BOMBAY, an island on the western coast of In dia, and the seat of one of the English presidencies. It is situated, according to Mr Howe's observations, in 18° 68' North Lat., an,d'72° 38' East Long.; and is about seven miles in length, and twenty-one in circumference.
This island was taken possession of by the Portu guese soon after their arrival in India ; and Was af terwards ceded, in 1662, to the English, as part of the dowry of the Infanta Catharine, on her marriage with Charles II. Accordingly a squadron under the command of Lord Marlborough was dispatched to India to receive investiture of the island from the hand of, the viceroy ; and his Lordship arrived at Bombay in September 1663, with Sir Abraham Ship man, as governor, on board. The viceroy was dis posed to comply with the instructions of his master, but the powerful opposition of the Catholic clergy, who were unwilling that the island should be deliver ed into the hands of heretics, terrified him into their Measures, and determined him to maintain his station. The obstinate refusal of the viceroy obliged Lord Marlborough to retire with his fleet to Swally road, for refreshments ; and, after having laid in a store of necessary provisions, he set sail, in the beginning of 1664., for England, leaving the rest of the squadron under the command of Sir A. Shipmah,lo spend the remainder of the winter monsoon in some of the near est ports ; and lie accordingly remained on the deso late island of Anjadiva from April to October, du ring which period he buried upwards'of 200 of his men. The monsoon being over, Sir Abraham put to sea, and sailed again for Bombay. On his arrival, he threatened the viceroy and the clergy with the vengeance of the kings of England and Portugal, if they continued to refuse obedience to their' majesties contract and instructions ; and accordingly, they at This island Was formerly reckoned exceedingly un healthy, insomuch that it was considered as the grave of the English ; but it is now rendered much more salubrious, by the building of a wall to prevent the encroachment of the sea, where it formed a salt marsh ; by draining the marshes in its environs ; and by an order that the natives should hot manure their cocoa nut groves with putrid fish. Nevertheless, many
Europeans, especially on their first arrival, are at tacked by the diseases common in "warm climates ; but this, in many cases, is owing to the irregularity of their mode of life.
The soil of Bombay is sterile, and incapable of any material improvement. The vegetable productions of this island are, consequently, very insignificant, consisting chiefly of cocoa nut groves, rice, and some other Indian fruits. However, not a spot of it re mains uncultivated ; so that although it is far from producing a proportion of food adequate to the con sumption of the inhabitants, yet, notwithitanding the disadvantages of its soil and situation, the produce is very considerable.
The city of Bombay is about a mile in length, and is defended, both towards the land and sea, by vari ous fortifications, the construction of which has cost an immense expence. The houses are, in general, neither splendid nor commodious : they are common ly only ground floored ; but are not flat roofed, as in the other parts of the East, being covered with tiles ire the European fashion. The English have glass windows ; but the other inhabitants form their win dows of small pieces of transparent shells framed in wood, which renders the apartments exceedingly dark. The floors of the houses are of a composition of lime made from shells, which, if properly prepa red, is extremely durable, aid takes so smooth 'a po lish, that a person may see his face in it.
This island is of peculiar importance, on account length agreed to a treaty, by which the inhabitants were to enjoy the free exercise of their religion, and the poiseSsion of their estates under the crown of England. But although the trade of Bombay was at this time exceedingly flourishing, yet, as the re venue of the island was not equal co the expence of the establishment, the king, in :668, made a full gl-ant of it to the East India Company, in whose possession it still r. mains.