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A
SKETCH
OF THE
Topography & Statistics
OF
DACC A.
BY JAMES TAYLOR,
SURGEON.
Printed by Order of Government.
CALCUTTA:
G. H. HUTTMANN, MILITARY ORPHAN PRESS.
1840.
HC
440.5
Z.7
D12
724
565590-234
CONTENTS.
FIRST SECTION.-CHAPTER I.
General Remarks-Divisions-Physical Aspect and Boundaries-Soil-
Rivers-Climate,
CHAPTER II.
Animal, Vegetable and Mineral Productions,
...
SECOND SECTION-CHAPTER III.
A Sketch of the History of the District,..
CHAPTER IV.
PAGE
1
The City-Towns-Villages and Pergunnahs-Roads and Means of Com-
munication,.......
CHAPTER V.
Agriculture-Husbandry-Land Measures-Rent and Ryotts-Talook dars
-Zemindars,......
CHAPTER VI.
Arts of Weaving-Embroidery-Bleaching-Gold and Silver Work-
Manufacture of Shell Bracelets-List of Professions, Trades and
Occupations in the City-Commerce-Decline of Commerce,..
CHAPTER VII.
Revenue during the Mogul Government-Ditto since the commencement
of the Hon'ble Company's Administration-Civil Administration of
the District and Local Occurrences since 1765,
19
63
86
122
161
191
iv
CONTENTS.
THIRD SECTION.-CHAPTER VIII.
PAGE
221
Population-Hindoos-Mahommedans-Christians,
CHAPTER IX.
Character, Manners, Dress, Customs and Amusements-Education-
Litigation, Crime and its Physical Causes,.
255
CHAPTER X.
Articles of Food-Cause and
Labor-Condition of the
Effect of Plenty and Scarcity-Wages of
Poor and of Slaves,.......
288
CHAPTER XI.
Medical Topography-Diseases-Accidents-Hospitals-Diseases of lower
Animals,.....
CHAPTER XII.
Concluding remarks on the decline of Manufactures and Population, and
on the General decay of the City-Means and suggestions regarding
its improvement,
322
363
To
JAMES HUTCHINSON, Esq.,
Secretary of the Medical Board,
FORT WILLIAM.
SIR,
In compliance with the requisition
addressed to Medical Officers, to furnish reports on
the Topography and Statistics of their respective Dis-
tricts and Stations, I have the honor to present to the
Medical Board the annexed "Sketch of the Topogra-
phy and Statistics of Dacca."
The subject of enquiry specified in the Memoran-
dum by the Right Honorable the Governor General
in Council, in the Circular addressed by the Medical
Board to Superintending Surgeons, and in a Circular
Order published in Government General Orders, are,
viz. 1-The situation and boundaries of the place.
2-Rivers, Lakes, Wells and Morasses. 3—Climate.
4-Soil. 5—Animal, Vegetable and Mineral Produc-
tions. 6-States of Agriculture. 7-Roads and Com-
munications. 8-Diseases, endemic and epidemic.
9-State of Hospitals, with the dimensions of their
apartments. 10–Population with a description of the
dwellings, clothing, bedding, fuel, diet, customs, rear-
ing of children and amusements. 11-Tables of Mar-
riages, Births, Diseases and Deaths. 12-Diseases of
Cattle and others of the lower animals. 13-Diseases
of Plants. 14-Census of population. 15-Cause and
effect of scarcity and plenty. 16-Condition of the
vi
PREFACE.
poor and their subsistence. 17-Wages of labor. 18-
Physical cause of Crime. 19-Ratio of mortality. 20
-Ordinary proportion of births to marriages. 21-
Area of the district. Comparative productiveness of
lands, habits of the people and proportion of Hindoos
to Mussulmauns.
In addition to my remarks on most of these subjects,
I have given a sketch of the history of the district,
and a brief account of its Manufactures, Commerce,
Revenue and state of Education. The information
I have been enabled to give on all these points, I may
further observe, has been derived from personal know-
ledge acquired during a residence of eight years at
the station, from the perusal of the records belonging
to the different public offices and from enquiries among
people of all ranks and classes residing in the town and
country. I am greatly indebted to Mr. J. Grant, the
Magistrate, for his assistance in enabling me to com-
plete a census of the city; to Mr. Lamb, for the
observations on climate which are entirely drawn from
Meteorological Registers kept by him during the last
ten years; and to Gunga Churun and Gunga Doss,
two respectable natives of the city, for information
connected with the manufacture of muslins.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
JAMES TAYLOR,
Calcutta, March 30, 1839.
Surgeon.
TOPOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS
GENERAL
OF
DACCA.
REMARKS
DIVISIONS
PHY-
SICAL ASPECT AND BOUNDARIES-SOIL-
RIVERS AND CLIMATE.
Situation,
and bonn aries
THE district of Dacca is situated in the eastern
part of the province of Bengal, and is in- of the district.
eluded principally between the 23d and 24th
degrees of North Latitude and in 90° of East
Longitude. The tract of country which
constitutes the extent of the Magistrate's
jurisdiction, lies between the Ganges, Ber-
hampooter and Megna, and in shape resem-
bles that of a triangle with the base extend-
ing from cast to west, and the apex situated
towards the confluence of the two latter
rivers. It is surrounded by the districts of
Mymunsing on the north, Backcrgunge on
the south, Tiperah on the east, and Fureed-
pore or Dacca Jellalpore on the west. For-
merly, these several zillahs were subordinate
to it, and the whole formed a province of
15,397 square miles in extent. Its extreme
length from north to south is estimated at 70,
A
2
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Distance
from the Sea.
Its extent, and its greatest breadth at 59 geographical
miles, but its area does not exceed 1,750
square miles; and of this extent of surface,
it is computed, that one-third is uncultivated,
and covered with jungle, while a seventh part
is occupied by the channels of rivers and
creeks. At its southern extremity, it is about
80 miles distant from the sea; and is in-
tersected throughout its whole extent by
branches of large rivers, that inundate 8-10ths
of its surface, to a depth varying from two to
fourteen feet of water, during a considerable
portion of the year. With reference to its
physical aspect and to the nature, elevation
and comparative productiveness of the soil,
the district may be divided into two portions,
of which the rivers Conoi, Dullasery, Boori-
gonga and Issamutty form the line of de-
marcation.
Northern
Division.
The northern division of the district has
an area of about 900 square miles. It is
bounded on the east by the Megna, on
the north by the Berhampooter, a part
of the Banar, and by a line extend-
ing through the dense jungle of the Attyah
and Cossimpore forests, to the village of
Umtah on the Conoi; while on the west and
south it has for its boundaries the Conoi, the
upper portion of the Dullasery, the Boori-
gonga, and the Issamutty, from the point where
that river receives the Dullasery, down to its
junction with the Megna. The river Luckia
intersects this tract from north to south.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
3
division,
Soil consists
of red kunkur.
Of the two sub-divisions which are thus Western sub-
formed, the western one contains the city, and
is of the largest extent. The greater part of
it is considerably above the highest level of
the surrounding rivers in ordinary seasons of
inundation; and at the distance of twenty
miles north of the town, rises into hilly ridges
of about twenty feet in height, which run
parallel to the great boundary ranges of
mountains. The soil consists of red kunkur
and of different strata of clay, covered in the
more elevated places with a thin layer of
vegetable mould, and towards the rivers and
creeks, with alluvial earth. This sub-division
forms a part of an extensive tract of country,
that possesses the same characters of soil and
elevation, and runs in a north-west direction
to Moodapore in the district of Mymunsing.
It comprehends within its limits, a consi-
derable portion of the Pergunnah of Attyah,
and measuring it from Dacca, its south-east
point, to Moodapore, its termination on the
north-west, the whole tract may be said to
extend about 70 miles in length, and 30 in
breadth, from Chamtara on the west, to Nandia
on the east. The hilly ridges by which it is
characterized, occur in small ranges, which
increase in size and number, as we proceed
to the west and north-west, and are at last
terminated by a ridge of a somewhat higher
elevation, running from north to south in a
line parallel to the Tiperah range. These
different ranges vary from twenty to fifty
feet in height, and consist of the red soil
Small mouu-
tain ranges.
4
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
portion of the
tion unproduc.
tive,
jungle and in-
part
The northern containing in its composition a considerable
kunkur forma- quantity of iron ore. The whole northern
of this elevated tract of kunkur forma-
tion, which is included in the district of
Mymunsing, lies it may further be observed,
between the Berhampooter and its principal
branch the Jenai, and with regard to its
physical features, is chiefly remarkable for
the small size of the streams by which it is
watered, particularly when contrasted with
the immense rivers that traverse the alluvial
plains on every side. Hence the greater por-
tion of it is an unproductive waste. It is
Overrun with overrun with dense jungle, contains in its
fested by wild central parts forests of gigantic trees, and is
infested with elephants, tigers, leopards and
bears. The few cultivated spots that occur,
are confined to the borders of the jungle,
and stretch for some way along the banks of
the small streams that intersect its interior.
Further to the south, however, and in the
direction of the city, cultivation is more ex-
tended here, the red soil is intersected by
the beds of creeks, and in the interior by
large morasses, around which, crops of rice,
mustard and sesamum are raised, while allu-
vial soil appears to the east of the town,
forming an extensive cultivated plain, which
reaches to the junction of the Boorigonga
and Luckia rivers.
beasts.
The eastern
sub-division.
The eastern sub-division is situated between
the Luckia and Megna. It is inundated to a
greater extent, and has a considerably larger
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
5
7
proportion of alluvial surface than the western
More pro-
ductive than
one. The red soil occurs chiefly in its northern the western,
part, and on the side towards the Megna,
where it re-appears in the form of hilly
ridges, which run up to the eastern angle
of the district, formed by the junction of
that river and the Berhampooter. This sub-
division has fewer primitive forests, and
is in a higher state of cultivation than the
western one. It formed a portion of the
ancient Circar of Sonergong, and in its
uncultivated parts is now covered with brush-
wood jungle, interspersed with fruit trees,
tanks, and mounds of earth, which shew that
it was at one time the site of populous
villages.
Southern
The southern division embraces an area of
about 850 square miles, and is by far the division.
most fertile portion of the district. It has
for its boundaries the Issamutty and Megna
on the east, the Ganges on the west, the
Ariel or Churan Morass, the Ariel and
Toolsey creeks, and the Dullasery and Boori-
gonga rivers on the north and north-west;
and on the south, it is separated from the
district of Backergunge, by a line, which is
not well defined, stretching across from Sad- ries.
duckpore on the Megna, to Machuacally on
the Ganges, and skirting in its course the
villages of Sidda, Chagong, and Doobey, and
running through the centre of that of Khusal-
berg in the Pergunnah of Russoolpore. The
whole of this tract of country is of rich
Its bounda-
6
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Its soil.
submerged
during the
raius.
alluvial soil, and is inundated, during the rains,
to a depth varying from two to fourteen feet
of water. The northern portion of this divi-
sion, with the adjacent country as high up
as Jaffergunge in the district of Fureed pore,
is of a much lower level than the lands on
the western bank of the Ganges, and is
inundated at an earlier period in the season,
and continues submerged for a considerably
longer time than the country to the westward.
More or less The depth of water in its central parts, at
the height of the inundation, varies from
eight to fourteen feet, but along the banks
of the rivers, it seldom exceeds two cubits.
This difference is owing to the banks of the
rivers being more elevated than the lands in
the interior. The accession of soil in the
former situation, takes place when the inun-
dation begins to subside, and extends but to a
short distance from the margins of the rivers.
It is produced by the water first depositing
its heavier particles of clay, while what
passes off, retains silicious sand in suspension,
which, together with decayed vegetable sub-
stances, is what chiefly contributes to the
gradual elevation of the inland parts of the
country. The whole tract of country, which
is thus subject to inundation, extending from
Dacca on the east to Fureed pore on the west,
a distance of forty miles, and from Bickram-
pore on the south to Jaffergunge, and thence
into the district of Nattore on the north-west,
about 100 miles in extent is overflowed by the
middle of July. At this season of the year
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
7
country during
it presents the appearance of an extensive Aspect of the
plain covered with growing rice, through the rains.
which boats sail from one part of the country
to another. The course of the rivers at a
distance is indicated by belts of trees along
their banks, while the interior of the plain is
studded with villages, built upon artificial
mounds of earth raised above the height of
the inundation. These little islands vary in
extent, some of them only affording room for
the huts of two or three families of ryotts with
their cattle, while others are of a considerable
size, and are covered with villages and
gardens.
The alluvial soil of the northern divi-
sion has a large proportion of silicious
sand mixed with mica in its composition.
The Churs of the Berhampooter and Megna
are of a much lighter and drier nature than
those of the Ganges, and it appears to be
owing to the presence of this silica and mica,
and to the comparatively small quantity of
argillaceous earth, that the water of the Ber-
hampooter is so much clearer than that of the
Ganges. Ferruginous kunkur soil predomi-
nates in the northern division. Calcareous
kunkur prevails also in this part of the district,
and forms a portion of the beds of the rivers
Banar and Bansa. It occurs in different situ-
ations being found upon the surface in some
places, and in others at a depth of several
feet beneath the white and black clay. The
black vegetable mould is of various degrees
Soil and its
nature.
Calcareous
kunkur.
8
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
table mould.
Black vege of depth: in several situations it occurs in
beds of a considerable extent and depth, and
approaches to lignite in appearance. In the
beds of the deep morasses in the southern
division there are found small nodular
masses of earth which appear to be composed
of decayed vegetable matter: they are hard
compact bodies of a jet black colour, and of
so fine a substance, that when pulverized they
are occasionally used by the natives to make
ink. In the vicinity of the large lake near
Fureedpore, this earth has been found in
digging wells, at a depth of 30 feet below the
surface. White, yellow, and blue clays are
found in the northern division. In the town,
the average depth of the red kunkur soil is
fifteen feet, below which yellow clay is found,
forming a bed of five or six feet in depth, and
beneath this there occurs a stratum of fine
Water, and sand. Water is found at a depth varying from
which found. 18 to 22 feet, according to the depth of the
super-stratum of alluvial soil and to the height
of the rivers. There are several springs of
water in the northern division, viz. one at
Moodapore at the extremity of the kunkur
tract, a second at Mirzapore, north of the
city, and I believe, a third near Bermya or
Plass.
Different
clays.
the depth at
Springs.
Rivers.
The district is intersected by branches
of the Ganges, Berhampooter and Megna,
which ramify into numerous creeks in
the interior. Several of the large rivers,
since they were surveyed by Rennel, in the
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
DACCA.
9
;
*
The Puddu
or Ganges.
year 1780, have undergone great deviations Alterations in
in their course; and by the new channels
which they have worked out for themselves,
and the formation of extensive alluvial tracts,
they have greatly altered the aspect of the
country, and have occasioned a correspond-
ing change in the relative position of many
places (as laid down in his maps,) in the
southern division of the district. The Ganges
or Puddu forms at one place the western
boundary of the district, and separates it
from the zillahs of Fureedpore and Backer-
gunge, from the point, where the Kidder-
pore creek is sent off, to join the Churan
Morass, down to Matchuacally on the south.
Instead of continuing its course, as laid down
by Rennel, to join the Megna at Mendi-
gunge, it now sends the great body of its
water through two channels considerably to
the north of this place. The first of these
channels, which is represented as the Calli-
gonga in Rennel's maps, is now called the now called
Kirtinessa, or Seeripore river. It runs a
little to the north of Rajanaghur and Mol-
futgunge, and is considered to be the prin-
cipal branch of the Ganges. It is from three
to four miles in width, and has a very strong
current at its most contracted part, between
the mouth of the Rajanaghur creek and the
projecting point of land at Seeripore on its
opposite bank, which renders navigation by
small boats dangerous during the rains. The
Kirtinessa joins the Megna to the north of
Cartickpore, having converted the interven-
ing land (laid down in Rennel's Maps as the
B
The
Calli-
gonga of Ren-
the Kirtinessa.
10
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
The Nya
Baguee.
of the Gauges
islands of Jirampore, Kistnapore and Po-
momra) into an extensive tract of country,
now called Ballishya. The second great
branch of the Ganges is the Nya Bagnee.
This river is situated in the Zillah of
Backergunge, but close upon the confines
of the Dacca district. It comes off below
Matchuacally, and joins the Megna a little
south of Sadduckpore (a boundary village
of the district): about the middle of its course,
it sends off two large branches, which after
inclosing a considerable tract of land, re-
unite and meet the Laitoo river at Dadpore.
The Nya Bagnee is almost equal to the
The channel Kirtinessa in size. The original channel of
as laid down the Ganges, from Gurnuddy to near the
station of Burrisaul, (as its course is laid
down by Rennel), is now almost dry in
the hot weather, the whole of it being nearly
filled up with alluvial tracts, divided by broad
shallows and a few channels navigable only by
The Berham. small boats. The Berhampooter bounds the
district on the north-west, from a place called
Toke, to where it meets the Megna issuing
from the plains of Sylhet. During the rains,
this river is about two miles wide, but for four
months in the year, it is fordable, and in many
places its channel is quite dry, the body of the
water being carried off at this season by the
The Megna. Jenai, Bansa and Banar. The Megna (the
by Rennel now
almost dry.
pooter.
Magore of Ptolemy) is the boundary between
the Dacca and Tiperah districts on the east.
It is formed by the numerous tributaries from
the Garrow and Cachar hills on the north, and
by streams from the hills that separate Muni-
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
11
Size of the
Jenai or Ju-
moona.
pore from Cachar and Sylhet on the east. Megua.
This river, before it joins the Berhampooter,
is upwards of a mile wide, and is of great
depth. The area of country, which it drains,
is computed at 6,000 square miles, and with
reference to this limited extent of surface, it
probably conveys a larger body of water than
any river in India. The Berhampooter is
the chief source, from whence all the other
rivers of the district derive their supply of
water. A little above the Military Canton-
ment of Jumalpore, the Berhampooter sends
off two branches, which unite about fourteen
miles below that station, forming a wide river
that takes the name of Jenai or Jumoona, and
which runs a course of about 50 miles; it
divides into two large branches, one named
Bhubunassia, which joins the Ganges at
Jaffergunge, while the other, which is the
larger of the two, after receiving the Lojun
and Conoi, forms the Dullasery. The Dulla-
sery was formerly a branch of the Ganges,
but it is now entirely filled by the Jenai.
It has changed its course to the eastward-
running through the Garically creek, which
is represented by Rennel as a channel of
inconsiderable size, though now a river of
about two miles in breadth in the rains. The The Boori
Boorigonga, which was formerly the origi-
nal bed of the Ganges, is now a branch of
the Dullasery. After running a course of
about 25 miles, it re-unites with its parent
stream a little to the north of Naraingunge.
The Dullasery and Boorigonga constitute
the chief outlet of the water of the Ber-
The Dulla-
sery.
gonga.
12
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
7
ed between two
The Bausa.
City situat. hampooter, and the city, therefore, which
branches of the stands on the northern bank of the latter
Berhampooter.
river, is now situated between two branches
of the Berhampooter, instead of on the
eastern bank of the Ganges, as was the
Other rivers. case formerly. The other rivers, which may
be noticed here, are the Bansa, Banar,
Luckia and Issamutty. The Bansa comes
off from the Berhampooter below Jumalpore.
It proceeds in a south-east direction through
the kunkur soil of the Attyah forest, and
joins the Dullasery near Sabar: it runs a
longer course than any of the second rate
rivers connected with the district, being
upwards of 100 miles from its origin to its
The Banar. termination. The Banar unites the Berham-
pooter and Luckia. It has formed a deep bed
for itself in the hard kunkur soil of the north-
ern division, and in some places, is upwards
of fifty feet in depth. The Luckia or Seetul
The Luckia. (silver) Luckia, as it is sometimes called
from the transparency of its water, is, as
regards scenery, one of the finest rivers in
the country. The upper part of its channel
from Sargodee on the Berhampooter down to
Ekdalla, is dry in the hot weather, but from
this latter place, where it is joined by the
Banar, it is navigable throughout the year
down to its confluence with the Issamutty at
The Issamutty is a branch
of the Ganges. After a winding course from
the north to south in the low country be-
tween the Ganges and Dullasery, it joins the
Issamutty now called the Ilsamaree) op-
posite to the mouth of the Churan creek,
The Issamutty Naraingunge.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
13
the Toolsee
Tide rises
from 2 to 4
feet at Dacca,
and is percep-
tible 20 miles
above the
where it divides into two branches. The Change in
Toolsee creek, which is represented, in Ren- Creek.
nel's Chart, as a small stream, is now the
main channel of the Ilsamaree, while the other
branch, which retains the name of Issamutty,
proceeds to Pattergottah where it joins the
Dullasery. The name of Issamutty is also
given to the broad river formed by the union
of the Boorigonga, Dullasery and Luckia
rivers; it runs a course of only a few miles
from Pattergottah to its confluence with the
Megna at Feringybazar. During the dry
weather, the tide rises from 2 to 4 feet at new
and full moon, and is perceptible about 20
miles above the town, and also in the Luckia,
as high up as Ekdalla. The Megna and
Berhampooter begin to rise earlier than the
Ganges, and are frequently within a few feet
of their usual full mark before the middle of
June, when the Gauges above its junction
with the branches of the Berhampooter has
not risen perhaps more than three or four
feet. The rise of the eastern rivers, depending
on heavy falls of rain in the hills bordering
on Assam and Sylhet, is often very sudden
and destructive, and their fall is not unfre-
quently equally rapid. Southerly winds pre-
vailing in May or June, especially if there
is no great fall of rain in Bengal, are generally
followed by a rapid rise of the eastern rivers,
about the middle or end of the latter month.
town.
Rise of the
rivers and the
causes.
The prevailing winds from April to Oc- Climate.
tober are from the east and south-east.
14
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
April to Octo-
ber.
with moisture
July,
Winds from In the latter month, when the strength of the
Monsoon becomes exhausted the wind is vari-
able, being occasionally either northerly or
westerly, although still more frequently from
the east and south-east, and towards the end of
the month there is almost always a gale or
track of stormy weather from the south or
east. The pleasantest, as well as the worst
weather that occurs during the Monsoon, is
experienced from the east. In April, May,
June and July there is generally a gentle
breeze during the early part of the day and at
Wind abounds night: the wind abounds with moisture from
from April to sweeping over the surface of the large rivers,
and it thereby mitigates the heat, rendering
the climate comparatively cool and pleasant
at this season of the year. During these
months, a breeze from the east usually brings
light showers, but if a gale occurs, it almost
invariably sets in from the same quarter,
veering round to the north-east, and being
apparently thrown back by the border ranges
of mountains. The south and south-west
winds generally bring heavy rain though
they seldom blow violently. From Novem-
ber to March the wind is from the west, north
and north-west. It sets in from the former
quarter, and as the cold weather advances,
it draws round to the north, from which
point it blows steadily for a few days, and
then becomes variable, blowing some days
from the north-west and at other times from
the south-east.
From No-
vember to
March blows
from the north
west,
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
15
Months.
Northerly
Winds.
Days. Days. Days. Days. Days. Days. Days. Days. Days.
April,
May,
157
45
32
9
22
4
3
5
53
330
181
40
20
5
15
1
2
7
70
341
June,
265
32
15
6
2
1
1
0
8
330
July,
212
70
33
14
6
1
I
0
4
341
August,
216
41
45
7
12
0
12
341
September,
156
45
15
19
33
1
3
0
56
330
October,
104
21
9
11
47
14
16
17
102
341
November,
29
2
6
1
97
56
4
42
93
330
December,
14
0
4
0
72
30
3
92
126
341
January,
25
2
4
144
15
4
81
66
341
February,
27
4
7
5
110
12
2
34
107
308
March,
88
6
27
110
3
5
13
81
341
North East
Winds.
North West
Winds.
Calms.
Total num-
ber of days.
of eleven years' observations, on the direction
The following statement shews the results
of the wind.
16
TOPOGRAPHY. OF DACCA.
ters,
North-wes-
Temperature
of the district.
Daily mean
range of the
North-westers, accompanied by rain, ge-
nerally make their appearance about the
end of February, and are always succeeded
by two or three days of south-easterly winds.
The temperature is moderated by the
evaporation from the surface of the large
rivers and extensive morasses, with which
the district abounds, and is some degrees
lower than that of the western part of Ben-
gal. The monthly mean maxima of nine
months deduced from ten years observations,
are as follows:
April. May. June July. Augt. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
85.38 87.39 86.16 86.18 85.46 88.34 83.75 76.79 72.25
The daily mean range as calculated from
Thermometer. hourly observations on the 15th of July for
five successive years, is 3.44; and that of
January, as calculated on the same date for
four years, is 15.43. The following is an
abstract of the annual mean temperature, at
five different periods in the day, deduced
from observations for the same number of
years.
Years. Sun rise. 10 A. M. Noon
3 P. M. Evening.
1832
70.9
75.7
78.4
79.2
78.2
1833
70.1
76.2
80.2
91.6
80.1
1834
70.2
77.4
80.6
81.2
79.1
1835
70.
76.3
79.1
80.8
78.3
1836
69.7
76.2
78.6
82.1
79.7
Worst wea-
ther in Sep-
tember aud
October.
The most disagreeable weather during the
year is experienced in the months of Septem-
ber and October At this season, the wind is
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
17
Sickness
during the hot
Nights gene-
ing the cold sea-
sou.
generally light and variable, and the atmos-
phere becomes loaded with moisture and exha-
lations. Sickness prevails, and generally in-
creases as the range of temperature is aug- weather.
mented. During the cold season, the nights
are generally damp and unpleasant, but at
times the sky is clear and dry, on which rally damp dur-
occasions ice is formed on water exposed to
the air in shallow earthen vessels. Evapo-
ration proceeds with great activity, in March,
April, May, and June, and is greatly assisted
by the strong winds, that prevail at this season
of the year. The mean maximum difference
between the dry and wet bulb thermometers,
as observed in the course of several years,
is 21. Humidity of the atmosphere is the
principal feature of the climate of the eastern
districts of Bengal, and is what chiefly
contributes to produce the luxuriance of ve-
getation, that characterizes this part of the
country. From the middle of September characterizes
to February, dews and fogs are of constant
occurrence, and after the first north-wester
in the latter month, a week seldom passes
without a shower. The average fall of rain,
as deduced from observations from 1827 to
1834, is as follows:
March. April, May, June. July. Augt. Sept. Oct.
3.6 inches 7
12.5 10.8 6.8
9.6
12
9
Humidity of
the cause of
the rank vege-
the atmosphere
tation which
Bengal.
Average
fall of rain for
8 years.
during this time,
The greatest annual fall,
was 93.9 inches, and the least 46.8. The
annual mean quantity is about 70.3 inches.
C
18
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Thunder
Storms fre-
quent.
From March to the commencement of the
rains, thunder storms are of frequent occur-
Hail Storms. rence, and are often very violent. Hail storms
and whirlwinds also occur at this season,
and the former is often productive of great
damage to the crops, more especially to the
Aoos rice, and safflower. In connection with
the subject of climate may be mentioned the
Earthquakes. occasional occurrence of earthquakes. In
general, the shocks are slight, but at times
they have been productive of great loss of
life and property. The earthquake in April
1762 proved very violent at this place, and
along the eastern bank of the Megna as far as
Chittagong. At Dacca the rivers and jheels
were agitated, and rose high above their
usual level, leaving, when they receded, their
banks strewed with dead fish. The shocks
were accompanied by subterranean hollow
noises, and were so severe, that a number of
houses were thrown down, by which 500 per-
sons, it is said, lost their lives. At Luckipore,
in the district of Noacolly, a portion of coun-
try, fifteen miles in circumference, is said to
have been engulphed with all the inhabitants
and cattle upon it.* In 1775 and 1812 there
were severe earthquakes. In the latter year,
violent shocks were experienced on the 10th of
April, and 11th of May, which injured a num-
ber of houses and several of the public build-
ings in the city, and at Tezgong.t
* Vide East Indian Chronologist,
† Records of the district.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
19
•
CHAPTER II.
