Bassein'

Bassein', (1) a thriving town in Burmah, on the left bank of the Bassein River, one of the mouths of the Irawadi, 75 miles from the sea, but accessible to the largest ships. It is an important centre of the rice trade, has considerable trade with Madras, and in a military view also is important, as it completely commands the navigation of the stream. It was captured by the British in 1852. Pop. (1891) 30,177. The district of Bassein has an area of 6848 sq. m., and a pop. (1891) of 475,002.—(2) Bassein, a decayed town of 10,500 inhabitants, 28 miles N. of Bombay. Ceded to the Portuguese in 1534, it was a place of much importance as late as 1720, when the population was 60,000; its remains still point to former splendour. In 1765 it was wrested from the Portuguese by the Mahrattas, and in 1780 surrendered to the British, after a twelve days' siege.