COLOMBO, k6-linn'b6. The capital and chief seaport of Ceylon, situated on the western coast of the island, on a rocky headland, in latitude 54' N. and longitude 51' E. ( \lap: India, C 7). The European part of (lie city is mag nificently laid out, with broad avenues shaded by tropical trees and lined by modern buildings of fine architecture. The husincse part of the European city occupies the site of an old Dutch fort, and is still known as the 'Fort.' Its ehief thoroughfare is Queen Street, on which are situ ated the palace of the Governor, the chief rmer cantile houses and banks, and the post: ounce, the finest public building on the island. The resi dential section of the European city covers an area of about 20 square miles. The part nearest to the water is occupied by numerous clubs, with all the accessories of their European pro totypes, such as golf-hinks, erick-t-grounds, race couraes, etc. Farther inland it is crossed by beautiful roads bordered with bungalows em bosomed in luxuriant gardens. The native part of the city, or Pettalt, is dirty and crowded, with crooked and narrow streets, always thronged with motley crowds of different types and na tionalities. The houses are without doors or windows, and the passer-by can freely observe the private life of the natives. Colombo owes its commercial importance chiefly to its artificial breakwater, one of the largest structures of its kind. It has a length of 4000 feet, and shelters a water area of 500 acres. Begun in 1875, it is
still uneonlphetesl, the northern arm and the graving dock still being in process of construc tion. The shipping of the port of Colombo is very extensive, amounting to about 3.500.000 tons annually. Colombo is one of t.lne most im portant coaling-stations for British and foreign steamers on the Australian and East Asiatic routes. Almost all the staples of the island find their outlet through Colombo, which is also the centre of cocanut, tea, and several other indus tries. It is connected with Kandy and 1'ointe-de Galle by railway. It is the seat of a United Mates consulate.
The population of Colomho in 1901 was 158; 093 (127,836 in 1891) , including about 5000 Europeans, chiefly Englishnrc•n and descendants of the Dutch. Tile native are mostly artisans and laborers, while the Europeans are either owners of large plantations or merchants.
The earl}- name of Colonulho, Kahan-totta, the 'Kalany ferry' derived from its proximity to the river, the Moors corrupted into Kalambu, and ley this designation it was described about A.D. 1310 as the finest city of Serendih. At the arrival of the Portuguese, in 1517. Kalambu had merged into Kolamha, or Columbu. which they henceforth wrote Colombo, in honor of Christopher Columbus. It was taken by the Dutch in 1656, and by the British in 1796. Consult Cave, Golden Tips (London, 1900).