Animal, Vegetable and Mineral Productions.
Animals ge-
nerally similar
in other parts
of the Gauge-
tic Delta.
The animals of this part of the country
are, with a few exceptions, of the same kind to those found
as those found in most parts of the Gangetic
Delta. The two divisions of the district
however which differ so widely in their phy-
sical features, are the habitats of different
orders and genera, the northern one being
infested with beasts of prey, and containing a
great variety of other quadrupeds, while the
the southern division is comparatively free
from them, and abounds with aquatic birds,
and reptiles, and fishes of various kinds.
Among the Mammalia may be enumerated
the following species, viz.
Simia Cercopethicus: Troops of this monkey
are to be seen in the vicinity of the town
where they commit great havoc in orchards.
Of the genus Cheiroptera there are four species.
The Dysopes Murinus of Hardwicke, or com-
mon house bat which is found in the thatched
roofs of huts. The Pteropus, Roussette or
flying fox the shady branches of the Bhut,
Pepal and Tamarind trees are the favorite
places of resort of this species: in the twilight
the Roussettes sally forth in quest of food;
and like the monkeys they plunder the
plantain and other fruit trees, in gar-
dens in the suburbs. The Megaderma: this
species is distinguished by its wide expanded
:
Simia Cerco-
pethicus.
Dysopes
Murinus,
Pteropus.
Megaderma,
20
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
pictus.
:
Megaderma, auricles which are united upon the top of the
head, and also by a double cordate leaf like
membrane over the nasal bones: it is ecau-
date, of a mouse colour above, and of a
somewhat lighter hue beneath its mammo
instead of being situated in the axilla beyond
the margin of the great pectoral muscles, as is
the case in the majority of bats, are placed
more sternad, and as among the Rhinolphi,
this species has in addition to these organs
two teats above the pubes. The Megadermes
inhabit the deserted mosques and dried up
wells in the jungle, in the vicinity of the city.
Vespertilio The Vespertilio pictus, or striped bat of Pen-
nant. This beautiful little bat is found in
the interior of the jungle, and from its gaudy
colours and small size, is at first when seen
fluttering about the trees, not unfrequently
mistaken for a butterfly. It is known here by
the name of the "orange bat," from the rich
golden colour of its fur: the wings are black
with yellow stripes, radiating from the car-
pus, as from a centre, along the sides of the
phalanges, and shading off into light coloured
spots which are scattered over the surface of
Sorex Indi- the connecting membrane. The musk rat, or
shrew Sorex Indicus, the Munguse, Viverra
Mungos, and the civet, Viverra Bengalensis,
galensis. are all very common.
cus.
Viverra
Mungos.
Viverra Ben-
The Jungles
ern division
The jungles of the northern division are
of the North- infested with Tigers and Leopards. On
infested with the occasion of drought, and during the
season of inundation, these animals fre-
beasts of prey.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
· 21
Their des-
truction an ob-
vernment,
Number des-
troyed during
Decrease
on reduction of
ment reward.
quently repair to the vicinity of cultiva-
ted places, where they commit great de- ject with Go-
predation on the cattle of the ryotts. Their
destruction has always been an object of
reward by the Government of the country.
During the Moghul administration a jagheer
was assigned to Bagh-Maras, or hunters of
tigers; but in consequence of the oppression
committed by these persons, this grant was
resumed about the year 1771, and Zemindars
were called on to provide persons for this
purpose. In the year 1804 two hundred and one year.
seventy tiger skins were brought into the
city for the Government reward. On the
reduction of 5 rupees in the established the Govern-
allowance, the average annual number fell
to 35, and during the last thirteen years the
total number paid for at the Collector's
Office has not exceeded one hundred and
twelve. Tigers are generally killed with the
poisoned arrow by the Shikarees of this part rally killed.
of the country, and in the manner described
by Williamson in his "Field Sports of India."
Wild Hogs are no less numerous than tigers
and leopards, and are perhaps more destruc-
tive to the crops, than any other animal in the
country. The forests of the northern tract
of jungle, especially those of the pergunnah
of Attyah, are inhabited by Elephants. These
animals occasionally appear in the vicinity
of villages, where they do a great deal of
injury to trees and cultivated fields. The
Elephant is an aboriginal inhabitant of this
part of the country, but domesticated ones.
In what
manner gene-
Wild Hogs.
Elephants.
Aboriginal.
22
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
tructive.
Number
caught annual-
of Govern-
ment.
have at different times escaped into the
jungle, and have helped to increase the num-
ber. During the administration of Cossim
Highly des- Ali, a great many belonging to Government
got loose, and almost depopulated the per-
gunnahs of Bhowal and Cossimpore. In 1791
a Kheddah was erected on the latter Estate at
the expense of Government, and 21 of these
animals were caught. About 80 Elephants are
ly on account caught annually at Chittagong on account of
Government, and are brought up to the Depot
at this Station. The average number in the lat-
ter establishment usually amounts to 200. Fe-
Females fre- male Elephants with young, are frequently
quently caught caught, and I may mention that some years
ago I had an opportunity of examining the
gravid uterus of one, that died here. The
uterus of this animal is double, each cavity
having a cornu, into which the fallopian
tubes open. The ovum was found of an oblong
Gravid uterus figure divided into two portions by the pla-
centa, which encircled it like a zone or belt.
This latter organ, and the chorion and other
membranes possess peculiarities of structure,
which it would take up too much space to
describe here. The foetus was found with the
head presenting, with the trunk reflected back-
wards. The parts peculiar to foetal life were
well developed, particularly the foramen ovale
between the auricles of the heart, and the
thymus gland. The latter was of a triangular
shape, and occupied the whole of the ante-
rior mediastinum: it consisted of numerous
cells filled with a white fluid. The uterus
of the
phaut.
Ele-
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
23
Weight of
the gravid
and placenta weighed 136 pounds, the foetus
212 pounds. Total weight of the gravid uterus.
uterus 348 pounds.
The Munt.
jack.
There are four kinds of Deer found in Deer, four
species.
the northern jungle, viz. the Gous Deer
Cervus Hippelaphus; the Sumbu, Cervus
Aristotelis, or black Russa of Bengal; the
spotted Deer, Cervus Axis, and the Hoogla
or Muntjack, Cervus Muntjack. The latter
species which is somewhat rare in Bengal is
known among sportsmen here, by the name
of barking deer, from the resemblance of its
voice to the barking of a dog. It is distin-
guished by projecting canine teeth in the
upper jaw and by high pedunculated processes
upon which its horns are placed. These pro-
cesses run almost in a line with the facial
plane, forming two superciliary ridges, which
meet near the junction of the frontal and
nasal bones. The horns are seldom more
than three inches in length. Between the
ridges on the forehead there are two duplica-
tures of the skin, in which an unctuous matter
possessing the odour of musk is secreted, and
it is perhaps from this secretion that the
Muntjack of Nepaul has been called the Musk
Deer. The Muntjack feeds on the fruit of the
Phyllanthus Emblica, and on mangoes and
guavas which fall to the ground, and also it is
said, on the tender roots and bark of young
trees, which it tears up with its tusks. Deer
are very injurious to the crops of mustard and
sesamum in the northern division. They are
killed in Bhowal by the ryotts who train
Its food.
Deer very
destructive.
24
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Singular
mode of hunt-
ing Deer.
dogs to hunt them, and by Zemindars who use
snares of nets for this purpose. A somewhat
singular mode of hunting Deer is occasionally
resorted to here. It is called "Dalla Shika-
ree," from a round frame work made of bam-
boos and mats, and resembling a flat basket,
being used on the occasion. This basket,
which is about four feet in diameter, is made
very light, and is plastered over with clay, and
has in its centre a place for a torch. The
hunter places it upon his head, which it is
made to fit in the manner of a broad brimmed
hat, and thus equipped with the torch lit above,
he proceeds at night into the jungle ringing
a small bell which he carries in his hand.
He is followed in the shade cast by the bas-
ket by two or three persons armed with dif-
ferent weapons. The Deer attracted by the
sound of the bell and glare of the light approach
close to the party, and are so fascinated, it is
said, that they become fixed as it were to the
spot, and fall an easy prey to the hunters.
Persons proceeding on an expedition of this
kind have in the first place recourse to mun-
tras and certain ceremonies to protect them
The Wild from tigers. The Wild Buffalo is found in
herds in the vicinity of the marshes of both
The Jackal divisions of the district, and the Jackal and
Fox abound in the jungle in the vicinity of
the city. The Fox and Hare, it is reported,
are not found in the country to the east of the
Megna. The latter animal, the black Rabbit,
The Black (Lepus Hispidus of Pearson), the Bandicoot
Porcupine. Rat, and the Porcupine, are all very com-
The Black mon here. The black Rabbit, which very
Buffalo.
and Fox.
The Hare.
Rabbit and
Rabbit.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
25
its
Bandicoot
Rats common,
tructive.
The Porcu.
pine.
closely resembles the Lepus Sinensis of Hard-
wicke, is peculiar to this part of the country.
It is abundant in the jungles to the north of
the town, and is frequently killed by Euro-
pean and Native sportsmen. The Natives eat
the common Hare, but reject black Rabbit as
impure. Bandicoot Rats are very destructive
to the rice crops. They burrow in the fields, and very des
and form chambers with several diverging
passages leading from them, in which they
deposit considerable quantities of grain. The
poorer inhabitants in villages search for
these stores, and their labour is frequent-
ly rewarded by finding from one to two
maunds of paddy in one of these places.
The Porcupine, Histrix Cristata, takes up
abode in the gardens and elevated spots of
ground in the vicinity of villages. Like the
Bandicoot Rat the Porcupine burrows under
ground to a considerable distance, and des-
troys the ryotts' crops of sugar cane, gourds
and kuchoo plant, and also the roots of the
bamboo plant. It is smoked out of its retreat
by burning straw at the mouths of several of
the passages communicating with the cham-
ber. The lower castes of Hindoos eat the
flesh of the Porcupine: the quills are applied
to various purposes, viz. for combs, and to
pierce the ears for ornaments. The Bear,
Ursus Niger, frequents the more elevated
parts of the northern division which are not
inundated, and particularly the small hills in
this tract. Of the Otter, Lutra Vulgaris, two
D
The Bear.
The Otter.
26
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Otters, varieties are found in our rivers. They differ
chiefly in colour one being light or grey, the
other of a dark brown. Otters are found in
all the rivers of the district, and are very nu-
merous in the lake at Fureedpore, and also
in the rivers of the Mymunsing and Sylhet
districts. They burrow in the banks of the
rivers, and frequently have their dens at the
distance of many yards from the water, and
in one of these retreats 12 or 15 are often
found congregated. A great many are killed
every year, for the sake of their skins, which
are exported to Bootan and China. A tame
How captured. Otter is employed to entice them from their
poise.
retreats, and as they come out they are speared
by the Gurwarus. The light coloured variety
is trained by the fishermen to drive the fish
into their nets. The rivers swarm with Por-
The Pur- poises, Platanista Gangetica, and during the
cold season a considerable number of these
animals are killed by the Gurwarus, who make
this and the spearing of Otters their principal
occupation. They eat the flesh, and burn the
oil or sell it to the native medical practitioners,
who use it as a remedy in rheumatism.
Birds,
The class of birds presents a great many
genera and species, which are common in this
district. Vultures, Crows, Kites and fishing
Eagles are numerous, as they are in all other
parts of Bengal. The Strix Candidus and
Strix Noctua Indica are the most common
species of the owl, and here as in almost all
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
27
The King-
fisher.
parts of the world they are regarded with
dread by the natives, who anticipate the worst
of evils from their appearance in the vicinity
of their dwellings. Of the Passerine or Inses-
sorial order, and of the same group to which
the swallow belongs, the King-fisher, or
Alcedo, is perhaps the most numerous. There
are two varieties of this species that are com-
mon, viz. the blue and the red, both of which
are in great requisition for the sake of their
skins. During the cold season the Mughs
visit this place, and the districts of Mymun-
sing and Backergunge, where they are em-
ployed for several months in catching these
birds. They use for the purpose a small cage,
in which a tame King-fisher is kept to decoy
these birds into the snare prepared for them.
The skins which are dried in the sun, and
prepared with different astringents are sent
in large quantities to China via Ava, where
they are used it is said, for Court dresses.
Nearly allied to the Alcedo is the Bee-eater,
Merops Viridis, which is found in considerable eater.
numbers in the district. Like its congener, it
inhabits the crevices in the banks of the
rivers. Of the Notched-bill tribe there are two
species, viz. the Motacilla Picata and the Syl- ed-bill tribe.
via Sutoria, or tailor bird, which is so remark-
able for the ingenuity displayed in the con-
struction of its nest. To the order Tenuiros-
tres belong the families of the Certhiada or
Creepers, and Cinnyrido or Sun-birds, which
are deserving of notice on account of their
great beauty. The Certhia purpurata, and
The Bee-
The Notch.
28
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
sucker.
Bird.
Certhia obscura are the most common species.
The latter is called Doorga Toontonee by the
Hindoos, from its being offered in sacrifice by
them at the Doorga Poojah. The Cinnyride,
The Honey- sugar or honeysuckers, as the name given to
them by the Natives implies, consist of two
species, and like the Trochilidæ or Humming
birds of South America, are remarkable for
the brilliant metallic lustre of their plumage.
They are to be seen fluttering about flowers,
the nectarious juices of which they extract
while on the wing. The natives keep these
The Weaver beautiful little birds in cages, and feed with
flour and honey. Belonging to the Coniros-
tres, or tribe with a conical beak, the Ploceus
or weaver bird is one of the most common.
It derives its name from the pensile nest,
which it constructs, and which is generally
found attached to the Tall tree, or to the reeds
on the borders of marshes or along the banks
of creeks. It is generally known in this part
of the country by the name of Bhoee, and is
one of the birds most destructive to the rice
The Wood crops. The Woodpeckers comprize the fol-
lowing species, viz. the Picus Viridis, P. Ti-
ga, P. Amantius, P. Macei, P. Bengalensis,
and P. Rufus. The other species of the Coni_
rostral tribe are the Cuculus Lathami, Cuculus
Orientalis, Coracias Bengalensis, Corvus Corax
and the Dial, or Gracula Religiosa. Two va-
The Parrot, rieties of the green Parrot are found here:
those that are taught by the Hindoos to re-
peat the names of their gods are brought from
Sylhet and Tiperah. Belonging to the Gral-
pecker.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
29
Of Waders.
The Heron.
latores, or Waders, there is a varied assem-
blage of species in the numerous marshes of
both divisions of the district. The Spoonbill
Platatoa, the Siris Ardea Antigone, the Ma-
nickjhor Ciconia Leucocephelia, and the Cico-
nia Mycteria Australis, make their appear-
ance in the district about the middle of Oc-
tober, and return to the hills at the commence-
ment of the rains. There are five species of
the Heron, viz. the Indian white Heron, Ardea
Orientalis, the pure white or Ardea Modesta
of Gray, the black billed or Ardea Negrioros-
tris, and the yellow necked or Ardea Flavia-
collis. They build their nests in trees. One
kind called Wak" is said by the natives to
be nocturnal in its habits. The Adjutant, Ci- The Adjutant.
conia Argala, is common in the district, al-
though seldom seen in the town or its vicini-
ty. That elegant and graceful bird the Chi-
nese Jacana, Parra Sinensis, is an inhabitant
of the marshes. Its habitat is the surface of
the Lotus leaf, along which it may be seen
gliding in search of the insects, which are
generated in myriads there. The Jacana
forms its nest with the stalks of the growing
rice plant, which it bends downwards and in-
tertwines upon the surface of the Lotus plant.
The purple Gallinule, Porphyrio Sultana, is The Gallinule,
another bird that is met with in the marshes;
and particularly in the vicinity of rice fields,
where this species are very numerous and
commit great havoc on this grain. It makes
its nest by excavating the ground under a
bank of earth among grass jungle, and it is
The Jacana,
30
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
nule,
The Galli- asserted by the natives, that when a Kalim
(as this bird is called) is killed or wounded
the body is conveyed by its comrades into
one of these retreats. The eggs of the Kalim
are often set to fowls. There is a variety of
called Khora,
by the natives.
A variety this Gallinule called the Khora, which is dis-
trained to fight tinguished by the membrane of the forehead
being of a red colour, and the beak yellow.
It is trained by the Mussulmans to fight and
a good game Korah frequently sells as high
as 15 or 20 rupees.
The voice of this bird
before engaging in combat is peculiar: the
throat swells out, and emits a deep hollow
sound, which is continued for several seconds
and is suddenly followed by a shrill vibra-
tory cry, like that of the trumpeter bird of
America. I have not had an opportunity of
dissecting the larynx of a Korah, but I have
no doubt it possesses a structure similar to
that of the latter bird. The crested Coot,
Fulica Crestata, the spurwinged Plover, Chara-
drus Ventralis, and the Snipe, Scolopax Gallin-
Gallinaceous go, are common. Among the Gallinaceous
birds we have the Florican Otis Honthoura,
Peacocks in abundance, the Chacore or Par-
tridge, the Quail, Coturnix, of which there are
three species, and also the Jungle Pigeon.
Belonging to the Palmipedes, the Ryncops
Nigra, or scissor bill, is one of the most com-
mon species, and is to be seen in all our large
rivers skimming with its sharp edged bill the
surface of the water in search of the smaller
kinds of fish, which constitute its food. The
scissor bill, like the Tern, lays its eggs on
birds.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
31
the sandy churs. The Pelican, Pelicanus
Onocratulus, is an inhabitant of all our
marshes, and is frequently employed as a decoy
in catching different kinds of fish as the Coee
and Colisa, which are attracted towards it, by
the rank oily secretion with which the skin
abounds. Pelicans are caught by the ryotts
for this purpose at the commencement of the
rains, and are liberated in the cold season.
They are generally tied to boats while they are
used as decoys, but occasionally the ryotts
have recourse to the cruel operation of sewing
their eyelids together, during the fishing
season. The marshes are frequented by
another species of Pelican, which migrates
with the Siris and other Cranes. It is of a
pure white colour with the iris and the fea-
thers upon the breast and under the wings of
a pink colour, and wants the oily secretion of
the skin which the common variety possesses.
Like the variety of Spoonbill which possesses
these different characters it may also be dis-
tinguished by the name of "Roseate.
Darter, Plotus Valentii, is one of the web-
footed birds, that is most frequently seen
about rivers. They perch upon branches of
trees overhanging the water, and on the bam-
boo stages erected by fishermen, where they
watch their prey in the stream beneath. The
most common species of the family Anatida
are the Anas Indica, or barred-headed Duck
of Latham, the Anas Clypeata, or shoveller,
the Anas Crecca, or common Teal, the Anas
Poecilorhyncha, or spotted-billed Duck, and
The
The Felicau.
The Darter.
32
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Reptiles,
the Anas Girra or Girra Teal. The latter
species which is known among the natives by
the name of Buliya Haus, is said to build its
nests in old muts, and ruined buildings.
The Anser Indicus is found in great numbers
in the district.
The class of Reptiles presents fewer varie-
ties than that of birds. Among the Turtles or
Chelonian Order, the Emys Hamiltonii is one of
the most common species; its shell is oblong,
solid and of a dark colour; limbs covered
with yellow spots. Of the genus Trionix
there are four species, and of these the T.
Gangeticus is the most plentiful. The mar-
The Turtle. gin of the shield in this turtle is cartilaginous
and flexible, feet palmated, colour dark, head
olevaceous. It is a very voracious animal, and
feeds upon the bodies that are thrown into
the river. The other species are the Trionix
Subplanus or flat soft turtle, T. Punctatus or
soft turtle, with white spots upon its head,
and the T. Indicus, which is of a green colour,
interspersed with streaks of white. Turtles
are brought to the markets by fishermen and
a set of persons who spear them, but only the
lower castes of Hindoos eat them. Among
Saurian Rep- the Saurian Reptiles, Alligators are nume-
rous in all the rivers of the district, and espe-
cially the Garial, which is often found of a
very large size. The Sanda, Stellio Gecko,
the Girgit, Lophyrus Agamoides, the Bhama-
nee Samp, Lacerta Scincus, the common Mo-
nitor, and the varied Monitor, or Monitor
tiles.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
33
Pulcher, are found in the district, and most
of them in the northern jungle. The Sanda
or Gecko is a nocturnal reptile of a dull heavy
aspect with large eyes; the body is spotted
with round tubercles of a reddish colour in-
terspersed with white the under surface
of the toes is provided with transverse folds
of skin, which enable the animal (by forming
a vacuum) to adhere to a smooth surface. In
the throat of this animal there are two small
sacs, which open into the esophagus; they
contain a white fluid like chalk and water,
which appears to be of a very acrid nature;
some of it, which happened to touch my hand,
while dissecting one of these animals raised a
small vesicle, which was attended with consi-
derable inflammation extending up the arm.
The Sanda.
der.
Ophidian or-
The Python
Belonging to the Ophidian order the follow-
ing genera and species are most frequently
met with. The Python Tigris is abundant in
the jungle in the vicinity of the town: the Tigris,
largest I have seen measured 20 feet. The
peculiar distribution of the abdominal venous
system of Ophidian reptiles, which has been
described by Jacobson of Copenhagen, is well
developed in this species. Here the Vena
Porto is formed not only by the veins of the
abdominal viscera, but also by those of the
external muscles and of the medulla spinalis,
and the intimate connection, that here subsists
between the organs of digestion and the
nervous system, may tend to explain the torpor
that exists in snakes during the assimilation
E
34
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
lumbricalis.
of Snakes.
Nei-
The Typhlos of food. The Typhlos lumbricalis is usually
found by persons digging alluvial soil, and is
at first frequently mistaken for an earth
worm. It is occasionally found a foot long,
and as thick as the little finger. Its body is
cylindrical and covered with imbricate scales;
the
eyes very small: the tail almost as thick
as the head, and from this circumstance, it is
often called the double headed snake.
ther the Python Tigris, nor the Typhlos
Other species lumbricalis are venomous. The other species
that are most frequently seen are Coluber
Dhumna (not venomous); Coluber Galathea ;
Coluber Moestris; the Dryinus of Merrem or
Coluber Nasatus of Russel, a long and slender
snake distinguished by a small pointed ap-
pendage at the end of the muzzle; the
Dendrophis of Merrem, Coluber Catenulatus
of Russel; the Cophias Viridis of Merrem or
Boodoapaur of Russel, found generally about
the Kuchoo plant, (Arum) which it resembles
in colour and is said to be venomous; the Na-
trix Stollatus of Merrim of Coluber Fasciatus
of Lin distinguished by two white lines.
along the back with transverse black spots.
Two species Two species of the genus Hydrophis called
of Hydrophis. Danagnee by the natives, viz. the H. Obscurus
and H. Nigrocinctus are found in the Megna,
at the commencement of the south-west mon-
soon, and are frequently caught by the fisher-
men in their nets at this season. The Hydrophis
is the true Water Snake, and is distinguished
from the different species that inhabit the
land, by its flat compressed tail, which resem-
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
35
of
The
bles that of an eel. Its scales are minute and Species of
Hydrophis.
of a white and black or greyish colour. The
single lung of this Snake reaches almost to
the extremity of the tail: posteriorly it is
thin and membranous, and instead of floating
loose in the cavity of the abdomen, as is the
case in other snakes, it is fixed by slight
membranous attachments to the vertebral
column, and appears to serve the purpose
an air bladder subservient to the locomotion
of the animal. It is generally supposed that
the Hydrophis will not live out of salt water,
but this is not the case, for I have kept both
species for upwards of two months in fresh
water, and in this situation I seen them
throw off their slough or cuticle.
Hydrophis is said to be very venomous. The
Coluber Naga, or Cobra di Capello, is The Coluber
comparatively rare. The season, in which
snakes are most frequently seen, is the com-
mencement of the rains or inundation. They
are at this time dislodged from their retreats
by the water, and are generally killed in great
numbers by the ryotts, upon the high spots
of ground on which their houses are erected.
The number of persons officially reported to
the Magistrate to have died from the effects of
snake bites between the years 1830 and 1837
amounted to fifty-six. The common Frog and
Toad and the Hyla or Tree Frog are the only
species of Batrachians that are found here.
Naga.
!
Batrachians.
Fishes of
various kinds.
The rivers of the district abound with fishes
of various kinds. The Ray, Raia, Fluviatilis
and the common Shark, Squalus Carcharias, The Shark.
36
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
fish.
The Saw-
The Genus
Tetrodon.
are found in the Megna and Ganges, and
frequently, at a considerable distance from
the sea.
In the cold season of 1836, a Shark,
ten feet in length, was killed in a marsh about
20 miles above Dacca, or 120 miles from the
mouth of the Megna. The Saw-fish, Squalus
Pristis, is also common in the large rivers in
the spring months: the largest I have seen,
was about 5 feet in length. The Shark and
Ray are more dreaded by the fishermen than
even the Alligator. The wound inflicted with
the spine, with which the tail of the Ray
is armed, is always very severe, and occa-
sionally proves fatal. Of the genus Tetrodon
there are two species, viz. the T. Potka and
the T. Cutcutia usually brought to the bazars.
The Tetrodon Tepa, which is also found here,
is considered to be poisonous. Among the
Osseous fishes. Osseous fishes there are belonging to the
order Apodes, the Genera Marcena, Macrogna-
thus, Ophisurus, and Unibranchapertura. The
first is seldom seen in the markets from the
prejudice the natives have to them, but the
Macrognathus, or Baum, as it is called, is com-
mon, and is considered to be a highly nutri-
tious article of diet. The Cuchia Unibran-
chapertura is found in the marshes and slug-
glish creeks. Its form is cylindrical and
length usually about two feet, tail compressed,
head small and narrower than the neck,
colour dark red, interspersed with yellowish
lines above and olivaceous below. Cuchias
are occasionally met with of a whitish or
straw colour, and some years ago I had an
opportunity of seeing alive one of this kind.
Cuchias.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
37
The respi-
ratory orgaus
It was of a light straw colour, and was found
at a depth of several feet below the surface
of the ground by workmen, while digging a
well. The exclusion of light is no doubt the
cause of this whitish hue as in the case of
the ash coloured Proteus Anguinus found in
the subterranean lakes of Carniola. The Cu-
chia is remarkable for certain peculiarities in
the structure of its respiratory and circulat-
ing organs which indicate that it is amphibi- of the Cuchia.
ous in the strictest sense of the word.* The
branchial laminæ for aquatic respiration are
comparatively few, and are attached chiefly to
the first and second arches. To compensate
for this deficiency there is on each side of the
neck a small membranous sac, which opens
into the mouth; and which the Cuchia fills
by rising to the surface of the water. Each
sac when distended, is about the size of a
large walnut in a full grown Cuchia, and is
visible externally, forming a considerable pro-
tuberance on each side of the head.
Cuchia has the power of retaining air in these
sacs under water for a considerable time.
The branchial artery, which arises from the
right ventricle of the heart, and which in
fishes in general is entirely distributed to the
fibrils of the branchial or respiratory laminæ,
is in the Cuchia partly distributed to these
organs and to the respiratory sacs, while two
large branches without sending off any rami-
fications reunite and form the aorta thus
The
* I have described the peculiarities of structure in the Cuchia and
other fishes, in the "Gleanings of Science" for June 1830.
38
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
ratory organs
The
racic order.
