DF.SCRIPTION
399
The island consists of a low-lying plain about z r 2 miles long by 3 to
4 broad, flanked by two parallel ridges of low hills. Colāba Point, the
headland formed by the longer of these ridges, protects the harbour lying
on its eastern side from the force of the open sea; the other ridge termi-
natés in Malabar Hill ; and between t:he two lies the sr~allow expanse of
Back Bay. The island is in shape a trapezoid. It is popularly likened
to a hand laid palm upwards, with the fingers stretching southwards
into the sea, and the thumb representing Malabar Hill., with Back Bay
between the thumb and forefinger : others see in it a resemblance to a
withered leg, with a very high heel and pointed toe, the heel being
Malabar Hill and the toe Colāba. On a slightly raised strip of land
between the head of Back Bay and the harbour is situated the Fort, the
original nucleus round which the city grew up, but now chiefly occupied
by public buildings and commercial offices. From this point the land
slopes westward to the central plain, which, before the: construction of
the embankment known as the Hornby Vellard, ~~as liable to be
submerged at high tide. To the north and east recent ;schemes of recla-
mation have similarly shut out the sea, and partly re~:leemed the fore-
shore for the use of commerce. In the extreme north of the island
a large tract of salt marsh still remains unreclaimed.
The Government offices, the business houses, and t:he shops cluster
thickly in the Fort. Many of the public and .commercial buildings,
constructed daring the past forty years, are of splendid dimensions, and
have no rival in any other Indian city, except perhaps Calcutta. The
houses in the native bazar are also handsomely built, rising three, four,
and even six storeys in height, with elaborately carved pillars and front-
work. Some of the narrow, unpaved, and crowded streets give an
inadequate idea of the real opulence of their inhabitants. But in many
o£ them may be seen evidences of the wealth of the city and of the
magnificence of its merchant princes. The most conspicuous line . of
public buildings is on the Esplanade facing Back B;t,y. Here is the
Secretariat, an enormous erection in t:he Venetian Gothic style of archi-
tecture ; the University Library, Senate Hall, and Rājā.bai Clock-tower
the High Court; the Public Works, Post, and Telegraph offices. A
little inland, and 'behind the Secretariat range of buildings, runs the
broad thoroughfare of Rampart Row, off which branch many narrow
streets containing native and European shops. Rampart Row and its
continuation towards the Apollo Bandar (landing-place:) form the main
line of thoroughfare of the European quarter. Along one side of Ram-
part Row is a colonnade of arches giving entrance to the Bombay Club,
the French Bank, and other buildings. On the opposite side of Ram-
part Row, which is here 50 or 6o yards broad, rises another line of
many-storeyed offices chiefly belonging to merchants in graiq and
cotton. , The. Fort is illuminated :during the night by incandescent light.
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