The climate of Bombay is temperate, as, from its insular situation, it enjoys the full advantage of the refreshing breeze, which renders the atmosphere cooler than in many parts of the continent of India. The rains last about four months, and continue with little interruption from about the end of May to the beginning of October. The following Table spews the quantity of rain which fell during this period, in the course of one season : of its excellent harbour, which is said to be capable of accommodating 1000-vessels at anchor, and is completely from every wind. On the whole; continent of India we do not possess one good har bour •' so that, on the approach of the monsoons, all vessels are obliged to stand out to sea, in order to prevent inevitable destruction. At these seasons, the harbour of Bombay, and Trincomallee, in the island of Ceylon, are the only ports we possess which are capable affording a safe retreat. On account of the peculiar importance of Bombay in this respect, it is furnished with convenient dock and a ma rine arsenal, for building and refitting and, of late years, a considerable numbdr of vessels have been built on this island, of the celebrated teck wood, which grows on the neighbouring continent ; but it is found they can be furnished at a cheaper rate from the port of Rangoon, in the Birman empire.
The population of this island has increased to a singular degree since it fell into the hands of the English. Under the Portuguese government, it is Said to have contained only about 10,000 inhabitants ; and Niebuhr informs us, that, when he visited Born bay ih 1763, they were ,estimated at 140,000, al though within 20 years they did not amount to 70,000, so that in this short period the number ap pears to have been more than doubled. In the year 1803, Sir James Mackintosh, the eloquent recorder of this island, computed the number of inhabitants at 150,000. These consist of English, Portuguese, In
dian Catholics, Hindoos, Persees, Mahometans of different sects, and some Armenian Christians. The English have a handsome church at Bombay ; and the establishment of chaplains for. their presidency is four in number, but the list is never full. The Ro man Catholics have a bishop of Bombay ; they are very numerous; and their churches are sumptuously ornamented within. Government does 'not, however, allow the Catholics to exert their zeal for the con version of the natives, but under considerable restric tions. If any person chooses to embrace the Catho lic faith, the reasons must be laid before the govern ment, and, if they are judged valid, he is allowed to make profession of it. The priests complain of the difficulty of obtaining this permission ; but they still meet •with considerable success • among the negro slaves.
Bombay is the seat of the English government for the coast of Malabar. The council consists of a go vernor and three members ; but they are under the controul of the government-general of Bengal, with respect to treaties of peace with the native powers, the making of war or concluding of peace, collect ing and applying revenues, levying and employing forces, &c. ; and they are required in all cases to obey the orders of the government-general, unless the directors of the company have sent out contrary orders not known to the government-general, of which, in that case, they are to give the government immediate advice. See Rennel's Memoir of a Map of Ilindostan, p. 31. Cruttwell's Gazetteer, vol. i. Percival's Account of Ceylon. Syme's Embassy to Aoa. Buchanan's Memoir on the expediency of a Iteli,gious Establishment for India. Asiatic Register, vol. v. Niebuhr's Travels, vol. ii. p. 374-391. (w.