The respi- conveying, as is the case in reptiles, a portion
of the Cuchia. of blood which is not exposed to oxygena-
tion. This distribution of the vessels, it may
be remarked, is distinctly shewn by inject-
ing them with quicksilver from the bulb
or root of the branchial artery. The habitat
of the Cuchia is the muddy channels of slug-
gish creeks and marshes, where it is often
found buried to a considerable depth below
the surface. The Cuchia is a dull, inactive
animal, and exhibits in all its movements
a degree of torpor that forms a striking con-
trast to the vivacity of the eel. The most
Tho common genera of the Thoracic order are the
Gobius, Ophiocephalus, Coius, Trichopodus,
Labrus Bola and Chanda. The Ophiocepha-
lus Lata, Coius Cobojius and Trichopodus Co-
lisa are very numerous in all the marshes of
the district. They are remarkable for super-
numerary organs of respiration of a foliated
configuration, by means of which they are
apparently endowed with great tenacity of life,
and are enabled to live out of water for several
days. The Coius and the Colisa are the fishes
Migration of that are so frequently met with on land, and
hence are supposed to fall from the clouds.
In the months of March and April, when the
marshes become dry, these fishes migrate in
large bodies from one pond to another. They
generally commence their journey on the
approach of a storm, and hence it is, that they
are conveyed by the wind, and are so fre-
quently found in fields at a distance from
water. Their progression on land is effected
fishes on land.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
39
In
of fishes on .
The Bola
Pama.
by their fixing the sharp-notched edge of the Progression
operculum in the ground, and then pro- land.
pelling the body forward by a sudden jerk
or contraction of the caudal muscles.
these migratory expeditions they proceed in
a line frequently extending half a mile in
length many of them are devoured by birds,
and probably not one half the number ever
reach their ultimate destination. The Bola
Pama, or Indian Whiting, abounds in all our
rivers, and is esteemed a light nutritious
article of diet. It frequently attains a large
size, and large quantities are caught in the
rains and sold in the bazars. This fish has
a number of large cells of various shapes
upon the upper part of its head, the use of
which is not apparent. They communicate
with each other, and contain a small quantity
of clear watery fluid, but they do not appear
to be analogous to the cells found in the same
situation in the Torpedo and other electrical
fishes. The Abdominal Order is by far the
most extensive one, and includes in its genera
and species the greatest variety of fishes
in this part of the country. The Mungree,
Macronopterus Magur, is one of the most
common species. It is remarkable for its
supernumerary organs of respiration or arbor-
escent branchio, like those of the Silurus
Angrillaris of the Nile. The genus Silurus
comprizes a great many species. The Silu-
rus Singio is allied in its appearance and
habits to the M. Magur, and like it the
S. Singio has arborescent branchial organs
The Abdo-
miual Order,
The Mun-
gree.
The genus
Silurus.
40
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Apparatus.
Respiratory for respiration, and also a canal on each side
of the vertebral column which is subservient
to the same purpose. The Mungree and
Singee inhabit the jheels in company with
Coee and Colisa, and generally join them,
The Boallee. though not in great numbers in their expedi-
tions on land. The Boallee is a common
fish throughout Bengal, and is particularly
plentiful here. It often attains a large size
and is considered one of the most voracious
inhabitants of the rivers: its jaws are wide,
eliptical arches resembling those of the Shark,
and are closely beset on their inner surface
with sharp recurved teeth. It is one of the
few fishes that possess a pancreas. The
other most common species are the S. Pabda,
S. Garua. Belonging to the genus Pimelodus
Other Spe- are the P. Aor, P. Pangas, P. Tengra, P.
Batassia, P. Rita, P. Bagharia, P. Gagore,
and P. Silondia. The latter is found in the
large rivers and in deep water. The Esox
Cancilla is abundant in the months of Septem-
ber and October. Its jaws which are armed
with very sharp teeth are used to puncture
the skin, by the persons who practise cup-
The Mullet. ping. The Andwaree or mullet, Mugil Cor-
sula, is found in shoals along the shallow
margins of the rivers and churs: the bazars
are supplied with them in the cold season by a
Mango Fish. Set of Mussulmaun fishermen. The Man-
go fish, Polynemus Risua, is plentiful in the
months of April and May, but it is considered
inferior both in size and flavor to the Mango
fish of Calcutta. The seven long pectoral
cies.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
41
The Indian
Herring.
The Hilsa,
rays of this fish are endowed with great
sensibility, and like the filaments of the Leus
Ciliaris they appear to be organs of prehen-
sion, by which the fish coils round the stems
of plants or sea weeds, to sustain itself whilst
in search of prey. These filaments are sup-
plied with large nerves from the medulla
spinalis, with a branch from the 5th pair,
which winds round the base of the operculum,
forming on each side a plexus, which sends
off a branch to each ray. The Indian Her-
ring, Clupea Phasa, is found in the estuaries of
the Ganges and Megna, and is common in the
markets after the rains. Its congener the
Hilsa, Clupanadon Ilisha, is plentiful, and in
point of size and flavour is probably superior
to the Hilsa of any other part of the country.
It is found in all the rivers, but is most plen-
tiful in the Ganges, where it is caught in
large quantities during the rains, at which
season large shoals of this fish ascend the
streams to spawn. Large quantities are salted
and preserved with tamarinds, and exported
to different parts of the country. The Mys-
tus Chitala and Mystus Ramcarati are found
in tanks and rivers, and are common in the
bazars. Of all the genera of the abdominal
order that of Cyprinus is the most plentiful, The Cyprini.
and forms together with the Coius Cobjojeus,
Tuchopodus Colisa, Silurus Singio and M.
Magur, the principal part of the animal food of
the natives. The chief species are the Cypri-
• Sir Charles Bell's Treatise on the Hand.
F
42
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
A great va-
riety of species.
from them.
nus Rohita, C. Cutla, C. Culbasia and C. Pu-
titoria. They are the largest species of the
genus, and not unfrequently attain a size of
eight feet in length. The opercula or gill
covers of many of them are made into combs,
which are sold in the bazars. The different
Cyprini constituting the sub-genus 66 Puntius
Cyprinus" of Hamilton, consist of a great
variety of species, which are generally known
in this part of the country by the name of
Poothée. They are very plentiful in the cold
season, and are the cheapest of the differ-
ent kinds of fish sold in the bazars. They
Oil extracted yield a considerable quantity of oil which
is extracted by boiling, a process that is car-
ried on to a considerable extent by the fisher-
men in this district, and the neighbouring
ones of Mymensing, and Sylhet. In the coun-
try this oil is used by the poorer Mussulman
inhabitants for burning, and is sold at a rate
varying for 8 to 15 seers for the rupee: a
considerable quantity also is exported annu-
ally to Calcutta. The different genera of the
abdominal order, with the exception of the
Esox, Polynemus and Mugil, present a re-
Peculiarities markable connection between the organ of
organs of hear hearing and the air bladder. In the genera
Cyprinus, Silurus, Pimelodus, Macropteronotus
and Cobitis this connection is maintained by
means of a set of ossicula, analogous to the
tympanic bones of Mammalia. The air blad-
der varies in shape and size in the different
species of these genera, and in some is so
small, that it cannot possibly be subservient
of structure;
ing.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
43
of structure,
Digestive
to locomotion as in the Pimelodus Bagharia, Peculiarities
in which in a fish weighing ten pounds, I
found two air bladders, each of the size of a
large pea. In the Bola Pama, Mystus Che-
tala and Clupanadon Ilisha, the connection is
maintained by an elongation or tube of the
air bladder, which runs to the vicinity of the
organ of hearing, and is separated from it by
only a thin membranous septum. Besides
these peculiarities of structure the M. Corsula
and C. Ilisha present anomalies in the confi-
guration of their digestive organs, which may
briefly be noticed here. The stomach is of
a globular shape with thick muscular walls, organs.
which evidently perform the function of the
gizzard in birds. Sand is always found in
the stomachs of these fishes, and it is probable,
that this substance assists in the trituration of
the food, in the same way as pebbles act in
the gizzards of fowls. The stomach has a
cuticular lining, and is abundantly supplied
with mucus the cœcal appendages round
the pylorus are very numerous, and in the
C. Ilisha there are two sacs behind the
branchial arches, which pour mucus into
the esophagus. The mouth of this latter
fish also has a singular structure to pro-
tect its gills from the mud it swallows.
The inside of this cavity is lined with fine
cartilaginous lamino resembling the barbs
of a feather, which act as a strainer, and
thus protect the delicate structure of the
respiratory organs, from the irritation of
sand.
:
44
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Revenue de-
rived by the
Zemindars
from their fish-
eries.
Different
nets used.
The right of fishing belongs to the Zemin-
dars of the contiguous lands; the amount
of revenue they derive from their fisheries
varies according to the season of the year.
From October to May fishermen pay monthly
from 1 to 5 rupees per boat, or more frequently
according to the extent of their boundaries,
while in the rains the rate is considerably
reduced, and usually varies from 4 annas to
1 rupee per boat. When the water retires
from the inundated lands, marshes are let
out for the season at a rate varying from 5
to 500 rupees, and the more extensive ones
are generally rented by joint stock compa-
nies of fishermen, or of the class of persons,
who supply the bazars. There are 18 differ-
rent kinds of nets used in this district, all
varying in size from 4 to 250 cubits in length,
and from 2 to 24 cubits in breadth, and dis-
tinguished by different names, as the Goon-
tee net for Mangoe Fish, the Konah for
Hilsa, the Chitah for Bola, &c. The other
methods of fishing adopted here are the
pulow or basket, the koonch or spear, and
screens made of reeds, which prevent the
escape of the fish on the ebbing of the tide.
Large quantities of fish are dried, and export-
ed annually to different parts of the country.
Shell Fish. Two species of Crustacea, or shell fish, are
found here, and are brought in large quanti-
ties to the bazars. The only other inhabi-
tant of the rivers, that is worthy of notice
here, is a bivalve shell, a species of Mya, in
which pearls are found, and which is an object
Fish ex-
ported in great
quantities.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
45
of search during the cold season. The peo-
ple who dive for them are a Mussulman
caste called Budiyas, and there are altoge-
ther from 80 to 100 boats usually employed
in the business. The pearls are small, and of
little value the shells, which are used by the
natives in the place of spoons, are disposed of
in the bazars.
Pearl bi-
valve,
the surround-
ing districts.
Of animals belonging to the surrounding Animals from
districts, the Gayal and Pangolin are occa-
sionally brought here from the Tipperah hills;
the Mole, Lemur, and Malacca Porcupine
from Sylhet, and the Oolook, Gibbon or long The Oolook.
armed ape from the Garrow hills, besides a
The Mole.
Orang
a variety of birds as the Argos Pheasant,
Hoppoe, Buceros, &c. The Mole, of which,
I sent a specimen to the Asiatic Society a
few months ago, is the Tutpa Europea, or
common Mole of Europe. The natives of
this part of the country believe, that the
Orang Outang is to be found on the Garrow
hills. This animal, which they call Bun- Outang.
manus," is, they declare, different from the
Oolook or Gibbon, with which they are evi-
dently well acquainted. Two young Ourangs
of Sumatra, which were brought to this place
about two years ago, were immediately recog-
nized by them as specimens of the real Bun- bit the Garrow
manus. The people of the Garrow hills,
who are in the habit of capturing the Oolook
or Gibbon, and who are, therefore, not likely
to confound it with any other animal, also
assert that the Orang Outang inhabits their
Said to inha -
Hills.
46
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
by Abul Fazel.
forests. The late Mr. Carruthers, while on a
visit to that part of the country in 1837 made
particular enquiries on the subject, and was
Mentioned informed, that the Bun-manus or Orang, has
been seen there, but that it is very rare, and
that it is many years, since one of these ani-
mals has been captured. The Bun-manus, it
may be mentioned, is described by Abul
Fazel, as “an animal of the Monkey kind.
His face has a very near resemblance; he has
no tail and walks erect. The skin of the
body is black and slightly covered with hair.
One of these animals was brought to his Ma-
jesty from Bengal. His actions were very
astonishing.' "* This colour of the skin, (which
in the Orang is of a bluish hue,) and the slight
covering of hair (which in the Oolook is thick
and wooly,) would certainly indicate, that the
Bun-manus is the real Orang Outang.
Vegetable pro-
Vegetable Productions.-The elevated kun-
ductions very kar tracts of the Northern Division, and the
numerous.
extensive marshes in the clayey and allu-
vial soils throughout the district are co-
vered with a great diversity of vegetable
productions. They comprize orders, genera
and species that are far too numerous to
be mentioned here, and I shall therefore
only enumerate a few of the more common
plants, arranged according to the purposes
to which they are usually applied by the
natives.
* Ayeen Akberry, translated by Gladwin, vol. ii. page 400.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
47
The Water
Lily.
Water Plan-
tain.
Edible Plants.-1st, growing in marshes Edible Plants.
and their vicinity. Nymphea Lotus (ord.
Nympheacea Salisb.) The Egyptian Lotus,
or Water Lily. The bulbous root of this plant,
which is known by the name of Shalook, and
the seeds and stalks by that of Sampala, are
sold in the bazars as articles of diet. The
ryots collect the former, during the season of
ploughing, and boil them for use. The Sha-
look also yields a fœcula or starch, which is
used by the native medical practitioners as a
substitute for Arrow-root. The seeds are
parched and sold as Koi. Panee Kela, or water
plantain, (Dasmonium Indicum of Roxb.
Stratiotes Alismoides Linn.) Broad leaved
Water Soldier, a name given to the genus from
the supposed resemblance of its ensiform
spines being arrayed like an armed phalanx
upon the water. Like the former, it is com-
mon in the jheels and is collected for its seeds
which are sold in the markets. Singhara
(Gen. Trapa, ord. Onagrario) Water Cat-
trops. Two species, viz. T. Bispinosa and
T. Quadrispinosa, are equally plentiful here,
and are found growing in the same situation
with the former plants. The kernels of the
nuts are sold in large quantities in the bazars.
Water Cat-
trops.
Komol Gutta or Rukta Komol (Nelumbium Komol Gutta,
speciosum ord. Nympheaceae Juss :) The
roots of this plant, which are of a considerable
length and size, and the seeds of the fruit like
the Sampala, are eaten by all classes of the
natives. The Hindoos use the flowers at their
poojahs, and the leaves to wrap up articles of
48
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Mukana.
merchandize.
Mukana or Pokol (Anneslia
spinosa Roxb.) This plant, which is peculiar
to the eastern parts of Bengal, is found grow-
ing in the lowest sites, where there is a consi-
derable depth of water. The fruit is of a
black colour and covered with sharp spines,
and contains a number of cells filled with a
transparent pulp, in which the seeds are im-
bedded. It is sold in the bazars from May
to August, on account of its seeds, which are
eaten by the natives. Ghetchoo (Aponoge-
ton Monostachion, ord: Naides Juss :) single
spiked Aponogeton. It is common in the
low rice land: its tuberous roots, like the
Shalook, are turned up by the plough, and are
in common use among the ryotts as an
article of diet. These plants are abundant in
Chief arti- seasons of high and long continued inunda-
Ghetchoo.
cles of food, in
city, from in-
uudation.
times of scar- tion, and in times of scarcity and famine, aris-
ing from this cause, they constitute the prin-
cipal articles of sustenance, to the ryotts and
poorer inhabitants of the district. 2, Growing in
moist and dry situations, leaves and branches
The Culmee- used as vegetables. Culmee-shag (Convolvu-
shag.
Heluncha.
Poi-sag.
A garch.
lus repens). This plant forms a network of
vegetation upon the surface of jheels: the
tender stalks and tops of the plant are used as
a vegetable. Heluncha (Jussieu repens ord:
onagr :) is a native of the marshes, its stalks
and leaves, which have a bitter taste, constitute
a vegetable that is in common use. Poi-sag
(basella lucida ord: Atriplices Juss :) shining
Malabar night shade. The tender branches
are eaten. The Agarch (Achyranthis alter-
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
49
Purslane.
Gundabe-
dhallee and
Fruit Trees.
nifolia ord: Amaranth), Looniya (Portulacea
Oleracea) or garden purslane, and Chowlee
(Portulacea quadrifolia) or creeping annual
purslane are used as sags or vegetables. Gun-
dabedhallee (Oldenlandia alata ord: Saxifrag, Mooudee.
Juss :) and Moondee (Sphæranthus mollis ord:
Cinarocephalo Juss:) are plentiful, their leaves
which possess a powerful odour are common
ingredients in native dishes. 3, Trees growing
upon dry and elevated parts of the district;
fruit used. Paniyola (Flacourtia Cataphracta The Puniyola,
ord: Tiliace Juss :) The fruit of this tree,
which is of a purple colour, and of the size
and appearance of a plum, is sold in the city
during the rains. The branches which are
armed with long sharp spines are used by
persons doing penance at the Churrack poo-
jah, as an instrument of torture. Moina or
Munphul (Vangueria spinosa ord: Rubiaceo
Juss) the berry or drupe is of the size of a
cherry, and of a yellow colour. It is consi-
dered to be a fruit of great delicacy, and is
common in our bazars in November and De-
cember. Bier or Kool Zharberi Ziziphus
Jujuba ord: Ramnoe Juss :) white leaved In-
dian Jujube. This tree is abundant in the
jungles, and large quantities of the fruit are
brought into the town during the rainy sea-
son. This fruit is the Indian plum and con-
sists of an oblong drupe with a rugous nut
containing two seeds. Saffriam (Psidium py
riferum ord: Myrtaceae Juss :) white Guava,
is a common tree in the jungle. The Guava
is the cheapest of all the fruits sold in the
G
Munphul.
Bier or In-
dian Plum.
Guava.
50
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Amla.
Ksherni.
Lutqua.
bazars. Amlakee or Amla (Phyllanthus Emb-
lica Linn: Myrobalanus Emblica Rumph;
ord: Euphorbiaceae Juss :) The fruit of this tree
is of the size of a Gooseberry, and is sold in
large quantities in the town. Ksherni (Mimu-
sops Kanki ord: Sapotec Juss :) This tree
yields a refreshing fruit, which is a favo-
rite one among the natives. Lutkha (Pie-
rardia Sapida Roxb.) This tree is peculiar to
the eastern districts, and is particularly abun-
dant in this and the adjacent Zillah of Tippe-
rah. It is the Lutqua of China. The berry
which is of the size of a Gooseberry is smooth
and of a yellow colour and of a pleasant su-
Kamaranga, bacid taste. Kamaranga (Averrhoa Caram-
bola Rumph: ord: Oxalido DeCandolle,) is
a common tree in the jungle, and is generally
seen growing in the same situation with the
Guava. The unripe fruit is used as a vegeta-
ble, and is sold in large quantities in the mar-
Julpai or Iu kets during the rains. Julpai (Elaeocarpus
dian Olive.
Dephul.
Chalta.
serrata ord: Elaeocarpi Juss :) Indian Olive,
is found on dry and elevated spots in the
northern division of the district. The drupe
is much used as a vegetable, and is a common
ingredient in pickles made by natives. De-
phul (Artocarpus Lakoocha) The unripe fruit
of this tree abounds with a white adhesive
juice. When ripe it is peeled and steeped in
hot water for some time, and the infusion is
used to boil rice in, the pulp is often made
into a chitnee. Chalta (Dillenia speciosa
Thunb.) This stately tree is common in the
dense jungle of the northern division of the
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
51
Imlee or
Tamarind.
Kuthbel Kuthbel
or
Elephant Ap-
district. Its fruit which is of the size of a
large apple is very acid and is occasionally
used as an ingredient in native cooked dishes.
Imlee (Tamarindus Indica ord: Legumin;) is
a common tree in the jungles, and is also cul-
tivated about villages. Large quantities of
Tamarinds are exported to different parts of
the country. This tree like all others yield-
ing fruit much in use, is let out by Zemindars,
and yields a considerable revenue.
or Khobithu (Feronia Elephantum ord: Auran- ple.
teaceœ corr de ser :) Elephant Apple. This
tree is confined to the northern division of the
district. Its fruit of which Elephants are
said to be very fond, (and hence its name), is
prepared by the natives as an article of diet,
by mixing the pulp with salt, oil and pep-
per. Three species of the genus ficus, viz. the
Gular, F. glomerata, Dhoombur, F. carica;
and Luta, F. vagans, are sold in the markets
and are all used as articles of diet. Amoora
(Amoora Rohituka A. and Wight Andersonia
Cucullata) a large tree, the fruit and flowers
of which are used in cooking. Amra (Man-
gifera Indica ord: Terebinthaceae Juss :) This
is a common tree in the jungle of the northern
division, its green fruit is used as an ingre-
dient in native made dishes. The Mango
tree is chiefly cultivated in the southern divi-
sion, but its fruit is inferior to the Mango of
Maldah. Jungli Khajoor (Phoenix farinefera
Roxb. ord: Palmo.) This species of date tree
is about three feet in height and is abundant
in the jungle, its fruit is sold in the bazars.
A moora.
Amra or
Mangoe.
Jungli Kha-
joor.
52
TOPOGPAPHY OF DACCA.
Bet.
Bet (Calamus Rotang Roxb.) The young
shoots are cooked as a vegetable, and the pulp
of the berries is eaten by the natives. The
Bun Huldee. Jungli or Bun Huldee (Curcuma Zedoaria
ord. Canno Juss :) is abundant in the nor-
thern division, and is often fraudulently sold
along with the cultivated kind in the bazars.
Jaman and The fruit of the Jaman and the roots of the
Sutumoollee.
Sutumoollee (Asparagus racemosus) are pre-
served in syrup, and large quantities of these
articles and of Ginger and Limes, similarly
prepared, are sent to different parts of the
country. The Cathal and Bel trees are abun-
dant in all parts of the district.
Medicinal
plants and
their proper-
ties.
Juyuntee,
Sonali.
Sona.
Medicinal Plants.-Juyuntee (Aeschynomene
Sesban.) The juice of the leaves is athelmintic,
and is administered to the extent of two ounces
for a dose. Sonali (Cassia Fistula.) The
pulp mixed with tamarinds, sugar and rose
water is used as a laxative; and the rind of
the pod is used to form a cooling drink in
fevers. Sona (Bauhinia purpurea) purple
mountain ebony. The wood is used as reme-
Kat Kaleja. dy in fevers. Kat Kaleja (Casalpinia Bon-
ducella.) This tree is plentiful in the district.
The seeds are much used as a tonic, and a
decoction of the leaves in cases of fever. The
latter also constitute an ingredient of several
Apurajita. liniments.
liniments. Apurajita (Clitoria ternata,) so
named from the seeds having been originally
brought from Ternate, one of the Molucca
islands. The juice of the leaves mixed with
that of green ginger, is administered in
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
53
Rukhta
Chandaua.
Khadi:a.
cases of colliquative sweating in hectic fever.
Rukhta Chandana (Adenanthera pavonia)
bastard flower fence. This tree is said to
attain a great age. The seeds and wood are
used both in the form of a decoction, and of a
liniment in pulmonary complaints, and par-
ticularly in cases of hæmoptysis or spitting
of blood from the lungs. The seeds and wood
are rubbed down with dried turmeric and
honey, and used as an application to the eyelids
and eyebrows in chronic ophthalmia. Kha-
dira (Acacia Catechu.) The wood of this
tree is used in cases of chronic cutaneous
disease. It enters into the composition of a
decoction of Gooluncha, Basoot, Palta Moo-
tha and Chullanee woods, and of Oser and
Nim leaves, in the proportion of half a drachm
of each of the ingredients to one pound of
water boiled down to four ounces, the whole
of which is taken during the day. Mashanee
(Glycine labialis.) This plant enters into the
composition of a liniment called Battaree,
which is much in use in cutaneous complaints
of long standing. Kala Kalkashanda (Cassia Kala Kal
purpurea,) an ointment made of the bruised
seeds and leaves and of sulphur, is used in
itch and ringworm. Gooluncha (Menisper- Gooluncha.
mum glabrum.) The deposit that takes place
from a cold infusion of this plant is adminis-
tered in cases of Leprosy. The branches of
the tree are used for this purpose; they are
cut into small pieces and pounded, and are
then put into cold water in the proportion of
one seer of the wood to five seers (10 b) of
Mashanee.
kashanda.
54
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Exhibited
in Leprosy.
Chitra,
water. The infusion being allowed to remain
undisturbed for three days, the branches are
taken out and the water being gently drawn
off, a fine white powder will be found at the
bottom of the vessel. It is dried in the sun,
and is exhibited internally and externally in
cases of Leprosy. Chitra (Plumbago Zey-
lanica) Ceylon Lead-wort. This plant is
used as a fence round huts and gardens.
The root is used in combination with Bishtal-
lee in cases of enlarged spleen and as a tonic
in dyspepsia. The P: Rosea, or rose coloured
Lead-wort, so named from the scarlet colour
of its flowers, is also common and is known by
the name of Chitra. The fresh roots of both
species are pounded and used to raise a blis-
Bichittee. ter. Bichittee (Trajia involucrata) Calycine
Trajia. The root and leaves of this climbing
plant are used medicinally. The former is
the basis of an external application in Lepro-
sy, and the latter dried and reduced to pow-
der, and mixed with ginger and kyphul,
form an errhine, which is prescribed in cases
of head-ache. Basoka, or Arus (Justicia
Adhotoda) Malabar nut. The juice of the
leaves of this tree is given in a dose of two
drachms with one drachm of the juice of fresh
ginger, as an expectorant in coughs. It also
enters into the composition of several oils
that are used in different diseases. Mootha
(Cyperus rotundus.) This plant is a common
jungle weed. The bulbous roots are scraped
and pounded with green ginger, it is given
mixed with honey in cases of dysentery, the
Basoka.
Mootha.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
55
ra.
Shanci.
Bala.
dose is about a scruple. Shyamaluta (Echites Shyamaluta.
frutescens.) This plant which derives its
name from its creeping stems abounds with
an acrid milky juice. The stalks and leaves
are used in the form of decoction in fever.
Bhoii Koomra (Trichosanthes tuberosa.) The Bhoii Koom-
large tuberous root of this plant is dried and
reduced to powder, which is given in doses of
10 grains in enlargements of the spleen, liver
and abdominal viscera. The fresh root is
mixed with oil and applied to Leprous ulcers.
Shanci (Achyranthes triandra,) is boiled
with Nim, Heluncha, &c. to form a medicated
vapour bath in cases of rheumatism. Bala
(Pavonia Odorata) sweet smelling pavonia,
is generally cultivated in gardens. The leaves
are boiled with Mootha, Bel, and Dhuneya, or
Corianders, in the proportion of two drachms
of each ingredient, in one pound of water, till
only four ounces of the liquor remain. It is
astringent and tonic, and is given in dysen-
tery. Nag-Keshur (Mesua ferrea.) This large Nag-keshur.
tree is found in the Northern division, and is
occasionally planted in gardens. The flowers
mixed with oil are administered both external-
ly and internally in cases of cough. The seeds
contain an oil which burns well. Poonurnuva
(Boerhavia procumbens,) is diuretic, and is va.
prescribed in cases of dropsy. Nisinda (Vitex
Nigundo) Indian Chaste tree. It is employed
both as an external and internal remedy in
rheumatism. It is given with garlic, subzee,
parched rice, and gour, in the proportion of
one part of the leaves, three of garlic, four of
Poonurnu-
Nisinda.
56
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Taruka.
Harjorah.
Baugra.
Jirjul.
subzee leaves and eight of rice and gour: the
mass is divided into pills of 20 grains in each,
of which two are taken at night. Taruka
(Althea Alhugas,) a common reed in the
jheels, which is used to make twine and rope,
by people in the country. The juice of the
root is prescribed as a remedy in Hemorr-
hoids. Harjorah (Cissus quadrangularis.)
