaching the nificent appearance, with its elegant city from the sea, it presents a magvillas on each side of the river, the government botanical gardens, its numerous spires of churches and temples, and the strong and regular citadel of Fort William. This city extends along the bank of the Ganges for 6 miles, and has an average breadth of 2 miles. A feet above low-water mark, embanks the river for about 3 miles, and is furnished with about 30 principal ghauts, or landing-places. The river here is about a
The European residents live mile in width, and is crowded with shipping. mile in width, and is crowded with ship- ping.
The European residents live the city, and at Garden Reach, in beauor Fort William, is not only the strongtiful and detached villas. The citadel, est and most complete fortress in India, but also in the British dominions. Calest and most complete fortress in India, "City of Palaces," and this is not an overdrawn appellation. It is certainly "City of Palaces," and this is not an nevertheless, like all Eastern cities, it contains quarters, inhabited by the nanevertheless, like all Eastern cities, it contains quarters, inhabited by the na- CALDECOTT mean. Among the principal public edifices are the Government House, Mint, Custom House, the Scotch, Portuguese, Greek, and American churches, the Courts of Justice, colleges, hospitals, etc.
The environs of the city are very attractive, and its market is admirably supplied with the choicest game, fruits, etc. European society here is gay and convivial; but a certain degree of for mality prevails, and the Brahminical institution of "caste" would appear to have communicated itself to all the ranks and classes of Europeans. Pop., including Howrah and suburbs, about 1,300,000.