PANORAMA OF BOMBAY.
THAT indefatigable artist, Mr. BURFORD, has produced another of his pleasing topographical delineations of foreign scenery ; and having last year placed us in Calcutta, this year he carries us to Bombay. The view is taken from Mazagong Hill, and is truly described to be " picturesque, varied, and beautiful ;" its novelty, also, is another striking characteristic. The town or fort of Bombay is seen in the distance, and the fine harbour crowded with English merchant ships and the native vessels ; towards the south-east stretches the Black Town, as that part is called which is without the walls of the fort, and is occupied by the native population; between it and the fort is the esplanade—a plain of grass land, covered with tents fitted up with great splendour, whither the residents resort to enjoy the cool sea-breezes and the delightful prospects around. Groves of mangoes and cocoa-palms, interspersed with English country- houses, with pleasure grounds, and some of the. native villas, which are curiously picturesque iu their construction and decorations, stretch along the beach towards thenorth. The east is occupied by the bay; round which are grouped numerous wooded islands, which break the uniformity of the view,and form a picturesque scene, whose tranquillity and secluded charac- ter area striking contrast with the bustle of the Fort. The island of Ele. phanta forms a prominent object in this cluster of hills; and the horizon ie. bounded by the curiously-shaped ghats and mountains of the interior. The foreground is extremely rich and picturesque : the tall stems of the palm- trees, with their clustering heads rising into the clear sky, and the broad- leaved plantain below the Indian buildings with their Moorish-looking architecture, mingled with the huts of the natives and European dwell- ings, interspersed with various kinds of foliage—groups of natives and English, funning, of themselves, a lively picture. Here is the house from which STERNE'S Eliza eloped ; near it are seated a pic-nic party under an awning, with their palanquins and bearers ; then there are a circle of natives in their picturesque costumes, listening to one of the Eastern story-tellers; and various objects which add to the interest and beauty of the scene. We can fancy wjth what delight old Indians will look upon this picture of a place so familiar to them, and with what in- terest those who have relatives and friends there will come to behold these distant shores, of which, but for Mr. BORPORD.S Panorama, they could have no definite idea. It is a gratifying sight to every one ; and the execution so effectively assists the pleasing deception, that it requires Bo great stretch of fancy to imagine oneself on the spot.
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