The New Student's Reference Work/Dacca

Dacca (dăk' ȧ), a city of Bengal proper, 150 miles northeast of Calcutta, on the north bank of the Buriganga. It occupies an area of eight square miles, and consists of a dull esplanade and one long street meeting at right angles, with a network of narrow, crooked lanes. It, however, has unusual advantages for inland navigation, as its position commands the principal waterways of the delta. About 1610 it became the seat of the Mohammedan government of Bengal, which rank it kept, with a short break, until 1704. In the 18th century it became celebrated for its muslins, and the English, French and Dutch had manufactures here. It has since declined (the population falling off from 200,000 in 1800 to 69,212 in 1872), until the last few years have revived its prosperity. Besides manufactures, Dacca has a college and good schools. The Dacca and Maimansingh state-railroad, opened in 1886, has helped its growth. Population, 85,000. Dacca also is a district in Bengal, watered by the Brahmaputra. Its population is close upon 10,000,000.