Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 4.djvu/36

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BOMBAY

buildings arc on the American scale, and have no rival in any other city of India. The private houses of the European residents lie apart alike from the native and from the mercantile quarters of the town. As a rule, each is built in a large garden or compound ; and although the style of architecture is less imposing than that of the stately residences in Calcutta, it is well suited to the climate, and has a beauty and comfort of its own. The favourite suburb is Malabar hill, a high ridge running out into the sea, and terraced to the top by handsome houses, which command one of the finest views in the world. To the right of this ridge, looking towards the sea, runs another suburb known as Breach Candy, built close upon the beach and within the refreshing sound of the waves. To the left of Malabar hill the island forms a spacious bay, with a promontory at the other side, which marks the site of the old Bombay Fort. The fort is now a mere garrison, with small pretensions to defensive capabilities. Its walls are demolished, and its area is chiefly devoted to mercantile buildings. Further round the island, beyond the fort, is Mazagon Bay, commanding the harbour, and the centre of maritime activity. The defences of the port consist chiefly in ironclad "Monitors" anchored off the town, with one or two fortified islands, and the guns which still line a por tion of the old fort walls that have been left standing towards the sea. The census of 1872 disclosed a popula tion of 644,405 souls; of whom 408,680, or 63 42 per cent., are Hindus; 138,815, or 21 54 per cent., Muhammadans; 44,091, or 6 4 per cent, Parsis; 15,121, Buddhists and Jams; 34,705, or 5*39 per cent, European, African, Eurasian, and Native Christians, with 2993 classified under the head of " others." Dyeing, tanning, and working in metals may be noticed as specially active trades, but the most progressive and important industry is the manufacture of yarn and cotton cloth. In 1873 there were 5 steam spinning and weaving mills in Bombay, giving employment to about 11,000 hands. In these factories 380,000 spindles and 5000 looms were at work. A considerable section of the population is supported by the cultivation of cocoa-nut trees and the preparation of intoxicating drinks from the juice of the different species of palm, Bice, is the chief agricultural product, but many varieties of garden vege tables are profitably cultivated. Of these the most com mon are onions, " bhendis " (Abelmoschm escnlentns), and gourds of different sorts. The imperial revenue from the town and island of Bombay is derived from two sources, the one supervised by the collector of Bombay, the other by the commissioner of customs. The total receipts for the past year, under the first head, amounted to 148,287, of which 23,131 was derived from land, 17,250 from excise, and 107,906 from stamps. The total amount collected by the commissioner of customs was 3,252,714, of which the customs yielded 009,630, and the export duty on opium 2,643,084. Owing to the difficulty of procuring colonists in the early days of the settlement, the land is generally held on easy terms, the payment to Government being in most cases of the nature of a quit rent, free from enhancement or resettlement as long as the land is used for cultivation only. Of the whole area, 13 miles are returned as cultivated, and 9 as unculturable. During the year 1872 there were 101 schools in Bombay, attended by 11,351 scholars, or 1 to every 56 of the entire population. The total strength of the local police force in 1872 was 1402, or 1 policeman to every 459 inhabitants. Of the entire number, 1124 are muni cipal, and 278 Government police. Of the former, 35 are European, and 13 are mounted Native police. The Government police are employed on harbour duty and as guards for Government offices. Eight of them are Euro

peans.

Ground-Plan of Bombay.

Municipal Statistics.—The limits of the Bombay municipality extend over the whole of the island of Bom bay, including, as stated above, a population of 644,405 souls. The total municipal revenue for the year 1873 amounted to 314,645, of which 223,041 was raised by taxation, 59,958 on account of services rendered, and 31,646 from municipal property and miscellaneous receipts. The following are the main items under the head of taxation proper: House rate, 73,587; police rate, 24,189; lighting rate, 21,179; wheel taxes, 23,197; tobacco and liquor duty and licenses, 28,690 ; town duties, 45,200; and additional rates from Port Trust, 4000. Under the head, Service rendered, are included the Halalkar cess and the water rate, yielding respectively 20,392 and 39,566. The returns under the third head are chiefly receipts from the Crawford markets. The total expenditure was 312,208. Of this amount 25,325 was spent on general supervision, 36,041 in supporting the police and fire brigade. Under the head of public health, 87,574 was spent, and 84,835 on public works. The interest and sinking fund on the police debt consumed 74,496. The incidence of municipal taxation per head of the population is 6s. Ski. It is estimated that the gross annual income of the city is about 855 lakhs of rupees, or upwards of 8

(w. w. h.)