CHITTAGONG  , a seaport of

British India, giving its name to a district and two divisions of Eastern Bengal and Assam . It is situated on the right bank of the Karnaphuli river, about 12 M. from its mouth . It is the terminus of the Assam-Bengal railway . The municipal area covers about 9 sq. m.; pop . (1901) 22,140 . The sea-borne exports consist chiefly of jute, other items being tea, raw cotton, rice and hides . There is also a large trade by country boats, bringing chiefly cotton, rice, spices, sugar and tobacco . Since October 1905 Chittagong has become the chief port of the new province of Eastern Bengal and Assam . The DISTRICT OF CHITTAGONG is situated at the north-east corner of the province, occupying a strip of coast and hills between the sea and the mountains of Burma . Its area is 2492 sq. m . In 1901 the population was 1,353.250, showing an increase of 5 % in the decade . A few unimportant ranges rise within the north-eastern portion, the highest hill being the sacred Sitakund, 1155 ft. high .

The

principal rivers are the Karnaphuli, on which Chittagong town is situated, navigable by sea-going ships as far as Chittagong port, and by large trading boats for a considerable distance higher up, and the Halda and the Sangu, which are also navigable by large boats . The wild animals are tigers, elephants, rhinoceros, leopards and deer . The climate is comparatively cool, owing to the sea breeze which prevails during the day; but for the same reason, the atmosphere is very moist, with heavy dews at night and fogs . Chittagong was ceded to the East India Company by Nawab Mir Kasim in 176o . The northern portion of the district is traversed by the Assam-Bengal railway . Tea cultivation is moderately successful . The CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS formed an independent district from 186o to 1891, were then reduced to the status of a sub-division, but were again created a district in 1900 . They occupy the ranges between Chittagong proper and the south Lushai hills . The area covers 5138 sq. m . In 1901 the population was 124,762, showing an increase of 16 % in the decade . The inhabitants, who are either Arakanese or aboriginal tribes, are almost all Buddhists . The head-quarters are at Rangamati, which was wrecked by the cyclone of October 1897 .

The DIVISION OF CHITTAGONG lies at the north-east corner of the

Bay of Bengal, extending northward along the left bank of the Meghna . It consists of the districts of Chittagong, the Hill Tracts, Noakhali and Tippera . Its area covers 11,773 sq. m.; the population in 1901 was 4,737,731 .