The stalks pounded and mixed with ginger or
mustard are applied to bruises and contusions.
Baugra (Verbesina prostrata.) The juice of
the stems mixed with sugar is given in jaun-
dice and gonorrhoea. Jirjul (Odina Wodier.)
The juice of the green branches in a dose of
four ounces mixed with two ounces of Tama-
rinds is given as an emetic in cases of Coma,
or insensibility produced by Opium or other
Narcotics. Toolsi (Ocymum villosum) sweet
basil. The juice of the leaves mixed with
ginger and black pepper is given during the
cold stage of intermittent fever: it is also
prescribed to allay vomiting arising from irri-
Shimool, or tation produced by worms. Shimool (Bom-
bax heptaphylla) Silk Cotton, a common
tree in both divisions of the district. The dry
flowers with poppy seeds, goat's milk, and
sugar are boiled and inspissated and of this
conserve two drachms are given three times
a day in Hemorrhoids. Champa (Michelia
Champuka) sweet yellow Michelia. The
flowers mixed with Sesamum oil forms an ex-
ternal application which is often prescribed
in vertigo; and the juice of the leaves mixed
Nag-phunee, with honey is given in cases of colic. Nag-
Toolsi.
Silk Cotton.
Champa.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
57
Indian Mouru-
phunee (Cactus Indicus.) The milky juice of
this plant is given in a dose of ten drops with
a little sugar, as a purgative. Shephalika Shephalika,or
(Nyctanthes arbor tristis.) The sorrowful tree, er,
or Indian Mourner, so named from the droop-
ing withered look of the flowers during the
day. The leaves of this tree are boiled with
sugar and water, and are given as a diapho-
retic in fever. The white and yellowish
flowers yield a fragrance like that of Jasmine.
Juba (Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis.) The flowers
are infused in cold water, and prescribed in
cases of Menorrhagia. Palita Mandar (Ery-
thrina Indica.) The juice of the green leaves
taken in a dose of two ounces is said to be a
good Vermifuge and Cathartic. Akund (As-
clepias gigantea) curled flowered gigantic
Swallow Wort of Brown. The white variety
is the one that is most plentiful in this district.
The bark of the root is in common use in this
part of the country in Syphilis and Leprosy.
Seej (Euphorbia nercifolia) Oleander leaved
Spurge. The milky juice is given as a purga-
tive, and the pulp of the stem, mixed with
green ginger, is given to persons who have
been bitten by mad dogs before the acces-
sion of Hydrophobia. Isharmool (Aristolo-
chia Indica) Indian Birthwort, is most abun-
dant in the Northern division. The juice of
the roots is given in Coughs and Asthma.
Kadumba (Nauclea Cadumba.) The bruised
leaves are applied as a discutient to oedema-
tous swellings, and the bruised flowers mixed
with ginger form a remedy for fistulous sores
H
Juba.
Palita Man.
dar.
Akund.
Seej.
Isharmool.
Kadumba.
58
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
root.
Bukool.
Matura. Matura (Callicarpa Incana,) is the plant of
which the Seetul-patee Mats are made. An
infusion of the flowers in the proportion of
two drachms to two ounces of water is given
in cases of Menorrhagia: one ounce of the
Bhika-purni. infusion is the medium dose. Bhika-purni
(Hydrocotyle Asiatica.) The juice of the
plant bruised with ginger is given in dysente-
Liquorice ry. Jyostee Madhoor (Glycirrhiza glabra,)
is found in the Northern division. Liquorice
root is prescribed to allay thirst in fevers, and
is used in combination with various other re-
medies in Syphilis. Bukool (Mimusops Elen-
gii.) The seeds are bruised, and made into a
paste, which is used as a suppository in cases
Jamp-tokuri. of obstinate constipation. Jamp-tokuri (Sida
Asiatica.) A decoction of the leaves and
branches of this plant is used as a fomentation
in phagedenic sores. Sujna (Hyperanthera
Moringa,) a common tree throughout the
country. The bark of the fresh root mixed
with Mustard seed and green ginger is used
as an external application in rheumatism. It
is also administered internally in enlargement
Koondooree, of the spleen, and in dyspepsia. Koondooree
(Bryonia grandis.) The bark of the root
dried and reduced to powder, is said to act
as a good cathartic, in a dose of 30 grains.
Patur Choor. Patur Choor, (Plectranthus aromaticus.) Two
ounces of the juice of the leaves mixed
Sujna.
with sugar is given morning and evening in
Rukta-kum- cases of strangury and chordee. Rukta-
kumbula (Nymphaea rubra) The flowers and
stalks of this species of Lotus are reduced to
bula,
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
59
powder, which is administered in cases of
discharge of blood from the stomach and
bowels, and the Soondhi, (Nymphoa Cyanea)
or species with blue flowers, enters into the
composition of an oil, which is used in diarr-
hoea. The other principal Medicinal trees
and plants that are found in the uncultivated
parts of the district are, Jumulgota, (Croton
Tiglium) Koochila, (Strychnos Nux Vomica,) Neemi, Dhoo-
Neem, (Melia Azadiracta,) Dhatura, (Dha-
tura Metel,) Bhorenda, (Ricinus Communis.)
Plants used as fodder and applied to various
useful purposes.-Bena (Andropogon Murica-
tus ord: Gram :) grows in the northern divi-
sion, in places that are not inundated; it is
used by the poorer classes to thatch their
huts, but it is neither so durable, nor so well
adapted for this purpose as the following spe-
cies. Oolloa, Saccharum Cylindricum ord:
Gram :) Cylindrical spiked sugar cane. It is
abundant in the northern division, and is the
grass in most common use as a thatch for
huts. Kasha or Kagura, (Saccharum spon-
taneum ord: Gram :) Wild Sugar Cane, is
one of the earliest plants upon newly formed
churs. It is chiefly used for fuel, and when
young it is given to the cattle. Null, (Arundo
Karkha ord: Gram:) This reed grows on
churs and in low marshes, and attains a
height of eight or ten feet. It is used for
the chuppers or roofs of huts, and for the ma-
nufacture of moolwa or coarse mats. Baksha
(Rotboellia glabra ord: Gram:) "Hard Grass."
Jumulgota,
Khoochila.
tura and Bho-
reuda.
Plants and
Grasses.
Bena.
Oolloa.
Kasha.
Null.
Baksha.
60
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Baksha.
Koosha.
Doobla.
Hoogla.
Jow.
The Bam-
boo and its
varieties.
It is common in the district, and constitutes
the principal article of fodder for cattle.
Koosha (Poa Cynosuroides Roxb: ord: Gram:)
a species of" Meadow Grass." It is confined
to the high lands of the northern division:
it is used for the doors and walls of huts, and
in its young state is given to cattle. Doobla
(Panicum Dactylon) creeping Pannick grass.
This perennial grass is found in great
abundance, and is of a superior quality to that
of districts to the westward; it grows luxuri-
antly in the light soil along the banks of the
rivers in the southern division, and affords
the best pasturage in the district. The juice
of the leaves is used medicinally by Hindoo
practitioners. Hoogla, (Typha Elephantina
ord: Typho Juss :) Elephant grass or “reed
mace" as the genus is called in English Bo-
tany. It is one of the earliest plants that
appears on the newly formed churs of the
large rivers of the southern division. Jow,
(Tamarix Indica.) Like the preceding, it is
one of the first plants of spontaneous growth on
the light churs, especially those situated high
up the rivers. The Jow and Hoogla are only
used for fuel. The Hijul, another plant very
common in the uncultivated parts of the dis-
trict, is also one of the principal articles of
fuel. There are four varieties of the Bamboo
(Bambusa Arundinacea Linn:) cultivated in
the vicinity of villages, but the whole quan-
tity that the district produces is compara-
tively small, and considerable importations of
it are annually made from the district of
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
61
Bamboo and
its varieties.
Sylhet. The Bun-Bans (Arundinacea Spi-
nosa) flourishes in the forests of the northern
division, it attains a considerable size, and is
distinguished from the other varieties by the
numerous thorns or spines, that shoot out in
all directions from its roots. Tabasheer is
occasionally found in the bamboos of this
district, but it is more abundant in the small
bamboos from Sylhet. This concrete silici-
ous substance is called "Bans Kaphoor" from
its resemblance to Camphor; it is known in
Europe on account of its optical properties,
and in many parts of the country is applied
to medicinal purposes, and particularly as a
remedy in thrush. Next to the Bamboo, a
tree called the Garallee, is the most exten- The Garallee.
sively useful in this part of the country. It
is one of the largest trees in the jungle, and
grows on the elevated ground in clumps or
detached patches varying from a few hundred
yards to many miles in extent. In the rainy
season, when there is a free access by water
into the interior of the forests, the Garallee is
cut down in large quantities and sold in the
city for huts and fuel. Of the other forest
trees employed for the construction of agri- Forest trees
cultural implements and of articles of domestic used in
use, the Mango, Hijul, Bier and Gab trees are implements,
used for the manufacture of ploughs, the
Tamarind tree for mortars for expressing oil,
and for stampers to beat pat for the manufac-
ture of paper, the Tall tree for weaver's shut-
tles, canoes and troughs for raising water, and
the Cadumba for boxes, platters, cups, and
the
manufacture of
agricultural
62
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
various domestic utensils. Dhenkies or Stam-
pers, for husking rice, are made out of the Gab,
Woods used (Diospyros Glutinosa) and boats, beams, and
for boats, and
rafters of hous- rafters for houses and huts are constructed of
es.
House fur-
niture.
the Huritukee (Terminalia Chebula) and
Boyra (Terminalia Bellerica). The Cathal
(Artocarpus Integrifolia) is from its lightness
almost invariably used for the prows of large
boats, and is in common use among the car-
penters for trunks, almirahs, and chairs.
Small boats called Dhoree and Bhadu, which
are constructed with rattan, instead of iron
fastenings are made of mango wood. The Dak
(Butea Frondosa) yields an astringent bark,
which is likely to become an article of foreign
commerce.
Minerals.
Iron Ore.
Minerals. The only mineral substance that
has yet been found in the District is
iron ore.
It occurs in masses and nodules
in the red Kunkur soil of the northern divi
sion, and is met with upon the surface. The
Circar of Bazoohay, which consisted of this
part of the country, was celebrated for its iron
mines in the time of Abul Fazel. In reply to
some enquiries made by Government regard-
ing the situation of these mines, Mr. Massie,
the Collector, in the year 1800, mentioned that
there were then no traces of them, and that
it was supposed they were overrun with jun-
gle. The iron is said to have been of an
inferior quality.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
63
SECOND SECTION.
CHAPTER III.
A Sketch of the History of the District.
Early histo-
rical tradition
connected with
the district
Bajah Bikram-
The earliest historical tradition connected
with the southern portion of the district, refers
to the celebrated Rajah Bikramadit, who flou- obscure.
rished, it is supposed, about a century before adit.
the Christian era. This prince is represented
to have visited many distant parts of India,
and is said to have selected, in the course of
his travels through the country, an island at
the confluence of the Ganges and Berham-
pooter, where he held his Court for several
years. He is distinguished among the Hin-
doos for his wisdom and learning, and various
legends have been handed down regarding
him, while he governed at Ojein; but of his
history, as it relates to this district, nothing
is known, and indeed the only memorial of
his visit to it, that exists, is the name of Bick-
rampore, which the site of his capital still
retains. The next rulers we hear of, belonged
to the Booneahs or Bhuddist Rajahs, who emi-
grated from the western side of India to per- Rajahs.
form a religious ceremony in one of the rivers
lying to the east of the Ganges, and who set-
tled in Dinagepore, Rungpore, and several
of the eastern districts. The date of the
arrival of these Chiefs is not known, but it is
said to have been at a very remote period,
The Booneah
64
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
nasty.
and it is probable, that it was as early at
The Pal Dy- least as that of Bickramadit. The Pal dy-
nasty of the Kings of Bengal of whom these
Booneahs were the ancestors, commenced to
reign, it would appear from the Ayeen Akber-
ry, upwards of 1420 years ago, but it is proba-
ble, that before they acquired this ascendancy
in the country, a considerable period inter-
vened, during which the original emigrants
and their descendants possessed only small
settlements in the eastern part of the king-
dom. Three of the Booneah Rajahs took up
their abode in this district, and in that portion
of it lying to the north of the Boorigonga
and Dullasery, where the sites of their capitals
are still to be seen. Jush Pal resided at Moo-
dubpore in the pergunnah of Tallipubad,
Horischunder at Catebarry near Sabar, and
The Booneahs Sissoo Pal at Capassia in Bhowal. From
and of Rung- the similarity existing between the names of
to be of one these Chiefs and those of the Booneahs that
family.
of this district
pore supposed
settled in Rungpore, it is likely, that they
belonged to one and the same family. The
Rungpore branch of Booneahs, it is well
known, ruled at one time the ancient king-
dom of Camroop, or Lower Assam, of which
this district appears to have formed a portion.
Abul Fazel mentions, that Camroop originally
extended down to where the Luckia branches
off from the Berhampooter, but it is also cer-
tain from the circumstance of the Koonch
and Rajbunsi tribes (the aboriginal inhabi-
tants of that country) being found here in
considerable numbers, in the present day, that
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA,
65
The dynas-
ty of Adisur.
Reforms the
Brahmin caste.
this kingdom reached as far south and west
as the Boorigonga, Dullasery, and Jenai,
which, no doubt, constituted the boundary
between it and the kingdom of Bongor, of
which Bickrampore was the metropolis. The
dynasty of Adisur or Udsoor is placed in the
Ayeen Akberry before that of the Pal Rajahs,
but it is generally believed in this part of the
country, that they were contemporaneous,
and governed the different portions of the
country, lying to the north and south of the
Borigonga, at the same time. Adisur is cele-
brated for his reformation of the Brahminical
caste, by the introduction of five families of
Brahmins from the city of Kanoje, but with
the exception of this measure, and the division
of the country into the kingdoms of Bongor,
Rarhi and Barendra, which took place in his
time, there is little known of his reign, and al-
together his history is involved in as much
obscurity, as that of his supposed predecessor
Bikramadit. Bollalsen or Billalsein, concern-
ing whose lineage the Ayeen Akberry and generally con-
the tradition of the country are at variance,
is generally considered here to have been the
immediate successor of Adisur, in the Go-
vernment of Bikrampore, and is said to have
been the Rajah who was reigning there, while
the Booneah Chiefs still held their sway on
the northern side of the Boorigonga, at the
time the Mahommedans conquered this part
of Bengal. This tradition, which is the popu-
lar one, does not, however, agree with the state-
I
Bollalsen
sidered his
success'
66
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
tucks hold a
nion.
The Ghut- ments of the Ghuttucks or registrars of the
different opi- marriages of Brahmins, who are generally
supposed to be better acquainted with the
pedigree and history of Bollalsen, than any
other class of persons in the country. Their
account, it may be remarked, differs from
that of Abul Fazel in several points, but
coincides with it in representing one of Bol-
lalsein's descendants, as the Rajah who go-
verned at Gour, at the time that city was
taken, while according to them, Donajmadub,
Bollalsen's grandson, was the Prince who
ruled at that time at Bikrampore. Bollalsen
dition,
is supposed by all classes of the Hindoos
here to have been the son of the Berham-
pooter, in the guise of a Brahmin, by one of
Adisur's wives, and to have been born and
brought up in the jungle to the north of the
Boorigonga, whither his mother had been
Farther tra- banished by Adisur. Tradition further as-
serts, that in gratitude for the protection
he received from Doorga in this situation,
he, or Adisur, by whom he was subsequently
adopted, built a temple to this goddess, whose
idol Bollalsein had discovered in the jun-
gle. This place, from its concealed situation,
was called Dehaka Iserry, but the jun-
gle being afterwards cleared away, a town
sprung up, which received the name of
"Dehaka," or Dacca. Bollalsen was the
lalsen. Rajah, who remodelled the different castes of
Hindoos, as they are constituted at the pre-
sent day.
Castes remo-
delled by Bol-
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
67
Conquest of
Bengal by the
Mohanime-
dans A. D.
1204.
Viceroys.
On the conquest of Bengal by the Moham-
medans in A. D. 1204* the government of the
eastern districts was confided to Cazis, who
resided at Bikrampore, Sabar, and Suner-
gong. The most celebrated of these religious
rulers was Pir Adam, who governed at Bik-
rampore, where it would appear he made
himself notorious by his persecution and bi-
gotry. At a subsequent period, Viceroys Governed by
were appointed, and the first person, that is
mentioned as exercising the authority of one,
in this part of the country, is Sultan Addeen
Toghril. In 1279, this Governor marched an
army into Tipperah, from whence he returned
with considerable booty, comprising treasure
and elephants, but afterwards taking up arms
against Balim, whose slave he had been, he
was pursued by that Emperor to Sunergong,
where in attempting to make his escape, he
was slain by an Officer of the imperial army.
On the division of the country into the two
viceroyalties of Lucknowti and Sunergong, two Viceroyal-
in the year 1299, Behadur Khan was appoint- ti and Sumer-
ed to the latter Government. He continued Behadur
Khan, Viceroy
in the office until 1324, when "complaints of Sunergoug
arriving from Sunergong and Lucknowti," ac-
cording to Ferishta, " that the Emirs and Ma-
gistrates were exercising great cruelties and
injustice towards the inhabitants, the Em-
peror Toglishah raised an army, and ap-
* Marco Polo mentions, that in the year 1272 A. D. while he was
residing at the Court of the great Khan of Tartary, the kingdom of
Bengala was taken by that chief. The country is described as having
a king and language of its own and abounding in cotton " by reason
thereof much and great trading is exercised therein."-Marsden's
Trauslation.
Afterwards
divided into
gong.
in 1299.
-
68
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
1338.
pointing Alif Khan, as his Deputy at Delhi,
set out to visit the eastern parts of his
dominions.* Behadur Khan conscious of his
inability to resist the force that now advanced
Deposed by against him, submitted to Toglishah or Togh-
the Emperor
Toghlik. lik, as he is more generally called, and
followed as a captive in the Imperial train,
Succeeded to Delhi. Tatar, who succeeded him, receiv-
by Bairam
Khan.
ed the title of Bairam Khan, and governed
His death in for a term of fourteen years. On the death
of Bairam Khan, in 1338, Fakher Addeen,
his Sillahdar or Armour bearer, assumed
the red umbrella and other ensigns of royal-
ty with the title of Sultan Sekunder, and
seized by his declared himself independent. He succeed-
ed in bribing the troops at Sunergong to
assassinate Kudder Khan, by whom he had
been defeated, and was thus enabled to retain
possession of the eastern government, for a
period of two years and a half, when at last
Deposed and he was deposed, and put to death by Aly Mu-
the Governor barick, the Governor of Lucknowti. Of the
...ment
Sillahdar who
assumes the
title of Sultan
Sekunder.
put to death by
of Lucknowti.
dependeut
priuces.
The Kingdom independent Kings, who succeeded Sultan
ruled by in- Sekunder, the only persons whose names ap-
pear in history in connection with this district,
are Ilyas Khaje Sultan Shumsaddeen Bhen-
gara; his son and successor Sultan Sekun-
der Sha, and Sultan Ala Addeen Hussein
Sha. They all resided in the strong fortress
of Ekdalla, in the northern division of the
district. Here, Ilyas Khaje and his son were
twice besieged by the Emperor Feroze, who,
* Navigation and Voyages by Lewis Vertomannus, Gentleman of
Rome, translated by Richard Eden.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
69
Attempts to
subjugate the
country by the
Feroze un-
Emperor
successful,
Hussein Sha
a powerful
after protracted and unsuccessful attempts to
take the place, was, on both occasions, oblig-
ed to withdraw his army; and at last, ac-
knowledged the independence of Sultan Se-
kunder Sha. From Ekdalla, Hussein Sha
sent an expedition to Camroop, the capital of represented as
which he took. He is represented by histo- priace.
rians as the most powerful of all the inde-
pendent Kings that ruled Bengal. When
Vertomannus visited this country in 1503, he
was waging war with the King of Narsinga,
(Orissa) his dominions are described by that
traveller as being at this time very extensive,
and his army as
consisting of 200,000 foot-
men and horsemen Mahumetans."*
66
About the end of the 16th century, and
About the 16th
district of
Century, the
Dacca divided
states.
Tipperah.
close of the Shere Sha dynasty, which suc-
ceeded to that of the independent Kings of into petty
Bengal, the country in the vicinity of Dacca,
appears to have been divided into a number of
petty states, which were dignified with the
title of Kingdoms. Tipperah then formed, as
it does partly at the present day an indepen-
dent territory, the Rajahs of which, who were
originally subject to the Kings of Arracan,
were styled Manick, while the Nobles bore
the title of Narain. Bacola, the capital of Its Capital.
which, was situated in the present pergunnah
of Chunderdeep, in the district of Backer-
gunge, is described by Fitch,† in 1586, as a
* Briggs' Translation of Ferishta.
+ Ralph Fitch was one of the envoys sent by Queen Elizabeth in
1583 with letters to the King of Cambay, and Emperor of China.
Vide Purchas Collection of Travels.
70
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
tion of the
country.
settlement at
the middle of
the 16th cen-
tury.
Fitch's descrip- fruitful country, abounding in rice, cotton and
silk goods. In speaking of the town, he men-
tions that "the streets are large, and the
houses very fair, and high builded," and
quaintly remarks that "the King is a Gentile,
a man very well disposed, and delighteth
much to shoot with a gun." The women
wear great store of silver hoops about their
necks and arms, and their legs are ringed with
silver and copper, and rings made of elephant's
teeth." Seeripore, another of these principa-
lities, was situated about six leagues to the
Portuguese south of Sunergong. The Portuguese are said
Seeripore in to have settled here, about the middle of the
16th century, and at the time of Fitch's visit,
they possessed considerable, if not, sole autho-
rity, in this part of the country. "The chief
King of all these countries," Fitch further re-
marks in speaking of Sunergong, "is called
Isacan, and he is the chief of all the other
Kings, and is a great friend to the Christians."
The city of Chandican, whose Rajah appears
to have lived chiefly by piracy, lay to the south
of Bacola, in that portion of the Sunderbunds
contiguous to the mouth of the Megna. Cha-
portions of the tigan and Sundiva or Sundeep formed a part
of the Kingdom of Arracan. Sundeep is
described by the Venetian traveller Cæsar
Frederick, about the year 1565, as one of the
most fertile places in the country, as being
densely peopled, and well cultivated. He
mentions the extraordinary cheapness of pro-
visions here, and states, that 200 ships were
laden, yearly, with salt, and that such was the
Chatigan
and Sandiva
kingdom of
Arracan.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
71
a place for
abundance of materials for ship building in Celebrated as
this part of the country, that the Sultan of ship-building.
Constantinople found it cheaper to have his
vessels built here, than at Alexandria. Her-
bert, also, about 80 years afterwards, bears
testimony to the great fertility of this island,
which he designates as one of the fairest and
most fruitful spots in all India.*
The Afghans
driven from
Bengal by the
Emperor Ak.
ber take
re.
and Orissa.
fuge in Dacca
defeated by
Sing.
selves.
When the Afghans were driven from the in-
terior of Bengal by Akber's army, the greater
number of them took refuge in the frontier
districts of Orissa and Dacca. Here they as-
sembled in a considerable body, and took up
their abode in the forests of the northern divi-
sion where they were afterwards put to the Afterwards
route, by Rajah Man Sing at Serrpore in the Rajah Man
pergunnah of Attyah. They soon, however, Subsequently
recovered from this defeat, and after a short recover them-
time succeeded in raising forts at Gonockpara
and Guripara, in the vicinity of Dumroy, where
they were allowed to remain unmolested by
Rajah Man Sing, who, it is said, dispaired of
ever being able to subdue them. On the death
of the Emperor Akber, in 1605, Osman Khan,
one of their chiefs, collected 20,000 of his
countrymen, and was proclaimed king. With
this force he overran the lower part of Bengal,
and kept possession of this part of the coun-
try, until 1612, when after a long contested
battle on the banks of the Subanreeka in
Orissa, he was slain, and his army defeated
by Shujaet Khan and Ethamam Khan, two two Mogul
* Sir Thomas Herbert's Travels.
On Akber's
death in 1605,
Chiefs as-
one of their
sumes the title
of King.
Defeated by
Officers.
72
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Government
Rajmahl to
Dacca.
Probable
cause.
Herbert's
account.
Mogul Officers, who had been sent against
him by Islam Khan, the Governor of the
Province. Gladwin states, that it was after
this victory, that Islam Khan removed the
The seat of seat of Government, from Rajmahl to Dacca.
removed from This is about four years later than the date
assigned by Stewart,* who it may be remark-
ed, mentions the descent of the Mughs upon
the coast, as the probable cause of the trans-
fer. According to Herbert, on
on the other
hand, the Afghans were defeated in 1614.†
He states, that they besieged and took "Daec
the metropolis," but that Shujaet Khan and
Ethamam Khan "with 15,000 men, gave
Ozman battle, which was bravely fought on
both sides, but by reason of a mad elephant
on which Ozman sat, Izediat Chawne was
unhorsed and maimed, yea the Mogul forces
discomfited; but by strange chance, a wound-
ed man seeing Ozman pass by, transfixes
him with his lance, and by that mischance
the Puttans retreat and at length fly, the
Moguls not only recovering Daec, but pier-
cing into the very heart of the Gentiles'
country, they capture Ozman's wife and
children, foraging at pleasure, and making
all his wealth (which was very great, and
sent to Agra) a testimony of their valour as
well as victory." Shortly after the expul-
sion of the Afghans from the district, the
guese and
The Portu- Mughs and Portuguese were defeated by
Islam Khan. The Rajah of Arracan, who
Mugs unite
with the Rajah
of Arracan.
* Stewart's History of Bengal.
+ Herbert travelled in 1621.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
73
cent on the
Proceed to
where they are
Luckipore
defeated
removed to
by
had formed an alliance with Sebastian Gon- Make a des-
zales, the Portuguese pirate, at this time in Province.
possession of Sundeep, and whose army con-
sisted of 1000 Portuguese, 2000 Sepoys, 200
Cavalry, besides 80 well armed vessels of
different sizes, made a descent upon the south-
ern part of the province. After laying waste
the country along the eastern bank of the
Megna, their combined forces proceeded, by
land and water, as high up as Luckipore,
where they were met by the Moghul troops,
and put to the route with great slaughter. the Moghuls.
Islam Khan governed at Dacca for about one
year after this event, and was succeeded by
his brother Cossim Khan. From the acces- Cossim Khan
sion of the Viceroy, down to the time that Viceroy.
the seat of Government was removed by Sul- Government
tan Shujah, (an interval of 26 years,) the dis- Rajmahl.
trict appears to have suffered from internal
war, as well as foreign aggression. In 1621, 1621, Shah
Shah Jehan advanced from Orissa and appear- ces from Oris-
ed before the town, with a considerable force sa, and seizes
of horse and elephants. On his approach, ment.
Ibrahim Khan, the Governor of the province,
fled to Rajmahl: thither, he was followed by
the rebel prince, who, after defeating the im-
perial troops, and capturing the Nowarrah or
fleet, (during which Ibrahim Khan was killed,)
returned to Dacca in pursuit of Ahmud Beg,
the Soubahdar of Orissa, "robbing and
spoiling," according to Herbert, "all this
wealthy province, preying upon its gold and
jewels, acting unchastities, and forcing oaths
and hostages from the inhabitants, to become
K
Jehan advan-
the Govern-
Pursues Ah-
Soubahdar of
mud Beg the
Orissa.
74
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
his subjects." On the arrival of the prince,
Ahmud Beg Ahmud Beg made his submission to him, and
submits.
