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78 its suburbs and Howrah, on the other side of the river, the population of the metropolitan circle of municipalities stands thus:— As already stated, however, the Census Returns of the population of Calcutta town have been found inaccurate, and have been condemned. The Census of the city and suburbs were done by the Calcutta and suburban municipalities, while that of the rest of the District was conducted under direct Government supervision. The population of Howrah does not belong to the District of the 24 Parganás.

In an account of the District, which includes Calcutta, it may seem that some description should be given of the city itself. But anything like a detailed account of Calcutta would occupy as many pages as the entire space which I have devoted to this volume. I propose, therefore, to reserve my description of the Indian Metropolis for a separate and subsequent book. It may here be briefly stated that Calcutta forms the emporium and seaport for the productions of the two great river systems of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. In 1871-72 the total maritime trade of Calcutta amounted to £52,468,166, of which the exports were £31,743,961, and the imports £20,724,154, leaving an excess of exports over imports of £11,019,806.

(2) .—Area, 23.17 square miles; number of houses, 43,061. Population: Hindus, males, 89,714; females, 63,037—total, 152,751. Muhammadans, males, 59,263; females, 41,347—total, 100,610. Buddhists, males, 86; females, 54— total, 140. Christians, males, 1897; females, 1637—total, 3534. Others, males, 51; females, 63—total, 114. Total of males of all denominations, 151,011; females, 106,138—grand total, 257,149. Average number of persons per house, 6.0; number of persons per square mile, 11,098. Gross municipal income in 1872, £32,525, 8s. 0d.; gross expenditure, £33,228, 4s. 0d. Rate of