Page:Oriental Scenery — One Hundred and Fifty Views of the Architecture, Antiquities, and Landscape Scenery of Hindoostan.djvu/67

This page has been validated.
8
ORIENTAL SCENERY.

No. IV.

THE WRITERS' BUILDINGS, CALCUTTA.

The Writers' Buildings, so called from being the residence of the junior part of the Gentlemen in the service of the English East India Company. Immediately beyond this Edifice is the old Court House; the road leads on to the Loll Bazaar; the obelisk was erected by Governor Holwell,[1] in commemoration of the dreadful circumstance which happened in the prison called the Black Hole in the year 1756.


No. V.

GOVINDA RAM MITTEE'S PAGODA, CALCUTTA.

This Pagoda, or Hindoo Temple, which is dedicated to Seeva, was built by Govinda Ram Mittee, a native merchant, residing in the neighbourhood of Calcutta, but never completely finished. It is a modern work, principally of brick, and in a mixed style of architecture. The Tank is a necessary appendage to buildings of this nature, ablution being a ceremony that very frequently occurs in the religious duties of an Hindoo.


No. VI.

PART OF CHERINGHEE, CALCUTTA.

Cheringhee is situated on the east side of the Esplanade, and, though formerly separated, may now be considered as making a part of the town of Calcutta. The houses, which are of brick, stuccoed, and afterwards coloured, are inhabited by opulent English gentlemen, and are well constructed to counteract, as much as possible, the inconveniences of so hot a climate.


No. VII.

SOUTH EAST VIEW OF FORT ST. GEORGE, MADRAS.

This view is taken on the beach southward of the Fort of Madras; the larger building to the right of the flag-staff is the new exchange, and the higher one to the left is the church, to which a spire has been added since the taking of this view in the year 1793, when the other five views of Madras were likewise drawn. In the distance is seen part of the Madras roads; and in the foreground the sea breaking in with its usual turbulency on this coast; the only vessels in use for passing through this surge to communicate with the shipping, are called Massoola boats. They are flat bottomed, and built without iron, the planks being sewed together with line made from the outer coat of the cocoa nut.

Madras lies in lat. 13° 5” north, long. 80° 25” east.


No. VIII.

PART OF THE BLACK TOWN, MADRAS.

The Black Town (so called from being principally the residence of the native merchants) is distant rather less than half a mile north from Fort St. George, and separated by the Esplanade; along which runs the China Bazaar, or market for Chinese, India, and European merchandize. In the town the Armenians have erected a church, which appears in the distance, and to the left of it are seen the minarets of a handsome Mosque, built by Mahommed Ali, Nabob of the Carnatic.

  1. See Holwell's India Tracts.