Governor of
the Province,
under Shah
Jehau.
delivered up the government treasure, amount-
ing to 4 crores of rupees, and all the pro-
perty of Ibrahim Khan his uncle, consisting
of 25 lacs of rupees, 500 elephants, and 400
horses, besides muslins and aggur wood of
great value. During the brief term of Shah
Darab Khan, Jehan's usurpation, Darab Khan, the son of the
Khan Khanan, or chief of the nobility, was
entrusted with the government of the province.
He continued to govern for some months
until, on attempting to levy troops in aid of
his master, after the defeat of the latter by
Prince Purveez, he was proclaimed a traitor,
and a reward being offered for his person,
(according to Herbert) he was seized by the
Zemindars of the district, and sent by
them to the royal camp, where he was in-
Is put to stantly beheaded. This is Herbert version
of Darab Khan's history, but other ac-
counts state, that he proved a traitor to
Shah Jehan, and that his son, who had been
placed in the hands of the prince as a hos-
tage, paid the forfeit of his life for his
father's treachery. Further that Darab rely-
ing on the clemency of Prince Purveez and
the interest of his father, surrendered him-
self a prisoner to the Imperial troops, but that
Jehangire refused to spare him, and ordered
Comparative his head to be sent to Agra. During the Go-
vernments of Khanareid Khan, Mukurrem
Khan, and Fedai Khan, the eastern districts
enjoyed comparative tranquillity, but in the
death.
tranquillity for
a period,
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
75
Invasions in
Assamese.
Defeated by
who invade
ries in return.
Cruelties of
the Mughs in
into the south-
their irruptions
ern froutier
The Reve-
nue nearly ab.
succeeding administrations of Cossim Khan
Jobung, Aazim Khan, and Islam Khan Mush- 1638, by the
hedy, they were again invaded by their fron-
tier enemies. In 1638 the Assamese des-
cended the Berhampooter and had almost
reached Dacca, when they were met by Islam
Khan Mushedy with the Nowarrah. An
engagement ensued in which 4000 of them the Moghuls
were slain, and the Moghul Governor follow- their territo-
ing up his victory, penetrated into the enemy's
country and took fifteen of their forts. The
Mughs had been for years previously, no
less daring in their irruptions into the southern
parts of the district, and were in the habit of
committing the most atrocious cruelties on
the inhabitants, and of carrying many of
them off into slavery. The established rental
of the country was at this time almost entirely
absorbed in jageers assigned to protect the
coasts from their ravages, and such was the
reduced state of the revenue, that Fedai Khan
obtained the Government, on condition of pay-
ing 10 lacs of rupees a year, viz. 5 lacs to the
Emperor and the same sum to Noor Jehan
Begum in full of the imperial dues; while on
the invasion of the Assamese, it is said that
not a single rupee was remitted to Delhi.
During the Governments of Cossim Khan
Jobung, and Aazim Khan, they appear to have
been very troublesome, but in the time of
Islam Khan Mushedy the district enjoyed
some respite from their aggression, through
the conduct of Makat Ray, the chief of Arrac,
who rebelled against his sovereign the Rajah
bed in pro-
tecting the
Pirates.
Coasts from
76
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Shuja ap
roy of the Sou-
bah in 1639.
Reforms the
Government.
of Arracan, and now sought the protection of
the Moghul Emperor. Islam Khan Mushedy
on his return from Assam was appointed to
the high office of Vizier, and was succeeded by
Syf Khan. This Nawaub acted as Viceroy
for a few months, but of his history little is
Mohammed known. In 1639 Sultan Mohammed Shujah
pointed Vice- was appointed Viceroy of the Soubah, and
during the twenty years which he held the
Government, he distinguished himself by
the reforms he introduced into all departments
of the state. Under his
Under his administration an
improved "Jumma Toomary" or rent roll of
the territorial revenue of the country was
made out, and the amount of revenue consi-
Increase of re- derably increased by the addition of 15
Circars to those of Torell Mull, arising from
the acquisitions of territory in Orissa, and
the late conquests in Assam. Sultan Shujah,
Seat of Go. after a short residence at Dacca, made Raj-
mahl the capital of the country, during which
time, the charge of the eastern districts was
confided to Deputy Governors, the first of
whom was Aazim Khan. The most flourish-
flourishing era ing era, perhaps, in the history of Dacca, was
of Dacca. from the time that Meer Jumla, on his acces-
Viceroyalty
venue,
vernment
transferred to
Rajmahl.
The most
in the history
a.
of Meer Jum- sion to the Viceroyalty in 1660, again con-
stituted it the seat of Government, down to
the period when Moorshedabad became the
metropolis of the province. With the view
of guarding against an invasion from Arra-
Forts erect can, Meer Jumla built the different forts
about the confluence of the Luckia and Issa-
ed.
mutty, and constructed several good military
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
77
Constructs
roads and
Invades As-
sam.
Retreats in
consequence of
the sickness
and mortality
among his
troops.
His death.
roads and bridges in the vicinity of the town.
On receiving intelligence of the death of the bridges.
unfortunate Sultan Shujah at Arracan, he set
out from the fort of Hajegunge on the Luckia
with a large force, consisting of infantry and
artillery, and the Nowarrah, to invade Assam.
Here, he obtained a series of successes, but
was at length obliged to retreat from the
country, on account of the sickness and
mortality among his troops. He returned
sick himself, and died in the vicinity of
Dacca; and according to the popular tradi-
tion, his body was removed, agreeably to his
last request, to his birth-place near Ispahan.
The memory of Meer Jumla is still greatly
revered among the Mussulmaun inhabitants
here, who speak of him under the title of
Khan Khanan, as one of the most distinguish-
ed Nawaubs that ever governed at Dacca.
Shaista Khan Ameer Al Omrah, the nephew of
the Empress Noor Jehan, was appointed to by Shaista
the Government in succession to Meer Jumla.
One of the first measures of this Nawaub was
to fit out an expedition against Chittagong, Chittago
which was now besieged and taken, and in
commemoration of the success of the Moslem
arms, its name was at this time changed to
that of Islamabad. With the exception of an
interval of two years, during which Fedai
Khan, Aazim Khan, and Sultan Mohammed
Azim, the third son of Aurengzebe, acted as
Viceroys, the Nawaub Shaista Khan adminis-
tered the affairs of the Government for a
period of 15 years. At this time the city, in-
Succeeded
Khan.
Who besieg-
es and takes
Period of
his adminis-
tration.
78
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
the City of
cluding its suburbs, covered with gardens and
Extent of houses, extended to Tunghy, a distance of 14
Dacca at that miles, the greater part of which is now in
time. jungle. A considerable number of public
Tranquil and
prosperous
state of the
district.
buildings as mosques, alms-houses, &c. were
raised by Shaista Khan, and judging from the
prevalence of the style of building or mason-
ry which is here called "Shaista Khany," a
great portion of the large brick built houses
of the town appear to have been erected in
his time. From the heavy duties that were
levied on the exportation of grain and oil,
provisions were procurable at exceedingly
moderate prices, and the district is represent-
ed as enjoying at this period a degree of pros-
perity and tranquillity, to which it had been a
stranger, for years previously. In obedience
to the orders of Aurengzebe, the different Eng-
lish factories in the country were confiscated
tories confis by this Nawaub, and the commercial agents
of Aurengzebe. at Dacca were kept in irons for sometime,
English Fac-
cated by order
either by him, or his Deputy Behadur Khan.
On the dismissal of the Nawaub Ibrahim
Khan from the Government, after the break-
ing out of Sooba Sing's insurrection in Burd-
wan, the Emperor Aurengzebe who was then
Appoints his residing in the Deccan, appointed his grand-
the Nizamut Son Prince Aazim Ooshaun to the Nizamut of
grandson 10
of Bengal;
Bestows the
Dewanny on
Moorshud
Kooli Khan.
Bengal, while at the same time with the view
of encreasing the public revenue, in which
there had been no improvement since the
time of Sultan Shujah, he bestowed the
Dewanny on Moorshud Kooli Khan, who had
already distinguished himself in the inferior
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
79
His reforms.
Greatly in-
creases the re-
venue.
offices of the department. One of the first
proceedings of the Dewan, was to disband
the royal household troops consisting of
3000 horse, which were of little use in a low
country like Dacca, and to resume the
jagheers appropriated for their support. By
these means, and by an investigation which
he instituted to ascertain the proportional
assessment of the province, he was enabled
greatly to encrease the revenues of the state.
But while the Dewan thus gained favor at
the Court of the Emperor, he became an
object of envy and dislike to Aazim Oos-
haun, who could not submit to the controul, to Aazin Oos-
which was thus exercised over the pecuniary
affairs of his Government. The prince there-
fore, was soon induced to listen to a proposal,
which was made to him, to get rid of his
rival in office. Abdal Vahid who command-
Becomes an
object of envy
haun.
to assassinate
ed one of the Nugudy* regiments of horse,
undertook to way-lay and assassinate Moor- who attempts
shud Kooli Khan, and with this intent, he him.
and his troops accosted the Dewan on the
street, while he was on his way to pay a
visit of ceremony to the prince. They de-
manded in an insolent manner their arrears
of pay, and attempted to prevent him from
proceeding, but Moorshud Kooli Khan per-
ceiving their object, put himself at the head
of his armed retinue, and forced his way to
the palace. Here he upbraided Aazim Oos-
haun with treachery, accused him of being
a party to the conspiracy, and challenged
* So named from being paid in money.
80
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Challenges
Aazim Oosh-
aun to single
combat.
Moorshedabad.
haun ordered
livers over the
Government
to his sou Fe-
rokshere.
him to single combat, which was declined by
the prince. On his return home, Moorshud
Kooli Khan transmitted to the Emperor an
account of the insult he had received, and
considering that it would be no longer safe to
remain in the same place with the prince,
Removes to he took up his residence at Muxadabad or
Moorshedabad, as it was henceforth called.
In consequence of the representation to the
Aazim Oos- Emperor, Aazim Ooshaun was ordered to pro-
to Behar de ceed to Behar, but as no person had been
nominated as his successor in Bengal, he
made over the Government to his son Ferok-
shere. This prince, with the advice and
counsel of Ser Bolund Khan, now adminis-
tered the affairs of the province; and during
the time he resided at Dacca, he endeared
himself to the inhabitants, by his benevolence
and love of justice. Moorshud Kooli Khan
was afterwards appointed Nazim by Aureng-
zebe, but it was not until Ferokshere was
seated on the throne of Delhi, that he was
formally recognized as such, and installed
in the office with the title of Mutimum al
Moolk.
Moorshud
Kooli Khan
appointed Na-
zim.
In 1704 the The Government of the eastern districts of
eastern dis-
gal, governed
tricts of Ben- Bengal, from the time, (1704) that Dacca
by a Deputy. thus ceased to be the seat of viceroyalty, was
made over to a Naib or Deputy of the Nazim.
They constituted by far the largest and most
Their extent valuable province in the country, extending
from the Garrow hills on the north, to the
Sunderbunds on the south, and from the Tip-
and bounda-
ries.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
81
perah hills on the east, to Jessore on the west,
comprising altogether an area of 15397 square
miles, "while the Neabut or Government
was considered the first, and most lucrative
appointment under the Nizamut, the jurisdic-
tion being the largest, the province the rich-
est, and the rents, though valued low on the
royal registers, being always rated highest
in the separate rent roll of the provincial
delegate.' In 1713, Mirza Lutf-ullah was
appointed Naib. He was married to a grand pointed Naib.
daughter of Morshud Kooli Khan, who now
assumed the title of Jaffier Khan, while that
**
+
of Morshud Kooli Khan was bestowed
Mirza Lutf-ullah.
on
During the administration
1713, Mirza
Lutf-ullah ap-
Tipperah an-
nexed to the
conquest.
Appointed
to the Govern.
ment of Orissa
of this Naib, the territory of Tipperah, which
from the time of Sha Jehan, had only ac- province by
knowledged fealty to the Moghul Govern-
ment by a few annual presents, was now
re-conquered and annexed to the province.
After this conquest, Mirza Lutf-ullah or Mor-
shud Kooli Khan as he was now called, was
appointed by his father-in-law, Shuja Ad-
deen Khan, to the Government of Orissa, with
the title of Rustum Jung. Serferaz Khan,
the son of the Nawaub Shuja Addeen Khan,
next received the appointment of the Dacca
Neabut. He resided at Moorshedabad, and
carried on the Government by two deputies, ties.
viz. Jesswunt Roy, who had been his tutor,
and a person of the name of Ghalib Ali Khan,
who was related to the royal family of Persia.
* Appendix to the 5th Report on the Affairs of the East India Company.
L
with the title of
Rustum Jung.
Khan succeeds
resides at
Serferaz
him as Naib-
Moorshedabad
and governs
by two Depu-
82
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
state of the
province.
obtains the un-
controlled ma-
nagement of
During their joint administration, the pro-
vince is said to have been in a very flourish-
Improved ing condition; the imposts and heavy duties
that were levied by Meer Hubeeb, the Minis-
ter of the preceding Nawaub, were abolished,
and justice was administered with impartiali-
ty, while plenty and peace reigned through-
Murad Ali out the country. Murad Ali, who had receiv-
ed charge of the Nowarrah at the time the
affairs. two deputies were sent to Dacca, was now,
through the influence of Nuffesa Begum, the
sister of Serferaz Khan, appointed in the
room of Ghalib Ali who was recalled. His
colleague Jesswunt Roy, having soon after-
wards resigned his office of Dewan, the ad-
ministration of affairs was thus left to the
uncontrolled management of Murad Ali, who,
with his associate Rajbullub, the Peshkar of
the Nowarrah, soon reduced the district from
its state of prosperity to comparative poverty
verty and dis- and distress. Shamut Jung Nowarish Mo-
hammed Khan, the nephew and son-in-law
of Alverdi Khan, was next invested with the
succeeds Ser. Government in succession to Serferaz Khan.
Like his predecessor, he resided at Moorshe-
dabad, and acted in the two fold capacity of
Imperial Dewan and Deputy Nazim, appoint-
appointments ments which he held for many years, prior to
Naib of Ben- the British conquest of the country. He em-
ployed as his Deputy at Dacca, Hossein
Addeen Khan Addeen Khan, the nephew of Hossein Kooli
his Deputy at Khan, his minister at Moorshedabad. When
Alverdi Khan declared in favor of his adopt-
ed son Seraje Ad Dowlah, as his successor to
Through
misrule the
country is re-
duced to
tress.
Shamut
po-
Jung Nowar-
ish Moham-
med Khan
feraz Khan.
Holds the
of Dewan and
gal.
Hossein
employed as
Dacca.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
83
between Seraje
and Shamut
Aga Sadoc
Seraje Ad
gained over by
the Musnud, feuds arose between the heir-ap- Feuds arise
parent and Shamut Jung, which ended in the Ad Dowlah
assassination of Hossein Addeen Khan at Jung.
Dacca, and that of his uncle at Moorshedabad.
Aga Sadoc, the son of a wealthy Zemindar in
the Backergunge district, was employed by
Seraje Ad Dowlah to carry his plans into
effect at this place. This person, who had
proceeded to Moorshedabad to appeal against
a decision of Hossein Addeen's, instead of
obtaining the redress he expected, was detain-
ed a prisoner there by Hossein Kooli Khan.
He was soon induced, therefore, to listen to
the proposals of Seraje Ad Dowlah. Effect-
ing his escape from Moorshedabad, he return- Prevails
Dowlah.
Mohammed
in the conspi-
ed to Dacca, where his father Mohammed on his father
Bakher was now residing, and prevailing on Bakher to join
him to join in the conspiracy, on the promise racy.
of being made Naib, the party contrived to
get admission into the palace at the dead of
night, and murdered Hossein Addeen. When
the assassination became known the following
morning, the inhabitants of the town rose
in a body and attacked Mohammed Bakher
and his son. The former, on being required
to produce the Sunnud for his appointment to
the Neabut, pointed to his sword, and was inhabitants,
immediately killed, but Aga Sadoc, though doc escapes.
severely wounded, contrived to escape. Raj- Rajbullub
bullub, the Peshkhar of the Nowarrah Shamut Jung
Mehals, was now appointed by Shamut
Jung Nowarish to administer the Government,
in the room of Hossein Addeen. His first
The latter
killed by the
but Aga Sa-
appointed by
his Deputy.
84
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
of the con-
Confiscates proceeding was to confiscate all the property
the property belonging to the conspirators, out of which he
spirators and appropriated to himself a large portion of the
portion of it to land, that afterwards constituted the valuable
appropriates a
himself.
A masses
great wealth.
cause of Suraje
attack on the
their eventual
supremacy.
Succeeded
Zemindaree of Rajanaghur. Rajbullub is
said to have amassed, during the short time
he was in office, the immense sum of two
crores of rupees. A great portion of this
money was conveyed out of the district by
his son Kissen Dass, who, under the pretence
of visiting Juggernaut, repaired to Calcutta,
after the death of Shamut Jung. It was
in search of this treasure, which Kissen Dass
was supposed to have taken into Fort William,
The supposed when he took refuge there, that Suraje Ad
Ad Dowlah's Dowlah was induced to commence hostilities
English and against the English, which ended in the revo-
lution of 1757, by which they acquired pos-
session of the country. Rajbullub was suc-
ceeded by Jusseraut Khan. This person, who
had been a Government Mohurrer in the
district, continued to act as Naib during the
Governments of Alverdi Khan, Seraje Ad
Dowlah, Cossim Ali, &c., down to the year
1781. In 1763 he was ordered by Cossim
Ali to put all the English at Dacca to
death, but instead of obeying this barbarous
mandate of the Nawaub's, he nobly gave
them his protection, and sent them to Cal-
cutta with a trusty guard. At the time the
The Compa- Company acquired the Dewanny, there was a
Dewanuy. considerable number of State prisoners at
Dacca, consisting chiefly of the families of
by Jusseraut
Khan as Naib,
ny obtain the
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
85
State pri-
soners released
Jusseraut
Khan dies in
Newaub.
Nusserut
Jung Newaub.
Succeeded
by his young-
est brother
dowlah.
Shumshoo-
Who during
Serferaz Khan, and of Hossein Kooli Khan.*
In 1767, Lord Clive obtained their release,
and granted pensions to them to the amount by Lord Clive
aud pensioued.
of Rupees 34755, a portion of which, some of
their descendants still continue to receive. Jus-
seraut Khan died in 1781, and left three 1781.
grandsons by a daughter, (his only child,) who
was married to Meer Mortaza, a native of
Arabia. Hasmut Jung the eldest, was Na- Hasmut Jung
waub for seven years; and Nusserut Jung
for a period of thirty-seven years. Both
died without issue, and were succeeded
by their youngest brother Shumshoodowlah.
This Newaub in 1800 and during the life
time of his brother Nusserut Jung, was tried
along with Mirza Jan Tupish on a charge been found
"of attempting to subvert the British
vernment in Bengal; of endeavouring to con-
nect himself with the Zemindars of Behar, William.
with a design of exciting internal commotion,
and of keeping up a treasonable correspond-
ence." He was convicted, and was for some-
time a prisoner in Fort William, but was
afterwards released, and appointed to the
Nabobship on the death of his brother in
1822. He died in 1831. His son Koome-
roodowlah was Nawaub for about three years,
and was succeeded by the present incum-
bent in 1834.
Go-
* One of these prisoners named Ammanee Khan, a son of Serferaz
Khan, entered into a conspiracy in 1757 to seize Jusseraut Khan, and
take possession of the fort, but the attempt failed, through one of the
conspirators, who divulged the business to the Nawaub.
Lotfal Nissa,
the widow of Seraje Ad Dowlah, was added to the number by Jaffier
Khan, on suspicion of being a party to Abdah Hadee Khan's con-
spiracy to remove him from the Musnud.
the life time of
his brother had
guilty of excit-
ing insurrec-
tion, and con-
fined in Fort
Is released
and becomes
Nawaub.
Dies in 1831.
sors.
His succes-
86
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Site of
Dacca.
CHAPTER IV.
The City-Towns-Villages and Pergunnahs
-Roads and Means of Communication.
The city stands upon the northern bank of
the Boorigonga, about eight miles above its
confluence with the Dullaserry. The river,
which is here deep and navigable, by large
boats, expands in the season of inundation
to a considerable breadth, and gives to Dacca
with its minarets and spacious buildings, the
appearance, like that of Venice in the west, of
a city rising from the surface of the water.
Boundaries: It is bounded, on the east, by a low alluvial
plain, that extends to the Luckia, and, on the
north and north-west, by a tract of jungle
interspersed with Mussulmaun cemetries, and
deserted gardens, mosques and houses now in
ruins. During the rains, the lower level of
this portion of the environs is inundated to
a depth of many feet, at which season, the
town is completely insulated by a labyrinth
of creeks and morasses, that join the Boori-
gunga and Luckia. Dacca, comprising the
space within the limits of its ten tannahs,
covers an area of thirty-nine square miles, but
the part, strictly speaking, that constitutes
the town, is confined to the bank of the river,
along which, its streets, bazars and lanes
extend to a distance of four miles in length,
and about a mile and a quarter in breadth.
It is intersected in its interior by a branch of
Insulated
during the
rains.
Extent.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
87
of the town.
Streets:
the Dullye creek; and like the generality of
native towns, it is irregularly built, consisting
of brick houses and straw huts, standing Description
close to each other, and laid out in narrow
crooked streets and lanes. Its two principal
streets are joined nearly at right angles. One
extends from the Lall Baugh to the Dullye
creek, and is upwards of two miles in
length it runs at a little distance from,
and nearly parallel to the river; and has
branch streets leading to the ghauts. The
other street leads to the Cantonments, and
the suburbs to the north of the town: it is
about a mile and a quarter in length, and is
considerably wider, and more regularly built
than the former one. At the junction of these
streets, there is a small open space, which is
laid out in the form of a square, with a circu-
lar garden in its centre, and in the vicinity of
this square, and along the bank of the river to
the distance of half a mile, are situated the
English Factory, St. Thomas's Church, the Public Build-
Government School, the Native Hospital, and
most of the houses of the European residents.
The Chouk or Market place, is situated at the
west end of the town, and in the line of street,
that runs parallel to the river. It is a square
of pretty large dimensions, and is surrounded
chiefly by mosques and shops. The open
space, in which the bazar is held, is enclosed
by a low wall, with a carriage road around it,
and has in its centre, a large gun, which was
found some years ago on the bank of the river.
The numerous streets that intersect the town,
ings.
The Chouk.
88
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
chitecture.
are extremely narrow and crooked, and only
a few, which were widened by Mr. Walters,
about ten years ago, are wide enough to admit
of a wheeled conveyance passing through
them. The intermediate spaces are filled up
with houses and huts, usually arranged in the
form of squares or Chouks, which are separa-
ted from each other by narrow foot-paths, and
generally surrounded by jungle and deep pits,
from which earth has been dug for the
Style of ar- purposes of building. The style of archi-
tecture is much the same, as that of other
towns in Bengal. The houses facing the
streets, are generally very narrow, and are
from one to four stories in height. In
some parts of the city inhabited by parti-
cular castes, as in the weavers, and shell-cut-
ters' bazars, where ground for building lets
at a high rate, many of the four storied houses
have a frontage only of eight or ten feet,
while the side walls, unperforated either
with doors or windows, run back to a distance
of twenty yards. The extremities of these
buildings only, are roofed in, the middle part
of the dwelling, above the first story, being
left open and constituting a small Court.
European in- The houses of the European residents are
large, and well built, and give to the town, a
banks of the somewhat imposing appearance on the ap-
proach to it from the south. Most of them
are situated on the bank of the Boorigonga,
and have terrace gardens, the walls of which
are washed by the river in the rains. In the
Armenian and Greek quarters of the town,
habitants
side on
river.
re-
the
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
89
there are also several large brick built houses,
but most of them are falling into ruin.
one of
and iustitu-
Thannahs.
Bridges.
Ghauts.
Ferry Sta-
Markets.
The works and places of public utility, the Fublic works
public buildings, institutions and establish- tions.
ments in the city and suburbs, are the follow-
ing. 1st-Ten Thannahs or Police Stations.
2-Ten Bridges across the Dullye Creek and
its branch, which intersects the town
them is a handsome iron Suspension Bridge,
which was erected by public contribution.
during the Magistracy of Mr. Walters in 1830,
to whose public spirit the city is chiefly in-
debted for this, as well as many other great
improvements conducive to the health and
comfort of the inhabitants. 3-Thirteen
Ghauts or landing places. Seven Ferry-sta-
tions. 5-Twelve Bazars or Markets, in which tions.
the common articles of food are sold daily.
6.—Three Endaras or Wells. 7-The Magis-
trate's Cutcherry. 8-The Judge's ditto. 9—
The Collector's ditto. 10-The Revenue Com-
missioner's ditto. 11-The Moonsiff's ditto.
12-The Post Office: five branch Mails are
sent to the following places, viz. to Calcutta:
to Chittagong and Arracan: to Mymensing,
Jumalpore, and Assam: to Sylhet, Chirra
Poonjee and to Burrisaul. 13-The Cotwallee.
14-The Jail. 15-The Jail Hospital. 16-The
Lunatic Asylum. 17-The Native Hospital.
18-The Vaccine Establishment. 19-The
Charitable Fund. 20-St. Thomas's Church.
21-The Baptist Mission Meeting House. 22
-The Roman Catholic Church. 23-The Ar-
M
Wells.
Cutcherry,
Post Office.
Cot wallee.
Jail.
Jail Hospital.
Lunatic
Asylum.
Native Hos-
pital.
Vaccine
Establishment.
Charitable
Fund.
Churches.
90
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Churches
and places of
worship.
Schools.
Burial
Grounds.
Depot.
places of wor-
ship.
menian Church. 24-The Greek Church. 25—
One hundred and nineteen Hindoo places of
worship. 26-The Government School. 27-
Eleven Baptist Mission Schools. 28-Four-
teen Hindoo and Mahommedan Schools. 29-
One hundred and eighty Mahommedan places
of worship. 30-The Conservancy Depart-
ment. 31—The English, Armenian and Greek
Cemetries. 32-The Executive Officer's Estab-
lishment. 33--The Commissariat Office. 34-
The Military Orphan Station Committee. 35—
Cantonments. Cantonments for a Regiment of Native Infan-
Elephant try and Detachment of Artillery. 36-Depot
Mussulman of Elephants. The principal Mahommedan
places of worship are the Edgah and Hossa-
nee Delaun. The former was erected in 1640,
by Meer Abool Kassim, the household dewan
of Sultan Shujah, to accommodate that prince
and his numerous retinue at their prayers on
the celebration of the Ead; and the latter is
said to have been built by a person named
Meer Moraud, who held the Darogahship of
the Nowarrah Mehals, and had charge of the
public buildings in the time of Sultan Moham-
med Azim. The tradition regarding the lat-
ter edifice is, that Meer Moraud saw in a
vision, Emam Hossain erecting a Tazuah-
Kannah or house of mourning, and that he
was induced in consequence to raise the pre-
sent building, which he named Hossanee De-
laun. He defrayed the expense of illuminat-
ing it during the Mohurrum, and of feeding
the poor at this festival, and the allowance
then established by him was continued by the
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
91
Hindoo
ship.
Governors of the province. The annual sum
of Rs. 2,500 is at present granted by Govern-
ment to the Nawaub for the same purpose.
The chief Hindoo place of worship is the
temple of Dehaka Serry, which is situated places of wor-
about a couple of miles to the west of the
Chouk. It is said to have been established
by Bollalsen, but of the original building
erected by him, there are no traces existing.
This place became the property of a Hindoo
in the service of one of the Nawaubs, and the
present temple, it is said, was re-built about
100 years ago, by a person in the employ
of the Company at the Commercial Factory.
