"رحلات من الهند إلى إنجلترا: تشمل زيارة إلى الإمبراطورية البورمية، رحلة عبر بلاد فارس، آسيا الصغرى، تركيا الأوروبية وغيرها، في السنوات ١٨٢٥-١٨٢٦، بقلم جيمز إدوارد أليكساندر" [‎٧‎٢] (٤١٢/١٢٥)

72 BURMAN EMPIRE.
termed the wood, consisting of innumerable cocoa-nut trees (which
yield a considerable revenue to Government, one rupee being annually
paid for each tree), interspersed with Portuguese chapels and small
country-houses. Having gained the summit of Malabar hill, a most
beautiful view of Back Bay presented itself. Numerous small vessels
were sailing about in it, and beyond them rose a forest of masts of
the shipping in the harbour.. After breakfast I returned by the
Breach-road, so called from a stone dyke (on the top of which is a
wide and excellent road), which was constructed to reclaim a large
tract of land from the sea ; yet although this yields a considerable
revenue, the Governor under whose auspices the work was under
taken got no thanks from his honourable Masters, but was censured
for his lavish expenditure. I passed through a part of the native
town, and was highly pleased with the spacious streets of the Bendy
bazar, having footpaths on each side, so different from any thing I
had before seen in India. These improvements, as well as many
others for the benefit of natives and Europeans, have originated with
the present Governor. Mahratta is the language generally spoken in
Black Town, and Guzerattee by the Parsees. I saw several Parsee
women, who are large and fair, and the young ones very handsome.
On the 24th of April I attended a splendid fete given by the Go
vernor at Parnell House, in honour of his Majesty's birth-day, and to
which the whole of the society of Bombay was invited. The road
leading to Parnell was crowded with natives in bullock-bandies, on
ponies, and on foot, who were hastening to the gay scene. On my ar
rival, I found a large assemblage. The ball-room was capacious and
well-lighted. Two rows of couches extended round it: the front row
was occupied by the ladies of the presidency, in white; and along the
walls