Page:History of India Vol 6.djvu/369

 DESCRIPTION OF CALCUTTA 301 the Bhagirati. It is a large port and the great mart of the trade of the Honourable Company and their de- pendents. Small vessels called salap (sloops'?) every year trade with this port from China, Europe, and other countries, and almost at all times some are at anchor there. In these days this city is the residence of the chief English of- ficers, and the city and its dependen- cies are considered their property. The buildings are built entirely of masonry, plastered with lime or mud. The land, on account of its vicinity to the sea, is very brackish and damp, and hence the houses are raised two or three stories high. The lower apartments are not fit to be inhabited. The buildings are like those of Europe, airy, spacious, and commodious, and are all constructed of brick. Besides the English merchants, the Bengalis, Armenians, and other inhabitants are also rich mer- chants. The water of the wells in the city is not drink- able on account of its brackish quality. If any person THE POST-OFFICE AT CALCUTTA.