Derivation
Dacca.
The word Dhaka or Dacca is supposed by
some persons to be derived from Dhak, the of the word
name of a tree (Butea frondosa,) which is
plentiful here; while others refer its etymo-
logy to the word Dehaka, signifying "con-
cealed," which was given by Bollalsen to the
temple he built in honor of Durga. Though
Dacca is not mentioned in the Ayeen Ak-
berry, it would appear, nevertheless, from
the statement of the natives, to have been a
place of considerable extent prior to the
Moghul conquest. The tradition is, that it
originally consisted of 52 bazars and 53
streets, and that from this circumstance, it
obtained the long and somewhat inconvenient
name of “Bauno Bazar, and Teppun Gullee." Former name.
One of these bazars called the Bengalla
Bazar still exists, and is known, I believe,
throughout the country, as one of the most
Of consider-
able extent
previous to the
Moghul con-
quest.
92
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
galla laid
down in maps
of early tra-
vellers in the
situation of
Dacca.
ancient places of trade in Bengal. During
the 16th, and the early part of the 17th
City of Ben- century, the city of Bengalla, it may be
remarked, is frequently mentioned by Euro-
pean travellers, and is laid down in their
maps apparently in the situation of Dacca.
Rennel in his notice of it, states "in some
ancient books and maps we meet with a con-
siderable city called Bengalla, but no traces
of such a place now exist. It is described as
being near the eastern mouth of the Ganges,
and I conceive, that the site of it has been
carried away by the river. Bengalla appears
to have existed during the early part of
the past century." It is not improbable
that "Baunoo Bazar and Teppun Gullee" was
Identity not the city that is here alluded to, and that the
improbable.
name of Bengalla, by which one of its many
bazars was known, was applied by Europeans,
to the whole town, from the circumstance,
perhaps, of this bazar being the place, in
which trade was then chiefly carried on with
foreigners. What tends to confirm this opini-
on of the identity of Dacca and Bengalla, is
the circumstance that only one of them is ever
mentioned by the same traveller. Methold
in enumerating the principal cities of Bengal
for instance, mentions Rajmahl and Bengalla,
which he designates "faire cities," while
Herbert and Mandelso* who travelled about
Confirmed
by travellers.
* The Editor of the East Indian Chronologist mentions, that he
possesses a Map by Mandelso in which Bengalla is laid down as a
large city which is also in favor of the supposition of Bengalla and
Dacca being the same place for the former is not mentioned in his
book. "The principal cities being Rajmahl, Dacca or Kaka Phillipatan
and Satigan,"
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
93
tion of Rennell
the same period, specify Dacca and Rajmahl, The supposi
but make no mention of Bengalla. It may improbable.
further be remarked, that the opinion of this
city having been carried away by the river,
is not supported by any tradition in this part
of the country. The natives, who are well
acquainted with the sites of the ancient places
of note in the district, and of the changes
occasioned by the inroads of the rivers, men-
tion two cities called Serripore and Kotesur
as having been thus destroyed, but of the
existence of Bengalla, they have never heard,
a circumstance that tends to support the
opinion, that the name was originally used by
foreign traders instead of "Bauno Bazar and
Teppun Gullee," or of Dhaka, which latter
appellation appears to have been exclusively
applied to the western quarter of the town in
the vicinity of "Dehaka Serry." Bengalla
is described by Vertomannus in the
year 1503
as a place "that in fruitfulness and plenti-
fulness of all kinds may in manner contend
with any city in the world." "The region,"
he further says, "is so plentiful in all things,
that there lacketh nothing that may serve to
the necessary uses or pleasures of men, for
there are, in manner, all sorts of beasts, and
wholesome fruits, and plenty of corn, spices.
also in all sorts. Likewise of bombasin and
silks so exceeding great abundance, that in
all these things I think there is none other
region comparable to this." Rajah Man Sing
after defeating the Afghans at Serripore in the
pergunnah of Attyah, is said to have encamp-
Bengalla Description
of Bengalla by
Vertomannus,
94
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Becomes
1608.
Seat of Go.
transferred to
vernment
Dacca.
A Fort
erected.
ed at Dacca, in that quarter of the town in the
vicinity of Dehaka Serry, which is known by
the name of Ordhoo, and to have conducted
the affairs of the government here for some
a time. It was not however until between the
place of im-
portance about years 1608 and 1612, that Dacca became a
place of any political importance. Prior to
that time, Sunergong was the capital of the
Moghul provincial administration, but to
check the aggressions of the Afghans and
Mughs, Islam Khan now transferred the seat
Of government from Rajmahl to Dacca. Here,
he erected a fort, and increased the Nowarrah
or fleet and artillery, which had been esta-
blished in the time of Ackber: and in honor
Name of Dac- of the reigning Emperor, changed the name
of the place to Jehangirenuggur.* The fort,
no vestiges of which now exist, occupied the
sites of the present Jail, Cotwallee, and adjoin-
ing Hospitals, and enclosed within its walls,
the Nawaub's palace and gardens, the Courts
of Justice and the Mint. The principal pub-
Nawaubs, now lic buildings erected by succeeding Viceroys,
and now in ruins, are the great Kuttra and
the Lall Baug. The former was built by
directions of Sultan Mohammed Shujah in
1645. It is situated about half a mile to the
eastward of the Lall Baug, in front of the
Chouk, and fills up a considerable portion of
Description the space between that square and the river.
It presented on the side next to the Boorigon-
ga, an extensive front having a lofty central
ca changed.
Buildings
erected by the
in ruius.
The great
Kuttra.
of it.
* According to Gladwin, it was called Jehangirabad. Vide Glad-
win's Life of Jehangire.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
95
Ancient
pieces of ord.
The Lall
gateway, flanked by smaller entrances, and by
two octagonal towers, which rose to some
height above the body of the building. There
were formerly in front of the Kuttra, two uance remain.
very large guns, which were made and placed
there, it is said, in the time of Meer Jumla.
One of them (the largest of the two,) was
planted upon a small island in the middle of
the river, and sank some years ago. The
other, which stood at the Sowaree Ghaut, or
landing place of the Nawaubs, was dragged
up to its present site, in the centre of the
Chouk in 1828. It is made of hammered
iron, and its weight is estimated at 64,814
pounds. The palace of the Lall Baug was
commenced in 1678 by Sultan Mohammed Baug.
Azim, the third son of the Emperor Aureng-
zebe, and was left by him in an unfinished
state to Ameer Al Omrah Shaista Khan his
successor in the government. It was built in
a quadrangular form, and enclosed ground to
the extent of several beegahs. It originally
stood close to the Boorigonga, but there
is now an
an intervening space between it
and the river, which is covered with huts
and trees, that greatly obstruct the view
of it from this quarter. Its walls on the
western side, and the terrace and battlement
towards the river, are of a considerable height
and present a commanding aspect from
the water. These outworks, with a few of its
gateways, the audience hall, and the baths,
are the only parts of the building that now
remain, and though in a sadly dilapidated
Description
of it.
96
TOPOGPAPHY OF DACCA.
pleted,
erects a Mau-
it.
state and rapidly mouldering into decay, they
Never com- still shew the extensive and magnificent scale,
on which this princely residence was origi-
Shaista Khan nally designed. Shaista Khan appears never
soleum within to have completed this structure. When Ta-
vernier visited Dacca about the year 1666,
this Nawaub was residing in a temporary
wooden building, in its Court. He afterwards
erected within its walls, a Mausoleum to the
memory of his daughter Beebee Peeree, the
wife of Sultan Mohammed Azim. The inner
apartment of this structure containing the
Description tomb, is built of Marble and Chunar stone,
and is surmounted with a fine dome; and the
passage surrounding it, is divided into com-
partments embellished with Mosaics. Most
of its decorations however, together with the
aqueducts that supplied its fountains, have
long since been destroyed. The other build-
The little Kutings of note are the little Kuttra, the Pooshta
of it.
tra.
The Pooshta
residence des-
troyed by the
river.
By whom
built,
residence, and several mosques in different
parts of the town. The first of these was
erected by Shaista Khan in 1663, and is still
the property of his descendants. Of the
Pooshta residence the greater part has been
carried away by the river, within the last
twenty years, and there is now only a small
portion of it standing. It appears to have been
built by Prince Azim Ooshaun, who was resid-
ing here, it may be remarked, at the time that
Moorshud Kooli Khan, while on his way to
pay him a visit, was assailed by Abdal Va-
hid. Ferokeshere, the last Viceroy, and the
last Moghul prince that ever visited Dacca,
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
97
Several
other ruinous
mosques.
Bridges in
the town.
occupied this residence also, and built, in its
vicinity and close to the walls of the Lall
Baug, a large mosque, the walls of which are
only now standing. There are several other
large mosques now in ruins, which were built
by Shaista Khan, and Morshud Kooli Khan.
On the opposite side of the river, there is
an old building surrounded by a moat, which
is said to have been built by the Nawaub
Ibrahim Khan, and in the vicinity of the
town there are several bridges, and subter-
raneous baths and wells. Of the former, the the environs of
Pagla Pool, and Tungy bridge, built upon the
old military roads leading to the fort at Haje-
gunge on the Luckia, and to the Berhampoo-
ter, are the principal, especially the first of
these, which is much admired as a ruin.
The English Factory appears to have been
built about the year 1666, when Indian mus-
lins were first indroduced into England.
Tavernier alludes to it at this date, and
mentions the name of the chief. The central
part of the building was occupied as a Cut-
cherry for some time, but falling into a state of
ruin, it was pulled down about ten years ago,
and the only portion of the building that now
remains, is the outer wall. The French Fac-
tory, an extensive building on the bank of the
river, has lately been repaired, and converted
into a dwelling house, which is now occupied
by a native gentleman. Of the Dutch Fac-
tory, there are no traces existing, except the Factory.
walled terrace, on which it stood. The City,
in the time of the Moghul Government, was
N
The English
Factory when
erected.
The French
DOW
Factory Dow
converted into
a
private dwel-
ling house.
The Dutch
98
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Police Esta-
blishment dur-
ing the Mo-
ghul Govern-
meut.
An addi-
tional Ocer
-his duties.
under the jurisdiction of a Foujdar and six
Aumeens. The Police consisted of these
Officers with 80 peons and paiks, 50 horse-
men and 50 burkindazes: they had 52 Cha-
bootras, (several of which are the present
police stations), assigned for their residence,
and were paid chiefly by grants of land.
Besides the Adawlut and Foujdaree Courts,
called Ittysub there was an Officer called Ittysub, who exer-
cised a good deal of authority in the City.
Like the "Dean of Guild" in some parts of
Britain, he had the superintendence of weights
and measures, settled disputes occurring in the
market places, and imposed fines; and also
inflicted corporal punishment on offenders.
Other Officers The other Officers, besides the Nawaub and
extended be- Dewan, whose authority extended beyond the
City, were the Cazi, Canangoe and Wakana-
The duties ghar. The duty of the latter was to report
naghar. daily to the Emperor, all that occurred in the
the public departments of the Neabut, and
whose duties
yond the city.
of the Waka-
tablishments.
arrah
kannah.
The Mint.
to superintend the transmission of dispatches
and official correspondence to the seat of
Public Es Government. The public establishments were
The Now- the Nowarrah or fleet, the Tope-kannah or
The Tope. Artillery, and the Mint. The former com-
prised upwards of 700 war boats, and also
a number of state barges for the use of the
to the Emperor. Viceroys. Two vessels magnificently fitted
up, were annually dispatched to the Emperor
at Agra, but subsequently, when the Moghul
Government declined in vigour, and the Na-
waubs of Bengal became virtually indepen-
dent, these state boats, though avowedly sent
State boats
sent annually
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
99
for the use of his Majesty, never reached
higher than Moorshedabad.
Its situation
and extent.
River com-
munications
districts.
Distance
from Dacca.
Its trade.
Narraingunge. This town, next to Dacca, Naraingunge.
is the largest one in the district. It is situ-
ated on the western bank of the Luckia, at
its confluence with the Issamutty, and con-
sists of three divisions or bazars, which ex-
tend to a distant of three miles along the
river. It enjoys a free communication by
water with Calcutta, Sylhet, Chittagong, &c. with different
throughout the year, and with Assam (via
Mymensing) during the rains. It may be
called the port of Dacca, from which it is
distant about eight miles by land, and twelve
by water. It is a great mart for salt, oil
seeds, grain, sugar, ghee, tobacco, metals,
timber, lime, &c., and a depot for boats and
boatmen engaged in the inland trade. The
quantity of salt annually imported from Chit-
tagong and Bulloah amounts to 500,000
maunds, and the number of sloops employed
in the trade is about one hundred and sixty.
Mughs and people from the eastern coast
below Arracan, including a few Chinese, visit
Naraingunge during the north-east monsoon;
they purchase betel-nuts, sugar, tobacco and
different kinds of manufactures in exchange
for catechu, cotton, arsenic, round pepper,
gold and silver. The population, according Population
to a census taken in 1838, amounted to 6,252,
three-fifths of whom were Hindoos, who, to-
gether with a few Greeks, are the persons sole-
ly engaged in the salt trade. This place has
100
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Trade of late
transferred to
Kuddom
Roossool,
declined considerably within the last thirty
greatly dimi years, and a great portion of its former trade
nished and appears to be now transferred to Serajegunge,
Serajegunge, which, since the widening of the Jenai, has
become the largest mart for country produce
in this part of Bengal. In the vicinity of
Naraingunge, are situated the several forts
built by Meer Jumla, and almost opposite to
it, stands Kuddom Roossool, a place of some
antiquity, it is said, and one that is in great
repute among pious Mussulmauns in this part
of the country. The stone with the impres-
sion of the prophet's foot upon it, is kept in a
small mosque surrounded by the huts of
Fakirs, who live on charity bestowed by the
pilgrims who come to worship this relic. The
approach from the river is by a flight of steps
leading to a lofty gateway, which is a conspi-
cuous object from the Luckia.
Bickram-
pore.
Bickrampore. This pergunnah is situated
about 12 miles to the south of the city,
between the Issamutty and Megna on the
east, and the Ganges on the west on the
Situation and south it is bounded by the river Kirtinessa;
boundaries. and on the north by the pergunnah of
Its fertility Jellalpore. It is one of the most fertile sub-
and produc- divisions of the district, producing rice, su-
tiveness.
gar, cotton, safflower, betel and cocoa-nuts,
limes, and a variety of fruits and vegetables,
with which the Bazars in the city are chiefly
supplied. The greater part of this tract, on
its eastern side, consists of Bheetee or artifici-
ally raised land, thickly covered with gardens,
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
101
Thickly po-
mostly by Hin-
pulated and
and intersected by narrow creeks and tanks,
while on its western side it is low, and contains
a morass of about 15 miles in circumference,
covered with reed jungle, and partially filled
with water throughout the year. It is densely
inhabited, and almost entirely by Hindoos, the
greater proportion of whom are Brahmins.
Bickrampore is celebrated, as the ancient ca- The ancient
pital of the Kingdom of Bongoz, and the prin- Kingdom of
cipal residence of the Kings of Bengal, from Bougoz.
the time of Bikramadit down to the overthrow
of their Government by the Mussulmauns.
The place, where the Hindoo Princes resided,
is still pointed out by the natives. It is called
Rampal, and lies inland about three miles from
the Issamutty, and a little to the west of Ferin-
gybazar. The site of Bollal Baree, (the palace
of Bollalsen), consists of a mound of earth of a
quadrangular shape: it covers an area of about
3,000 square feet, and is surrounded by a moat
about 200 feet wide, with a road or bund con-
necting it with the mainland on its eastern
side.* There are no traces of buildings within
this enclosed space, but in its vicinity, and in
the country around to the distance of many
miles, mounds of bricks, and the foundations
of walls at a great depth below the surface are
met with, and have supplied materials for
building, in the city for many years past. Near
Bollal Baree, there is a deep excavation called
66
Agnikunda" where, it is said, the last
* A few years ago, a ryott while ploughing a field in this place
found a diamond of the value of Rs. 70,000 (£7,000), it afterwards gave
rise to a law suit before the Provincial Court of Appeal,
doos.
capital of the
Rampal, the
residence of the
Hindoo Princes.
The site of
Bollal Baree.
In its vicinity,
of walls found
the foundations
at a great
depth.
Agnikunda.
102
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Agnikunda. Hindoo Prince of Bickrampore and his family
burned themselves, on the approach of the
Mussulmauns. Tradition states, that the
Rajah, when he went out to meet the invaders
of his territory, carried with him a messenger
pigeon, whose return to the palace was to be
regarded by his family as an intimation of his
defeat, and a signal, therefore, to put them-
selves to death. He gained the victory, it ap-
pears, but unfortunately, while he was stooping
to drink from the river, after the fatigues of
the day, the bird escaped from the part of his
dress, in which it was concealed, and flew to
The last Hin its destination. The Rajah hurried home; but
Bickrampore, arriving too late to avert the consequences of
self and family this unhappy accident, he cast himself upon
on the funeral the funeral pile, still smoking with the ashes
doo Prince of
destroys him-
pile.
of his family, and thus closed the reign of the
last dynasty of Hindoo Princes in this part of
India. In the centre of Bolla! Baree, there is
a tank called "Meetha Pukhar," in which the
remains of the Rajah and his family are said
to have been deposited. It is regarded as a
place of great sanctity by the Hindoos in the
neighbourhood, who carefully abstain from
using its water, or removing the soil from its
banks. Within a couple of miles of Bollal
Baree, stand the tomb and mosque of Pir
mosque of Pir Adam, the Mussulmaun Cazi, who first
Description governed here. The latter is a tolerably large
of the mosque. building: the roof is supported by stone pil-
lars, which display a good deal of arabesque
and ornamental work, forming in this respect
a striking contrast to the plain and unadorned
Tomb and
Adam.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
103
tomb in its vicinity. Both buildings are kept
in repair by the few Mussulmaun families in
the neighbourhood, by whom they are regard-
ed with as much veneration, as the Mee-
tha Pukhar is by the Hindoos about Bollal
Baree. There are a few other places of
note within this pergunnah. At Keddar- Keddarpore.
pore there
are the remains of a resi-
The mutt of
Rajabaree,
dence, which is said to have belonged to a
Rajah of the name of Chonderoy, of the race
of the Booneahs, who appear to have ex-
tended their authority to several parts of
the country, west and south of the Boori-
gonga, during the decline of the Kingdom of
Bongoz. This place, which is now a heap of
bricks, is of considerable extent, but it is so
overgrown with jungle, and infested with
snakes, that its outline cannot be ascertained.
The mutt of Rajabaree, which forms a con-
spicuous landmark from the Ganges and
Megna, is said to have been erected by this
Rajah. Feringybazar, situated upon the
Issamutty, was originally inhabited by Por- ly inhabited by
tuguese. They settled here during the Go-
vernment of Shaista Khan in 1663, and con-
sisted chiefly of persons who had deserted
from the Rajah of Arracan to Hussein Beg,
the Moghul officer then beseiging Chittagong.
It was once a place of considerable size, but
since the decline of trade, it has dwindled
down to a village, still containing however in
the midst of its huts a few large brick houses.
Idrackpore, which also stands upon the bank
of the Issamutty, lies about three miles to
Feringy-
bazar original-
Portuguese.
Idrackpore,
its site.
104
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
A fair held
here in the
month of Oc-
tober.
the south of Feringybazar. There is, here,
a circular fort built by Meer Jumla, and se-
veral brick buildings and ghauts, where pro-
bably the Shabunder duties of Bickrampore
were formerly collected. Idrackpore is cele-
brated for a Barnee or fair, which is held in
the month of October. It continues for about
a fortnight, and is attended by people from
all the eastern districts, as well as by a few
merchants from the Upper Provinces and
Calcutta. The articles of merchandize con-
sist chiefly of cloths, cotton, carpets, blankets,
catechu, wax, sappan wood, spices, drugs,
dyes, iron, brass and copper utensils, and
agricultural and other implements. The
Mauufac principal manufactures in Bickrampore are
coarse cotton cloths, sackcloth, paper, and
seetul patee mats.
Its trade.
tures.
Rajanaghur,
its situation,
Rajanaghur.-This pergunnah, which ranks
next to Bickrampore in fertility and extent
of population, lies to the south of the Kirti-
nessa river, and between the Megna and the
original channel of the Ganges. It is on a
lower level than the eastern part of Bickram-
pore, and within the last sixty years, has
been much encroached upon by the Kirti-
nessa, in the bed of which, several extensive
alluvial tracts have been formed, that are
now in the possession of Government. Its
And produc principal products are rice, betel and cocoa-
nuts, sugar and indigo, also til and mustard
seed, khessaree and moong grains. From
the wide channels of the rivers here, the
tions.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
105
fers from gales
June.
Inundation
This Pergun-
nah formed a
portion of the
Zemindaree of
Rajah Rajbul-
lub.
country, in ordinary seasons of inundation, is
covered to a less depth of water than lands
situated farther inland. In general it suffers Country suf-
more from the prevalence of strong southerly in May and
winds, or the occurrence of gales in May
and June, by which the lands are inundated,
and the crops, especially that of indigo, are
frequently seriously damaged thus early in
the season. This part of the country suffered
greatly however during the high inundation
of 1787. There is a considerable number of of 1787.
Mussulmauns in Rajanaghur, and a large
proportion of its Hindoo inhabitants belongs
to the Bhaide caste. This pergunnah formed
a portion of the extensive and valuable Ze-
mindaree of Rajah Rajbullub, the deputy of
Nowazish Khan, the Dewan and Naib of the
eastern districts of Bengal. The property
originally consisted of 400 Talooks, and in
the year 1790 paid a revenue to Government
of about three lacs of Rupees, two-thirds of
which were derived from the Talooks, and the
remaining third from the Neez" lands in
the possession of the Zemindar. The Estate
was afterwards divided among the five sons
of Rajbullub and became an object of family of trouble to
contention, and a source of great trouble to
the revenue officers of the district, up to the
time of the permanent settlement. The vil-
lage of Rajanaghur, the residence of the
Rajah's descendants, is situated upon the
banks of a creek of that name not far from
the thannah of Molfutgunge. There are two
very fine mutts with lofty spires, and the
O
CC
Estate divid-
sons, and be-
ed among his
came a source
the Revenue
officers.
106
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Cartickpore,
its situation,
Sunergong,
its situation
and produc.
tions.
pal villages of
Painam,
remains of several buildings which formed
the Rajah's residence. The principal mutt
was erected by Rajbullub in 1744, and the
other by one of his sons in 1774.
Cartickpore-Is situated to the south of
Rajanaghur, and is the pergunnah adjoining
the district of Backergunge. In its physical
aspect and the nature of its productions, it is
closely allied to Rajanaghur, and does not,
therefore, require to be particularly described.
Sunergong-Is a pergunnah of considera-
ble size between the Luckia and Megna, in the
northern division of the district. Its agricul-
tural products are rice, cotton, turmeric, gin-
ger, betel-nuts, and betel or paun leaf, for
The princi- which it is celebrated. The principal villages
the Pergunnah. are Painam, Nagulbund, Baroodee, Kadooa,
and Moraparrah. Painam is the ancient city
of Sunergong, the Havillee Sunergong of the
early Mussulmaun rulers of this part of the
Its situation, country. It is situated about two miles inland
from the Berhampooter creek, in a grove of
bamboo thick- areca, tamarind,
areca, tamarind, mango, and various other
trees, interspersed with dense thickets of
bamboos, which completely conceal the village
from view until within a few yards of it. This
sequestered spot is approached in the dry sea-
son by narrow winding foot paths, but during
the rains it is partially inundated, and is
almost inaccessible except by small boats, or
to a person on an elephant or horse. Painam
at this latter season is surrounded by nume-
surrounded
with trees and
ets.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
107
Painam.
ness.
Surrounded
by a moat.
rous stagnant creeks and ponds, and by a vege-
tation, rank and luxuriant in the extreme.
From the thick foliage of the trees which ex-
clude the sun's rays, the village at this time
presents a most gloomy aspect, and in the
sickly emaciated appearance of its inhabi-
tants, it certainly realizes the character,
so generally ascribed to it, of its being one of
the most unhealthy places in the district. It Its unhealthi
consists of two narrow streets of straw huts,
and good brick built houses of two and three
stories in height. Surrounding it, there is a
deep muddy and stagnant canal, which ap-
pears to have originally been a moat for its
protection. Upon an old bridge across this
ditch, (the only avenue leading to the village)
are the remains of a gateway, which, in former
times when there was more wealth in the
place than at present, was shut every night,
and no person was allowed either to enter or
leave the town, until the following morning. In
the immediate vicinity of Painam there are
several mosques and buildings in ruins, which
in all probability constituted the place of resi- buildings in
dence of the early Mussulmaun Governors.
Though not more than a mile distant from
Painam, this spot is almost inaccessible from
being buried in the midst of dense jungle in- and of prey
fested with tigers and leopards, which renders
it unsafe for a person to approach the place,
except he is mounted on an elephant. I have
not had an opportunity of visiting it, but I
have no doubt it contains buildings of histori-
cal interest.
Dr. B. Hamilton, who visited
Ruinous
mosques and
its vicinity.
Inaccessible
from jungle
beasts.
108
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
According to this part of the country some years ago, was
Hamilton the
ancient Suner- informed by the natives, that the ancient Su-
gong was car-
the river,
which is an
error.
ried away by nergong had been carried away by the river,
and moreover that it stood on the opposite side
of the Megna. This there can be no doubt
is a mistake. In the vicinity of Sunergong
there have been no encroachments of the
river, but on the contrary, an accession of soil,
by the filling up of the Berhampooter creek,
which was originally the main channel of that
river. The city on the opposite side of the
Megna, was not Sunergong, but Serripore,
which stood in Bickrampore, and was destroy-
ed by the Kirtinessa. Sunergong, whatever
importance it may have formerly possessed as
a place of trade, or as the Metropolis of the
Never ap- eastern part of Bengal, does not appear, from
pears to have the account given of it by Fitch in 1586, ever
had any pre-
chitectural
cription.
66
tensions to ar- to have had any pretensions to architectural
grandeur. grandeur, and it is probable, that even the few
brick houses, which Painam now boasts of,
were built at a date subsequent to the estab-
Fitch's des lishment of the foreign trade by the Company.
Sinnergan," this traveller remarks, "is a
town six leagues from Serripore, where there
is the best and finest cloth made in all India.
The houses here, as they be in most parts of
India, are very little and covered with straw,
and have a few mats round about the walls,
and the door, to keep out the tigers and the
foxes. Many of the people are very rich.
Here they will eat no flesh, nor kill no beast.
Their mode They live on rice, milk and fruits. They go
of living and with a little cloth before them, and all the rest
dress.
>
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
109
of the body is naked." In the year 1279, the
Emperor Balin arrived at Sunergong in pur-
suit of Toghril, the rebel Governor of the pro-
vince, who fled to Tipperah. It was made at
this time the capital of the eastern provincial
Government, and at a subsequent period it
became the residence of the first independent
Kings of Bengal. Gyas Addeen, the son of
Sultan Sekunder Sha, made his escape from
Pundua to Sunergong, and collecting troops.
advanced to oppose his father. They met at
Gualparah near the junction of the Ganges
and the Jenai, in the vicinity of Jaffergunge,
and in the battle that ensued, Sultan Sekun-
der was slain. His tomb and several mosques
were to be seen at Gualparah not many years
ago, but the river has since swept them all
away. The celebrated Shere Sha, the first
Afghan King of Bengal, appears also to have
resided here, and is said to have built a Serai
The Emperor
the capital of
Balin makes it
the province.
Shere
Sha
is said to have
built Serais at
short stages
from this place
to the Indus.
Nagulbund.
A Great Fair
held here in
at every stage, and to have dug a well at the
end of every two miles from this place to the
Nilab, a branch of the Indus, a distance of
3,000 miles. Not far from Painam is the vil-
lage of Nagulbund and Panchomoy Ghaut,
which is celebrated, on account of a great
Hindoo festival, that is held here in the month
of March. On this occasion the Hindoos of March.
this, and the contiguous districts assemble fre-
quently to the number of 50,000 to bathe in
the Berhampooter creek; Merchants, taking
advantage of this concourse of persons,
bring their goods for sale, a fair is held,
which like that of Idrackpore, continues for
110
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Population
consists of Hin-
doos and Mus-
sulmauns in
nearly equal
numbers, their
occupation
weaving.
Bhowal.
of uncultivated
land,
several days.
several days. The population of this Pergun-
nah consists of Hindoos and Mussulmauns in
about equal numbers. The weaving of mus-
lins is the chief occupation of the inhabitants,
for which Sunergong still maintains the repu-
tation it enjoyed in the time of Abul Fazel
and Fitch. A great proportion of the weavers
are Mussulmauns, who are engaged in manu-
facturing the Jamdanee or flowered fabrics, a
considerable quantity of which is annually
exported to different parts of the country.
Bhowal. The name of Bhowal is given to
Its situation. a large tract of country in the northern divi-
sion of the district, lying to the west of the
Luckia, and extending from the city to the
Large tracts Berhampooter. There is a large quantity of
uncultivated land in this Pergunnah, especially
in its northern part, where there are extensive
forests and tracts of country, which were for-
merly inhabited, but which are now overrun
with jungle. The Seyle rice, mustard, sesa-
Agricultural mum, cotton, and several kinds of vegetables
and fruits, of which pine apples, and guavas,
Formerly
cultivated
products.
form a large portion, are among its chief agri-
Distance from cultural products. The village of Bhowal, or
Dacca by wa-
ter.
ed chiefly by
aus,
Inhabit Nagaree, is distant about one day's journey by
native Christi- water from Dacca. It consists of about 500
houses, which are almost entirely inhabited by
native Christians of Portuguese descent. There
is here a Roman Catholic Church, to which
The inhabi Bhowal and a number of the surrounding
surrounding villages belong, the whole constituting a Ze-
same persua mindaree of considerable extent and value.
tants of
the
villages of the
sion.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
111
Their num-
ber.
of this part
of the country
generally low
and very poor.
caste Hindoos
Their occu-
pation.
The ancient
Antibole of
The number of Christians on this and the
neighbouring estates is estimated at 5000.
A portion of the population of this part of the Population
country consists of low caste Hindoos, as
Chandals, the majority of whom, judging
from the wretched appearance of their huts,
are miserably poor and destitute. They gain
a livelihood chiefly by cutting firewood, tim-
ber, and grass for thatching. Antibole, a
town that stood on the banks of the Berham-
pooter, and which is mentioned by Ptolemy,
appears to have derived its name from Ptolemy.
Bhowal, or probably from it, and the word
Attya, (the name of a neighbouring tract of
country,) prefixed to it, thus forming the
word Atty-bowal, which makes a near ap-
proach to that used by the ancient geographer.
This place, it would appear, was also known
by the name of Antomela, and in the Sanscrit
that of Hattimalla or Hattiband, from the Antomela.
Rajah's elephants being picketted there. It
was situated, Wilford conjectures, at Feringy-
bazar, but it is more probable, I think, that
Akdalla, at the junction of the Banar and
Luckia, was its site, not only from the cir-
cumstance of this place being included in
Bhowal, and being situated on a branch of
the Berhampooter, but also from there being
a spot there which is still known by the name
of Hattiband, and which is said by the natives
to have been the place where the elephants of
the Rajahs in former times were kept. The
country about Akdalla rises into hilly ridges, around Akdal-
intersected by small ravines, the sides of
Also known
by the name of
Description
of the country
la.
112
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
The soil.
Coffee culti-
vated in con-
siderable
quantities.
which are covered with brushwood jungle.
The soil consists of red kunkur, and below, of
beds of clay with more or less alluvial deposit
in its composition. In addition to the crops
common to Bhowal, there is here a consider-
Indigo and able cultivation of indigo and also a coffee
plantation. The fort of Akdalla or Yekdalla
is frequently mentioned in the history of the
independent Kings of Bengal, but of its site,
or of the remains of any place of military
No trace of defence here, there are no traces existing at
present, and it is likely therefore that the
fort mentioned by this name is one, that is
situated about eight miles above Akdalla on
the eastern bank of the Banar at a place
called Doordooreah, in Capassia.
the Fort of
Akdalla.
Capassia si-
tuated on the
Banar.
for its fine cot-
Capassia-Is a sub-division of Bhowal,
banks of the which comprises a considerable tract of coun-
try on the banks of the Banar. It derives
its name from the word "Kapass" cotton,
and was the part of the country in which this
article was chiefly cultivated, and where
Celebrated the finest muslins were woven in former times.
ton and mus. It has been distinguished by its present name
from time immemorial, and it contains places
Its antiqui- apparently of the highest antiquity in this
part of the country. At one of these locali-
ties, known in the present day by the name
of Doordooreah, and situated upon the banks
of the Banar, about eight miles above Ak-
The remains dalla are to be seen the remains of a fort,
lins.
ty.
of a Fort on
the Banar and
the banks of and opposite to it, the foundations of a town,
opposite to it both of which, it is said, were built and
a town.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCĂ.
113
Width of the
river.
Its banks.
Form of the
Fort.
Its circum-
ference.
Moat nearly
filled with
occupied by the Booneah Rajahs. The river
here is about 300 yards wide, and in some
places more than 40 feet deep. Its banks
consist of the red kunkur soil, and rise
abruptly from the water's edge to a height
of about 50 feet, (when the river is at its
lowest level), presenting in many places the
appearances of a solid wall of masonry.
The fort is laid out apparently in the figure
of a crescent bounded by the river. The
outer wall is composed of red earth inter-
mixed with clay, and at present is not more
than 12 or 14 feet high. It is upwards of
two miles in circuit, and is surrounded by a
moat about 30 feet broad, which is now in a
great measure filled up with earth, that has
been washed down from the wall and adjacent earth:
ground. There are five openings or entrances Entrances into
into the fort, but no traces of brick or stone
built gateways are visible. At some distance
within this rampart, there are traces of a
second defence of a similar construction, and
still farther on, we come to the remains of a ramparts simi-
brick built wall, the extent and figure of
which are distinctly marked out by a ridge
of earth and loose bricks, and by a portion
of the foundations of the wall itself. Like
the outworks, it forms the segment of a cir-
cle, surrounded by a ditch communicating
with the river, which latter part corresponds
to the chord of the arc, and measures about
300 yards in length. This enclosure or
citadel as it appears to have been, has three The citadel.
openings into it, and contains two sites of
P
the Fort.
Construction
within the
lar.
114
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
site.
site.
buildings, which are somewhat elevated and
stand close upon the bank of the river. The
The Southern southern site consists of a circular mound of
bricks, and appears to have been that of a
tower, surrounded by a wall with four bas-
tions, the foundations of which are still visi-
The Northern ble. The figure of the northern site is not so
well defined; it has two elevated places of
a square figure and beyond this a tank that
communicated by a canal, that is still visible,
with the moat exterior to the citadel wall.
The surface of the ground between the differ-
ent walls is covered with mounds of earth and
bricks, interspersed with well defined hol-
lows, which appear to have been tanks.
Loose bricks also are scattered over the sur-
face and occur in heaps on the bank of the
river. A considerable portion of the buildings
Great por- appears to have been carried away by the
away by the river, which is said by the natives to have
been very narrow in former times. Of the
Vestiges of city on the opposite side of the river, the
only vestiges now existing are mounds and
loose bricks scattered over the surface of the
plain. It appears to have covered a consi-
derable extent of ground; about two miles
inland, there are two magnificent tanks which
are said to have been dug by the Booneah
Rajahs they are of great depth, and in
all probability are supplied by springs.
The site of the Court (or Cutcherry as it is
called), of these Chiefs is pointed out on the
bank of the river, and here also are to be
seen the foundations of a Durga and mosque,
tion carried
river.
the city.
The site of
the Booneah
Rajah's Cut
cherry.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
115
of a Durga
The Rannee
Baree.
ble strength.
The Rajah sup-
posed to have
which were built principally of stone. The Foundations
latter, which goes by the name of Shaick and Mosque,
Ala's mosque, was probably erected by Sultan
Ala Addeen. The fort is known among the
natives in this part of the country by the
name of "Rannee Baree," and is said to
have belonged to Rannee Babanee, who
seems to have been the last of the line of
Booneahs that occupied it at the time of the
Mohammedan invasion in A. D. 1204. From
the depth of the river, and of the moats that
surrounded it, this fort must have been a
place of considerable strength, and in all of considera-
probability it was the one in which Ilyas
Shums Addeen, the second independent King
of Bengal, was besieged by the Emperor
Ferose in the year 1353. It is mentioned,
that during the siege, Ilyas, disguised as a
Fakier, ventured out of the Fort to attend the
funeral of a distinguished Saint, named
Rajah Byabany, who lived in the vicinity.
He afterwards rode into the camp of the Em-
peror, to whom he made his obeisance, but
not being known, he was allowed to return to
the garrison unmolested.* The Rajah, who
is here named, was in all probability a des-
cendant of the Rannee Babanee. During the
reign of Sekunder Sha, the son and successor
of Ilyas, it was again besieged, but with the with the same
same unsuccessful result, as on the former
occasion, the Emperor withdrawing his army
and concluding a peace, on the promise of an
annual tribute being paid to him. In 1489
* Vide Stewart's History of Bengal.
been besieged
by the Emper-
or Ferose.
His fearless
conduct.
His success-
or besieged
ill success.
116
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
tuation,
posed to be
Sultan Ala Addeen Hussein made it his place
of residence, and was in the habit, it is related
of performing once a year a pilgrimage on
foot to Pundua, to visit the shrine of the
Toke-its si- celebrated saint Kuttub Al Aalum. Toke,
which is included in the country of Capassia,
is situated on the eastern side of the Banar,
where this river comes off from the Berham-
pooter, and is distant but a few miles from
the capital of Sessoo Pal. This latter place
lies inland in the heart of the jungle, and like
the town at Doordooreah, it consists of
mounds of bricks and earth with a fine tank
in the vicinity. The natives believe that
Treasure sup- there is a valuable treasure deposited in this
buried here. spot, but they are deterred by the dread of
snakes from searching for it. Sessoo Pal's
Baree is surrounded with dense jungle, in-
Names given fested with tigers and leopards. Toke ap-
cient Geogra- pears to be the Tugma of Ptolemy, the Tauke
of El Edrissi, the Tafek of the Mohammedan
travellers of the 9th century. Wilford con-
siders Tugma to be identical with Antibole
which has already been mentioned, he places
at Feringy Bazar, in Bickrampore. D'Anville,
on the other hand, has placed Tugma north
of a range of hills corresponding to the Tip-
The author's perah hills. Toke or Tugma was in all pro-
bability the port of Sessoo Pal's country, and
from its advantageous situation on the bank
of the Berhampooter, was in former times no
doubt a place of considerable trade. The
country about it, is high, but is now a good
deal overrun with jungle. The village is of
to Toke by an-
phers.
opinion.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
117
A weekly
market held.
Sabar and
Dumrey.
Situation.
considerable size, and is a mart for timber,
which is felled in the neighbouring forest, and
floated down the Banar from this place, in
the rainy season. There is a weekly market
held here which is well attended by the
Koonch and Rajbunsi, who bring cotton, deer's
horns, &c. for sale or barter. Cowries supply
the place of a copper currency, which is a
proof of the cheapness of all the necessaries
of life in this part of the country. Sabar and
Dumroy. These places, which are only a
few miles distant from each other, are situa-
ted in the northern division of the district,
and to the west of the city. The former,
which stands on the northern bank of the
Boorigonga, was the capital of the Booneah
Rajah Horischunder. His residence called
Cotebaree, like that of Sessoo Pal in Capassia,
and of Jush Pal at Madhupore, now forms a
heap of bricks and earth overgrown with
jungle. Dumroy is situated farther to the
north-west and on the Bansa river, near its
junction with the Dullaserry. It is one of
the principal manufacturing villages in the
district. Gonockpara, Ghori and Gurriapara
are distinguished in Rennel's Maps as places
of considerable size. They were the fortified
places of residence of the Afghans, who after
their defeat in the interior of Bengal by the part of the
Moghuls, retreated to this part of the coun-
try. A few years ago, a part of the walls
of the latter place, with several lofty gateways
and mosques were to be seen, but the river,
which has greatly altered its course in this
Dumroy.
Afghans re-
treat to this
country.
118
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
part of the country of late years, has swept
them all away, and there is now not a vestige
of them remaining. It is commonly reported
that Islam Khan, when he resolved on trans-
ferring the seat of Government to this part of
the country, selected Gonockpara for its site,
but finding that the surrounding country was
low, he dismantled the fort of its guns, and con-
stituted Dacca the Metropolis. In the vicinity
of Dumroy, there is a village called "Patan-
Descendants of tollee,” which is still inhabited by the descend-
the Afghaus. ants of the Afghans.
routes to Na-
ROADS AND MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.—
Roads two The only made roads in the district are two
raingunge and in the vicinity of the city; one leading to
-
Tezgong.
Naraingunge, the other to Tezgong and Tun-
ghy bridge, the former about 8, and the
latter 14 miles in length. Of the old Mili-
tary roads, the one that is least broken up,
though now considerably overgrown with
jungle, is a continuation of the Tezgong road,
which runs through the northern division of
the district to Bermya near Toke, a distance
of 45 miles from the city. At a little expense,
and with the labour of the Zillah prisoners, it
might be converted into a good passable road
Difficulty of throughout the year. The communication by
communica.
tion.
land between Dacca, Mymensing, and Jumal-
pore is almost impracticable at present, and
owing to the drying up of the lower part of
the Berhampooter in the hot season, the jour-
ney by water, except during the rains, is ex-
ceedingly circuitous and tedious. If this road
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
119
Easily ob-
viated.
Cross roads.
were repaired, the communication with these
places would be open throughout the year,
especially as the road from Toke is good all
the way to Mymensing and Jumalpore. The
distance to the former place by this route
would be 70, and to the latter 100 miles.
Another line of old road stretches across Bick-
rampore from the Ganges to the Issamutty,
and is a continuation of the road that runs
by Talma south of the lake at Fureedpore.
This road appears to have been made by
Sultan Ala Addeen Hussein Sha, and extend-
ed from Ekdalla and Sunargong to the fort
built by him at Coolna in the Sunderbunds.
The only other roads in the district, if in-
deed they be entitled to the name, are the
winding pathways that divide the cultivated
fields from each other, and lead from one vil-
lage to another. They are formed along the
ridges that constitute the boundaries of land,
and admit of the transportation of goods only
by foot
passengers or beasts of burthen. Wheel
conveyances are unknown in the country, and
the number of carts in the city probably
does not amount to more than twelve. Mr.
Douglass, the Collector, in 1790, mentions,
that hackeries were introduced into Dacca by
a corps that arrived in the city about that time. duced into
In the northern division of the district where
the land comparatively is high, and the creeks
in the interior soon dry up, the conveyance of
goods by bullocks is generally adopted, but in
the low alluvial country where the distance
between a village and a river or navigable
Wheel car-
riages almost
unknown
now in
country.
When intro-
Dacca.
Goods con-
eyed by bul-
locks or water
carriage.
120
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Variety
boats and their
names,
Ferries.
creek seldom exceeds three or four miles, the'
ryotts use boats to convey their agricultural
produce, or carry the load themselves to mar-
of ket. The "Pulwar" is the kind of boat pe-
culiar to the district, but a variety of others as
the "Bhadu" and "Dooree,"
Dooree," made with
rattan fastenings, and the "Saringa" or flat
bottomed boat, &c. are also in common use in
this, and the neighbouring district of Mymen-
sing, and in the season of inundation, rafts
constructed of plantain trees, or of earthen
jars inverted and tied together, are also em-
ployed by the ryotts on their farms, and as the
means of communication between neighbour-
ing villages. There are thirty-two Govern-
ment ferries with an establishment of 46
boats and 92 boatmen upon the Ganges, Dul-
laserry and Boorigonga, and during the dry
season ferries are established by Zemindars.
on all the other rivers and creeks, in the vicini-
Dak travel- ty of Bazars and Hauts. Travelling by dak be-
tween Dacca and Calcutta is generally practi-
Route to Cal- cable from November to June. The route is
through the stations of Fureed pore, Jessore,
Barasett and Dum-Dum. The distance is 199
miles; the number of stages 22, and that of
the ferries 20. The road to Chittagong is
open throughout the year. From Daudkandy,
Route from there is a good carriage road as far as the sta
tion of Comillah, but beyond this place, the
road is bad, especially in the rainy season.
The distance is 169 miles, and the number of
stages 14. From the lowness of the country
and number of jheels, travelling by land to
ling.
cutta.
Daudkandy to
Comillah.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
121
Sylhet, or Backergunge, is seldom undertaken,
Route to
Sylhet or Bac-
Route to
Intercourse
by water with
ing districts.
Different
routes to
Calcutta.
and is perhaps only practicable during three kergunge.
months in the year. The journey to Mymen- Mymensing.
sing is generally performed by land to Roop-
gunge, (a village on the Luckia), from thence
by water to Toke, and the remainder of it by
the road that extends along the bank of the Ber-
hampooter. Dacca maintains, throughout the
free intercourse by water with most parts
year, a
of the surrounding country. The route to Cal- the surround-
cutta changes with the season of the year.
From November to June travellers proceed water rou
down the Boorigonga, Issamutty and Megna
to the Rajapore or Khatijigutta creeks, which
lead from the latter river into the Kirtinessa,
from whence they proceed by the Nya Bagnee
and Maluttee rivers via Edeelpore into the
river, on which the station of Burrisaul is
situated. The remainder of the journey is
via Coolna in the Sunderbunds. Another
route is to proceed up the Boorigonga and
Dullaserry, round by Jaffergunge into the
Ganges, and from thence by the Chandarassee
and Borassee rivers to Coolna. A passage
either way is easily accomplished, in ten days,
in a common sized bauleah, but of the two the
Burrisaul one is generally preferred. During
the rainy season these routes are abandoned
in favor of the more direct one to the creek at
Fureedpore, which leads into the Borassia at
Moodakolly. To Mymensing the route by the
Luckia, Banar and Berhampooter is closed for meusing.
several months in the dry season, and boats
are obliged to proceed by the circuitous pas-
Q
Duration of
the voyage.
To My-
122
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
to Chitta-
gong.
Water route sage by the Jenai. With Chittagong, the
communication is open at all times, but it is
only during the north-east monsoon, that the
passage is ever attempted in pinnaces or boats
belonging to this district. The communication
with Sylhet is always open by the Megna;
and with the western provinces by the Ganges
via Jaffergunge.
the district.
Its Soil.
CHAPTER V.
Agriculture-Husbandry-Land
Measures-
Rent and Ryotts-Talookdars-Zemindars.
Fertility of This district in point of general fertility and
productiveness is considered to be inferior to
the neighbouring Zillahs of Fureedpore and
Mymensing. It is estimated, that two-thirds
of its area are cultivated, and of this extent
of surface, the larger portion is situated in
the southern division. The greater part of
the elevated land of the northern division,
consisting of the red kunkur soil, is unpro-
ductive, but in the lower levels of this tract,
viz. the dry beds of creeks, and along the
margins of morasses, the soil consists of a
stiff rich clay with more or less alluvial
deposit in its composition, and produces abun-
dant crops of rice, and on the higher sites
mustard and sesames. During the early pe-
riod of the Moghul administration, the lands
of this part of the district were let rent-free,
and continued to be cultivated on Jungle-
Lauds rent-
free.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
123
glebooree te-
Decrease of
the annual re-
venue of Bho-
wal and Cos-
simpore.
booree tenures, until Moorshedabad became Or on Jun-
the Capital of the province, when the oppres- "ures.
sion and rapacity of several of the Deputy
Naibs obliged the ryotts to desert their vil-
lages, and to emigrate to other parts of the
country. Elephants, beasts of prey and in-
undations appear also to have occasioned the
depopulation of many parts of it. It is reported
by Mr. Kelsall, the Supervisor of Revenue,
in 1769, that owing to the devastations com-
mitted by elephants from the neighbouring
jungles, the annual revenue of the estate of
Bhowal had decreased in amount during the
twelve preceding years from Rs. 53,899, to Rs.
16,720, and subsequently mention is frequently
made of deductions of Government revenue on
the same account, both here, and in the adjacent
pergunnah of Cossimpore. According to the
tradition of the natives, it was an inundation
of the Berhampooter, succeeded by a famine,
that depopulated the city at Doordooreah on
the Banar, and a similar calamity in thé
year 1787, it is well known, produced nearly
the same effect, not only here, but in many its effects.
other parts of the district. From the effects
of this last inundation, the district suffered
greatly, especially the southern pergunnahs
and that portion of it lying to the north of
the Boorigonga, where from the loss of cattle,
and the death and desertion of ryotts, the
lands were soon overrun with jungle, and
infested with tigers, rendering their subse-
quent cultivation a task of difficulty and
danger. Agriculture, however, has greatly
Great inun-
dation of 1787
124
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
greatly ex-
years.
Agriculture extended of late years, and both in this divi-
tended of late sion and throughout the district generally,
there is certainly more land under cultivation
at the present day, than there was at the time.
of the Company's accession to the Govern-
Articles of
cultivation.
Annual in-
undation.
Fertility
therefrom.
Different
descriptions of
laud.
ment.
The principal articles of cultivation are rice,
millet, oil seeds, legumes, cotton, safflower,
indigo, sunn, Syrian and Jew's mallow, sugar
cane, capsicums, ginger, turmeric and tobacco;
and in gardens or fields in the immediate
vicinity of huts, paun or betel leaf, gourds,
cucumbers, balsam apples, pepper, several
species of arum, pine apples, plantains, limes,
mangoes, betel and cocoanuts.
The annual inundation, to which the soil
is principally indebted for its fertility, regu-
lates the sites of cultivation, and in some
measure the times of sowing and reaping.
The levels, into which the cultivable lands
in the southern division are naturally divided
by it, are distinguished by different names*
in different parts of the country, but they
may be all reduced to the following, viz. 1st,
Bheetee or artificially raised lands, the sites
of huts and gardens, on which fruit trees and
a variety of vegetables are cultivated. 2-
Highlands above inundation, or only partially
inundated, upon which cotton, sugar, &c. are
grown. 3-Inundated lands, when rice, le-
gumes, indigo, &c. are raised.
* Bheetee or Ryottee, Pattaree, Tattec, Nul, &c.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
125
Five crops
of rice.
The Amoun
rice.
Five of rice, designated Amoun, Chot-
crops
na or Deega, Aoos, Bora, and Seyele, are
raised here; but the first, third, and fourth
are the principal, and constitute about three-
fourths of the whole grain cultivation of the
district. The lowest cultivable lands are
selected for the Amoun rice, (or Boron or win-
ter crop.) They receive from twelve to six-
teen ploughings from December up to Fe-
bruary, in which month or after the first fall
of rain, the seed is sown, though occasionally
in seasons of great drought, this is not com-
pleted before May. The average quantity of
seed required for one beegah of land is 32
seers, and the average produce is estimated
at 16 maunds or 640 seers. The Amoun
rice is not injured by heavy rains, except
where the water lodges on the ground for
five or six days, in which case it soon perishes.
Of all the kinds of rice, the Amoun is the
most rapid in its growth, frequently shooting
up to the extent of 12 inches in 24 hours, as
the inundation rises, and in the course of
some seasons attaining a height of 14 feet.
The greatest dangers to which it is exposed
during the season of inundation, are a high
and sudden rise of the rivers, by which it is
overtopped, and the detachment of floating
masses or fields of weeds, which are apt to
bury it under water. It is the crop that is
most extensively cultivated in this district,
and comprizes 50 different kinds of grain; it
is reaped in November and December. The The Chot-
Chotna or Deega rice is cultivated on lands of na or Decga
Rapidity of
its growth.
rice.
126
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACca.
rice.
The Aoos
rice.
The
rice.
The Chotna a level somewhat higher than the preceding.
It is sown in April and May, and is reaped in
September and October. It yields, it is estimat-
ed, about one-eighth less produce than the
Amoun rice, and comprises only 30 kinds of
grain. The Aoos is raised upon the highest level
of rice lands. It is sown in February, and is
reaped in May and June, at the commence-
Bora ment of the rains. The Bora or transplanted
rice is chiefly cultivated in the northern divi-
sion of the district, when it constitutes about
one-third of its grain cultivation; it is also ex-
tensively grown in Mymensing. The lowest
lands, bordering upon creeks and morasses,
where water may easily be obtained for the pur-
pose of irrigation, are selected for this cultiva-
tion. In the month of October, a portion of
land of small extent is worked by the plough or
by persons treading it, until it is converted into
the consistence of mud, about 24 feet deep, and
calculated to retain its moisture for fourteen
days. During this preparation of the ground,
the seed is subjected to a forced vegetation at
the ryott's hut. It is steeped in a bag or basket,
in the nearest muddy jheel or creek for twelve
hours, after which it is allowed to dry for a
couple of days. It is next spread out upon a
mat and exposed to the sun, and occasionally
sprinkled with water. On the fifth day the
seeds will be found to be swollen and ready to
germinate, and being now considered fit for
sowing, the bed of mud is made smooth with
the implement called the " Mowee," and they
are scattered over the surface of the ground.
Mode of
cultivating.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
127
the Bora rice.
This nursery is watched for four or five days Cultivation of
to keep off birds, and until the seed is well set
in the soil. In December and January, the
plants when they are about a foot high are
plucked up, and if they have much leaf, are
cropped and transplanted to fields prepared
for them in the vicinity of water. Here they
are irrigated and weeded for a couple of
months, after which, the only care required,
is to keep off birds and hogs. This crop is
reaped in May and June, and yields a larger
return, and grain superior in quality, to that
of the Amoun or Aoos rice. A somewhat si-
milar mode of cultivation is adopted in China,
and the scriptural expression of "cast thy
bread upon the waters for thou shalt find it
again after many days," seems to imply that
something of the same kind was practised by
the Jews on the banks of the Jordan. The
Seyele rice is cultivated in the same way as rice.
the Bora, but with this difference, that the
Seyele is transplanted in June and July to the
highest clayey soils available for the purpose,
and is reaped in January and February. This
cultivation is peculiar to the northern division,
where it thrives best in heavy clayey soils,
and yields the largest returns in seasons of
heavy rain. This crop, which comprises seven
varieties, is esteemed the best of all the kinds
of rice raised in the district. The number of
plants of the Bora and Seyele rice average
about 20 to the square cubit of ground. The
Ouree or jhara dhaun, or indigenous rice, is
found growing in great abundance in the low
Cultivation
of the Seyele
The Ouree
or indigenous
rice.
128
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
lands of the northern division, and is so
easily detached from the ear, when ripe, that
it is generally gathered by shaking the plant
over a basket. It is occasionally brought to
the bazars by poor persons, and from the fine-
ness of its grain, it usually sells at a higher
price than any of the cultivated kinds. The
The Millet, species of millet that are cultivated are the
Cheena (Panicum Miliaceum) and Kaughnee
(Panicum Italicum.) They are sown on the
low lands in the southern division after the
rains, and are reaped in March and April-
Caffre corn (Panicum Sorghum) also thrives
remarkably well in this part of the country.
A small quantity of this grain, imported from
the Cape in 1836, has yielded abundant re-
turns. This millet being considerably larger
than the Cheena or Khaugnee is much sought
after by the ryotts, and is likely to be exten-
sively cultivated, especially in the northern
division of the district.
The Oil
seeds.
The oil seeds are Sursoo, (Sinapis Dichotoma)
Til, (Sesamum Orientale) and Tisee, (Linum
Ussitatissimum.) The former is chiefly grown
in the northern division, and in many places.
where the soil is moist, it is sown without any
previous preparation of the ground, but in the
higher sites the ground is ploughed for the
Mustard of purpose. Mustard is sown in September and
two varieties. October, and is reaped in January and Fe-
bruary. It comprises two varieties which
differ chiefly in the colour of the grain. Deer
frequently commit great depredations on this
Deer com-
mit great ha-
voc on them.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
129
crop. Til or sesamum is most extensively
cultivated along the banks of the Luckia,
where it is frequently sown along with the
Amoun rice constituting the crop called “Til
buwat chea." It is reaped in May and June.
Both this article and the other oil grains
however, are more extensively cultivated to
the north of the Berhampooter, than in this
district.
Pulse culti-
vation not
consumption
of the district.
Khessaree (Lathyrus Sativus), Moosooree,
(Cicer Leus) Chick pea, Moogh, (Phaseolus equal to the
trilobus), Muttur, (Pisum Sativum) common
pea, and Kullae, (Dolichos Pilosus) are the
liguminous grains that are cultivated here.
They are all raised on the Chotna rice lands,
with the exception of the Moogh, which is
grown on a higher level. The whole quan-
tity of pulse, however, that is raised in the
district, does not afford a supply of dhal
equal to the consumption, and a considerable
importation of these grains, takes place from
Patna, &c.
The other grains, which are all cultivated
in smaller quantities than the preceding, are
Meethee (Trigonella fœniculum) or fenu-
greek, Kallijeera, (Nigella Sativa) or common
fennel flower, Sonf, (Anethun foeniculum) and
Sulfa (Anethum Sowa) or dill, and Dhuniya,
(Coriander Sativum) or Coriander. They are
raised in small quantities, and usually on the
same field. They are sown in December, and
reaped in April. Jow or Barley, (Hordeum
R
Other grains.
130
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Cotton.
The plaut
annual.
from that of
Bengal.
Hexastichon), Mukuee (Zea Mays) or Indian
Corn, and Roas (Vicia Faba) are also raised
in the district, but in small quantities.
Cotton.-The material of which the fine
Dacca muslins are made, is entirely the pro-
duce of the district. The plant is an annual
one, and attains a height of about five feet.
It is described by Roxburgh as a variety of
Different the Gossipium Herbaceum, and is said to differ
from the common cotton plant of Bengal in
the following particulars—“ 1st, The branches
are more erect, with fewer branches and the
lobes of the leaves more pointed. 2d-The
whole of the plant is tinged of a reddish co-
lour even the petioles and nerves of the leaves
Its descrip- are less pubescent. 3d-The peduncles, which
support the flowers, are longer, and the exterior
margins of the petals are tinged with red. 4th
-The staple of the cotton is longer, much finer
tion,
ton.
Desee cot- and softer." This is the Desee or indigenous
Different
quality ob-
staple.
cotton of the district, which has been culti-
vated in the northern division from time im-
memorial. Formerly, when this article was
more extensively cultivated than at present,
there were different shades of quality ob-
servable in the servable in the staple, which either cannot
now be distinguished or have degenerated into
one of an inferior degree. They were known
by the names of Phootee, Nurmah, and Bai-
raite. The cotton of the present day, it is
affirmed by the natives, is inferior to what
or in quality to it formerly was. The crops are less abun-
dant, it is said, and the fibres though appa-
By native
reports inferi.
what it was,
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
131
Dacea Cot-
ton superior in
other in Ben-
gal.
Two crops
of Cotton.
Mode of cul-
tivating.
rently equally fine and soft, are shorter and
more firmly adherent to the seed, than the
produce of former years. The Dacca cotton,
however, notwithstanding the deterioration quality to any
imputed to it, still ranks as an article of
finer quality than the produce of other parts
of Bengal or of the western provinces. Of
late years, small quantities of it have occa-
sionally been exported to the Calcutta bazars,
where it always sells at a higher price than
cotton imported from other parts of the
country. Two crops are raised in the dis-
trict: they are gathered in April and Septem-
ber, but the first yields the finest produce,
and is the one that is chiefly cultivated. The
seeds which are used for sowing are carefully
picked, and after having been dried in the
sun, are preserved in an earthen pot in which
oil or ghee has been kept, and the vessel with
its mouth stopped up, so as exclude the ex-
ternal air, is hung up to the roof of the hut,
and over the spot that the fire is usually
kindled. The high lands are selected for
this crop, and are ploughed from eight to
twelve times, up to September, and October,
when the seeds are sown. This is done in
parallel rows, distant about a cubit from each
other, and before the seeds are dropped into
the ground they are moistened with water.
The cotton plant is liable to injury from hail
storms, heavy rain, and caterpillars. It im-
poverishes the soil, and the same field never
produces successively more than two crops
of good cotton. Formerly the ground for
Deteriorates
the laud.
132
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Supposed
Cotton of the
present day.
Northern
part of the
cotton was allowed to lie fallow every fourth
cause of the in- year, and it appears to be owing to the neg-
feriority of the lect of this circumstance in the present day,
that the produce is now inferior in quality
to that of former times. A good crop is
estimated at 8 maunds per beegah. The
average proportion of seeds to wool is about
or 32 seers of the former in one maund
or 40 seers of the uncleaned cotton. The
northern division of the district produces the
district produ- best cotton, and in the situation, especially
that portion of it bordering upon the Megna
and Berhampooter, in Sunergong, Capassia,
Toke and Junglebaree, in which this article
was chiefly cultivated in former times. The
soil here, it may be remarked, possesses the
different constituents, that are supposed to
be essentially necessary to the formation of
good cotton ground in America, and it is,
perhaps, to this circumstance, that the supe-
riority of the Dacca cotton over that grown
in other parts of Bengal is to be attributed.
ces the best
Cotton.
Peculiar
kind of soil
necessary.
Baines states "that a mixture of silicious
and argillacious earth is the most desirable,
with a preponderance of the former," and
more lately it would appear that lime has
been found to constitute one of the ingredi-
ents.* These different earths are present
here, especially the silica, which is brought
down by the Berhampooter, and which ren-
ders the lands much drier in this part of the
* Vide Baines's History of the Cotton manufactures of Britain.
Piddington, Journal of the Asiatic Society.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
133
district than in the country bordering on the
Ganges. The cotton of the northern division
is said to swell less, than the produce of other
parts of the country. This tendency of the
fibre to swell in bleaching, is the criterion by
which the weavers judge of its quality, but
whether it depends on any inherent property
in the cotton itself, or on the water used in
bleaching, is not known, though there is rea-
son to believe, that it is principally owing
to the latter. The thread manufactured at
Dumroy, which was reported by Mr. Bebb,
the Commercial Resident, to swell the most, is
found by the weavers at present to be equal
to the thread of the best aurungs, or to swell
the least if bleached in Dacca, but the re-
verse, as Mr. Bebb describes it, if the water
of Dumroy be used in the process.
Criterion by
judge the qua-
which weavers
lity of cotton.
Safflower,
where culti
adapted for it.
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius,) is culti-
vated in the tract of country, lying between vated.
the Ganges and Dullaserry, but chiefly on the
banks of the latter river in the vicinity of
Pattergotta, where the flower of the best qua-
lity is produced. The other principal site of
cultivation is Bellispore. The land best adapt- Soil best
ed for it is the rich mixed soil or clay. About
six seers of seed are required for a beegah of
land of 7,000 square cubits, and this extent
of cultivation, if the soil be good and the
season favorable, will yield between ten and
eleven seers of the flower. The seed is sown
in October and November, and the flowers,
when their petals have become of a deep
When sown
and gathered.
134
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Process
cakes.
of
Expence of
An oil ob.
seeds.
orange colour, are gathered in March, April
and May. The flowers that have been pluck-
ed during the day are saturated with water in
the evening, and next morning are trodden
preparing the upon by the ryotts. This process is repeated
for four or five days, until the water runs off
clear, and the flowers are considered to be
free from all impurities. The mass is then
divided into small portions, which are made
into flat cakes and dried in the sun. Safflow-
Bazar price. er sells at a price usually varying from 16 to
cultivation. 25 rupees per maund. The expence of culti-
vation does not exceed 7 rupees, and the
average profit derived from it may be esti-
tained from the mated at rupees 3-8 per beegah. An oil is
procured from the seeds, which is used for
burning; it sells in the bazars at half the
price of mustard oil. The seeds also, mixed
with sugar and milk, are eaten by the ryotts,
and the ashes of the leaves and stalks, which
contain a considerable quantity of potash, are
used by them as a substitute for soap in wash-
raised in 1789. ing. The whole quantity of safflower raised
in the district in 1789 was consumed by the
dyers in the city, and according to Mr. Dou-
glass, the Collector, it was grown in a small
quantity and used solely for the sake of its
In 1800-1810. yellow dye. About the year 1800 a consi-
derable quantity of it was exported, and in
1810 the total quantity raised in the district
amounted to 2,000 maunds. The largest ex-
portation that has yet been made, occurred in
crop in 1825, 1824-25. The total quantity that passed the
its value. Custom House of Calcutta in that year amount-
An article of
food.
Quantity
Largest
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
135
Often adul-
terated.
Superior to
any other cul-
dia.
Yields two
ed to 8,448 maunds, and was valued at rupees
2,90,655-8-6, and of this quantity, it is estimat-
ed that two-thirds were grown in the vicinity
of Dacca. The average annual quantity ex-
ported during the last eight years has been
about 4,000 maunds. Safflower is often adul-
terated by the natives with substances of a
similar colour that generate insects, by which
it is frequently rendered entirely useless, by
the time it reaches England. The Dacca
safflower, however, is superior to any that is tivated in In-
grown in India, and ranks next to China saf-
flower in the London market. Safflower, it
may be mentioned, yields two kinds of colour-
ing matter a yellow, and a red. The former, colours.
which is soluble in cold water, is removed by
repeated washings, and the residue yields the
red colour by digestion in a cold solution of
carbonate of potash, from which it is preci-
pitated by weak citric acid. The red colour,
or "Carthamic acid" as it is called by some
chemists, exceeds in beauty the colour of co-
chineal, but cloths, dyed with it, will not bear
the action of soap nor exposure to the sun for
a long time. It is used to imitate upon silk
the pouceau (scarlet) of the French, and mix-
ed with talc in powder, it forms common
rouge.
generally cul-
Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria) is chiefly Indigo where
cultivated on newly formed churs, and on the tivated.
Aoos and Chotna rice lands. Most of the
plant in the southern division is from October
sowings. The manufacture of the dye in this
136
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Inferior
part of the district is commenced generally
about the 25th of May, and is finished by the
beginning of July. In the northern division,
where the lands are higher, the seed is sown
in February and March, and the manufacture
is not begun until about the end of June.
The produce of this district is considered to
in be of an inferior quality to that of Jessore.
In factories where the water of the Berham-
pooter is used in the manufacturing process,
there is generally a mixture of very fine sili-
cious sand with the indigo, which renders it
hard, and gives it a shining appearance on
being broken. In the year 1801 there were
Indigo ma- only two small indigo factories in this dis-
nufactories trict. The number at present, (within the
quality to that
of Jessore.
greatly in-
creased.
Present
produce.
Sunn where
cultivated,
When sown.
Process of
manufactur-
ing hemp.
limits of the Zillah), amounts to thirty-three.
The extent of land under cultivation is esti-
mated at 100,000 beegahs, and the annual
quality of indigo produced at 2500 maunds.
The outlay of money among ryotts and per-
sons employed in the manufacture of the
dye, averages about three lacs of rupees or
£30,000 a year.
Sunn (Crotolaria Juncea.)-This plant is
raised on the alluvial lands of both divisions of
the district, but it thrives best near the Ganges,
and about Sunergong on the eastern side
of the Luckia. The seed is sown in October
and November, and in February, March and
April the plants are plucked up by the roots,
tied into bundles, and macerated in the
nearest jheel or river, until the bark and
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
137
Produce of
a beegah of
Cost of cul-
woody part becoming loose, are easily de-
tached from each other, by agitation under
water. The bark or fibrous part, which con-
stitutes the hemp, is then divested of its muci-
lage by pouring water over it, and by gently
beating it upon a wooden plank, in the manner
that clothes are washed in this country, or by
drawing the bundle through the teeth of a
coarse wooden comb, by which the fibres are
separated. A beegah of good land is estimated
to produce three maunds of the clean sunn, the land.
highest price of which is two rupees per
maund. The land requires to be ploughed
from twelve to sixteen times, and the ex-
pence of this labour, together with rent,
seed, &c. is estimated at rupees 2-8 per bee-
gah. In 1806 the Dacca district produced
10,000 maunds of this article, and the Quantity
total quantity purchased by the commercial produced in
resident, in this and the neighbouring districts, in 1806.
on account of the British Navy, amounted
in that year to 55,000 maunds. The quantity
that is now raised is small, and is chiefly
used in the manufacture of fishing nets.
tivation.
the district
Present
produce.
Pat and
Mestapat.
Pat (Corchorus Olitorius.)-Jew's Mallow
and Mesta Pat (Hibiscus Cannabinus.)—Sy-
rian Mallow.—These plants are more exten-
sively cultivated than the sunn. The seed is
sown in February and March, and the plants
are plucked up at the commencement of the
rains. They are prepared in the same way as
the sunn. The fibres of Pat, and Mesta Pat same purpose
S
Used for the
as Sunu.
138
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Sugar Cane,
more
exten-
are used to make ropes, and also for the
manufacture of paper, and of sackcloth in
Bickrampore. A considerable quantity is
also exported to Calcutta.
Sugar Cane (Saccharum Officinale)-Is
sively culti- more extensively cultivated in Furreedpore,
reedpore and and Backergunge, than in this district.
vated at Fur.
Backergunge.
Extent of
cultivation.
Chillies.
In
the former Zillah the cultivation of it extends
along the western bank of the Ganges to a dis-
tance of several miles, and the cane of that
part of the country is superior to the produce
of any of the eastern districts. The extent
of cultivation in this district was estimated
by Mr. Douglass in 1792, at 1000 beegahs of
50 yards square, and perhaps the cultivation
in the present day does not exceed double
that quantity of land. The gour or molasses
is of an inferior qualtity, and is entirely con-
sumed in cookery, and the preparation of
The article, from which the
sugar for the consumption of the town is ex-
tracted, is imported from other districts, and
yields three qualities in the proportions of 16,
18 and 20 seers of the latter from a maund of
cheenee. The total consumption of the three
qualities does not exceed 50 maunds.
sweetmeats.
Lunka Mirich (Capsicum Frutescens), Dhan
Mirich (Capsicum Minimum,) or Chillies.
Both articles are extensively cultivated here,
especially the former, which is exported
in large quantities to Calcutta.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
139
Huldee (Curcuma longa and Gardneria ovata) Turmeric.
Turmeric-Adruck (Zinziber Officinalis) Gin-
ger. They are grown in fields in the more
elevated parts of the district, especially about
Sunergong, and in Bickrampore, but the whole
quantity, that is raised, is consumed in the
district. Both articles are much more exten-
sively cultivated in the district of Furreed-
pore than here.
Tobacco (Nicotiana Tabacum.)-The culti-
vation of tobacco is limited to the consump-
tion by the ryotts in the country. A consi-
derable quantity is imported from Rungpore,
Cooch Behar, &c.
!
Tobacco,
Plants cul-
tivated by the
Among the plants cultivated in gardens
and fields, in the vicinity of the ryott's huts, villagers in the
are the following, viz.
1st.-Pan (Piper Betel) pan or betel leaf.
It comprizes three varieties, one of which is
common to all parts of the district, while the
other two called elachee and kapooree, names
which they derive from their superior fla-
vour, are cultivated only in Sunergong.
2d.-Koomra (Cucurbita pepo.)-There are
four varieties, distinguished by the names of
koomra, methee khoosmandah, gimee khoos-
mandah and chaal khoosmandah. The second
and third varieties are chiefly cultivated in
Bickrampore. The latter of these two (G.K.)
is peculiar to this place, and the district of
vicinity of their
houses.
Pan.
Koomra:
140
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Backergunge, from whence large quantities
are sent to Calcutta, and different parts of
the country. If hung up in a place where
there is a fire lit daily, the gimee khoosman-
dah, it is said, will keep good for two years.
The fourth variety is used both as a vegetable
and a preserve, and is in great requisition
among the Hindoos at the Doorgah Poojah.
3. Kudoo (Cucurbita Lagenaria.)
4. Shurkaru Kunda (Convolvus Batatas.)
5. Oochya (Momordica Mixta.)
6. Karella (Cleome Pentophylla.)
7. Bygun (Solanum Melongena.)
8. Keera (Cucumis Sativus.)
9. Futee (Cucumis Momordica.)
10. Toriee (Luffa Acutangula.)
11. Kuchoo (Arum Colocasia.)
12. Man Kuchoo (Arum Indicum.)
13. Moolee (Raphanus Sativus.)
14. Danta Sag (Amaranthus Gangeticus.)
Number three is cultivated in fields, and upon
the roofs of huts in all parts of the district,
and four and six are only raised in the
northern division, and the latter upon a trellis
made of bamboos. The district is celebra-
Great varic- ted for its plantains, and pine apples. Of
ties of the
plautain,
eight varieties of the Plantain (Musa para-
disiaca) two called Murtowan, and Champa
Kela, are esteemed the best. The former in
particular, which is only cultivated in Bick-
rampore, is considered to be the finest fla-
voured fruit of its kind in India. The trees
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
141
Pine apple.
Limes.
Varieties.
are renewed every second or third year, and
are manured with the earth taken from the
sides of the ditches. Pine Apples (Bromelia
Ananas) are raised in abundance north of
the town, and chiefly about the villages of
Bhowal and Tezgong, where the variety,
called the Dacca pine apple, is cultivated.
The superiority of the pine apple at these
places, is perhaps owing to the care that
was originally bestowed on its culture by
the Portuguese Missionaries, and the Euro-
peans attached to the foreign factories, all
of whom had gardens at the latter place.
Limes (Citrus Medica) are raised in large
quantities in Bickrampore, and are chiefly
used in the bleaching of muslins. There are
six varieties, of which the Kalombo and Bha-
tassee are the largest, and which are the
kinds used in bleaching. The Elachee and
Khagassee varieties, so named, the former
from its superior flavour, and the latter from
its rind not being thicker than paper, are
plentiful. Surbuttee, which is the size of
an orange, is made into preserves, and is used
for sherbets; and the Katajmaree is adminis-
tered in cases of enlarged spleen. The Soo-
paree or Betel-nut (Areca Catechu) is one of greatly culti
the trees, that is most extensively cultivated
in the southern parts of the district, where
it yields a considerable revenue to proprietors
of land. There are also extensive plantations
of it in the Tipperah district, along the eastern
bank of the Megna. In these latter places,
the average number of trees to a beegah is
Sooparee
or Betel-nut
vated.
142
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Exported.
Cocoanut
tree.
Shell manufac-
tured into na-
tive hookahs.
700, but in this district, the trees are generally
planted round gardens and huts. It yields
fruit in the 8th year, and is most productive
from that time up to the 16th year, after
which the produce falls off. The value of
a tree varies according to its age, but the
average is about eight annas. The nuts are
plucked in November by persons, who pass
from tree to tree without descending to the
ground. They are then dried in the sun
for a few days, and are shelled upon a piece
of bamboo fixed in the ground. This is done
by drawing them along the edge of the bamboo,
which is as sharp as a knife, and is performed
by persons who generally work with both
hands, or upon two of these instruments at
the same time. The number of nuts that
an expert operator can thus shell in one
day, is about 3600. Betel-nuts are exported
to Rungpore, Assam, and Arracan. Those
that are sent to the former places are unshell-
ed. Nariel or Cocoanut tree (Cocos Nucifera)
is most abundant in the southern part of the
district, especially in Rajanaghur. It bears
in the 7th year, and the average number of
nuts that each tree yields is 70, which sell
for one rupee. There is in Bhowal a species of
Cocoanut tree called "Sunbunya," which bears
fruit in the third year. Its shell is very thick
and strong, and is in requisition for the manu-
facture of native's hookahs. The other trees
that are usually cultivated are the Mangoe,
Jack, Tamarind, Bier, &c.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
143
;
plant culti-
With the view of supplying an article of Cassada
diet in seasons of scarcity the Cassada plant vated.
(Jatropha manihot) was introduced into the
district in 1792, on the recommendation of Go-
vernment, but the cultivation of it never became
general, and after a few years it was entirely
abandoned. Coffee and Anatto (Bixa orel-
lana) have been cultivated on a large scale
in the northern division, but neither of them
has been found to answer as a mercantile
speculation.
Coffee and
Anatto.
Vegetables
Most of the common vegetables of Europe
thrive well here, but their cultivation is of Europe.
confined to the gardens of the few European
residents at the station, none of them being
raised by the natives or sold in the bazars,
as is the case in Calcutta. Horticulture is
at a low ebb in this part of the country, but at a low ebb.
it is to be hoped that the garden, which Col.
Stacy has so liberally made over to the Dacca
community for experimental purposes, will be
the means of exciting a taste for it among the
natives.
Husbandry. The boundaries of fields at a
distance from villages consist of ridges of
earth, about a cubit in breadth, and from two
to three feet in height, and constitute the only
roads or pathways in the interior. The fields
and gardens on the elevated lands of villages,
where the more valuable articles of produce
are raised, are generally separated from each
other by ditches, and surrounded above by
Horticulture
Husbandry.
Fields and
gardens how
separated froin
each other.
144
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Manure.
by clumps of bamboos or fences, consisting
of the bet (Calamus Retang), or the castor
oil tree (Ricinus Communis), planted at a little
distance from each other, with the intervening
spaces filled up with the dry branches of some
thorny bush. The Pareejat (Erythrina ful-
gens) is not unfrequently used as a hedge
round huts in the country, and the Bherendro
(Jatrapha Curcas) and Chita (Plumbago Zey-
lanica) are often applied to the same pur-
pose in the vicinity of the town. The ma-
nuring of fields is entirely confined to the
gardens of Sunergong and Bickrampore,
where the more valuable articles of produce
are raised. In the former, mustard oil cake
is used as a manure for pan gardens, and in
the latter, the bedding of cow houses, and the
alluvial and vegetable compost on the sides of
ditches are employed for the same purpose
in gardens of plantains. The weed called
Pana (Pistia stratiotes,) which grows so luxu-
riantly on the surface of morasses, is used
to manure the roots of betel and cocoanut
Irrigation. trees. Irrigation is confined to the cultivation
of the bora or transplanted rice, when there
is a want of rain in February and March ;
and is effected by means of a trough, con-
sisting of the half of a tall tree scooped out,
and moved upon a fulcrum of a couple of
Agricultural bamboos laid crosswise. The agricultural
implements in use are the plough; the moyee,
consisting of two or three pieces of bamboo,
with cross bars between them, like a ladder ;
it is used to smooth the ground, preparatory
implements.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
145
The rake
and other im-
Cattle of an
to sowing; the bhidda, or rake or harrow, which
is made of bamboo with teeth of the same plements.
material it is drawn by a couple of oxen, and
is used to thin the Aoos rice, when the plant
has sprung up too thick, and also to clear the
fields from weeds: the Centah Moger, or mal-
let, made of a heavy piece of wood, and used
to break the hard clods of earth upon the
fields after ploughing: the others are the
Cheyne, or iron instrument for weeding, the
kassee or sickle, the kodal, kural, kantah and
daw which resemble the same implements
in other parts of the country.* The working
cattle of the district are of an inferior breed,
and are weak and puny, and of a smaller size inferior breed.
than the cattle of the western districts.
Ploughing commences at sun rise and ceases
at noon, during which time two sets of oxen
are alternately employed in the work. Mus-
sulman farmers not unfrequently yoke cows
to the plough, but they are never worked for
more than half the time that oxen are. Bul-
locks from the Upper Provinces, or the western
districts, are usually employed for oil and
sugar mills, and the conveyance of goods.
The rice plant is reaped about three feet from
the ear, and is tied up into sheaves each about the rice plant.
a span in circumference. It is conveyed to
the ryott's hut, by water, or on a kind of
hurdle drawn by cattle, and is usually stacked,
until the grain is separated from the ear.
This is done, as in all other parts of India, by the ear.
• All these implements are known by different names in different
parts of the country.
T
Reaping of
Grain how
separated from
146
.TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
cattle treading it out, and the prohibition
against "muzzling the ox" during this process
is observed here, as it was in Judea of old.
The number of bullocks employed at one time,
in a "dhaun ka kella" varies from three to
fifteen, including a leader, and the quantity
of grain, that the latter number can tread out
in a day, is estimated at 30 maunds. After
the operation of winnowing, the grain is dried
in the sun, and then stored upon a stage of
mats and bamboos raised a few feet from the
ground, and generally erected within the
ryott's hut. The legumes, mustard, and all
The smaller the smaller grains are beaten out with a stick,
much in the same way it may be remarked,
Storing of
the grain.
grains.
of husking the
paddy.
as fitches and cumin seed were by the antient
The manifer Jews. The husking of paddee is usually
performed in the country by means of the
implement called the Ooklee, or wooden
pestle and mortar worked with the hands, and
in the town by the dhenkee or stamper.
Ryotts also use these implements to pound
castor oil and safflower seeds: the pounded
mass is then thrown into hot water, from the
surface of which the oil is skimmed off. The
The mich milch kine of this district are reckoned the
best in Bengal. The breed called the Des-
wallee are kept in the city, they are shut up
and fed on grass brought in from the jheels
of the northern division. Buffaloes are kept
chiefly by Zemindars and Gowallas in the
country. Buffaloe's milk is used entirely for
kine.
* Isaiah XXVIII. Chap. 27 Verse.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
147
Cheese an
article of ex-
goats, &c. &c.
dhaee and ghee. A considerable quantity of
cheese is made here, and in Tipperah and port.
Mymensing, from whence it is exported to
different parts of the country, and among
other places to Jidda and Bussorah. Sheep, Price of sheep,
goats, fowls, ducks and pigeons are reared for
the markets and are abundant. The former
may be purchased in the country for ten
annas, and fowls and ducks at six pice a
piece. There are two or three blanket-
weavers in the vicinity of the city who pur- wool of very
chase sheep's wool, but the greater quantity lity.
of this article which is of a very inferior
quality, is thrown away by the ryotts.
Blankets
made, but the
inferior qua-
Land mea-
sures.
The Cannee
The Pak.
hee used on
the high lands.
nee
The Can-
on the
low.
Land Measures.-The land measures of the
district are the Droon, Kaddah and Beegah,
but the first two, which are more generally
known by the inferior denominations of can-
nee and pakhee, are most frequently used. and Pakhee.
The pakhee is common on the higher lands
of the northern division, while the cannee is
adopted on the low and artificially raised
lands throughout the district. The cubit or
haut is the unit of measure, and the mode of
measurement is by a rod or null of a specific measurement.
length. A null of 74 is the one that is most
frequently employed, and may be regarded
therefore as the standard lineal measure of
the district. A variety of other nulls, how-
ever, all varying in dimensions from 6 to 15
cubits are also used, and have given rise to the
arbitrary distinctions of kutcha and pucka,
as applied to the above denominations, as
Mode of
148
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
kutcha cannee and kutcha pakhee, and pucka
cannee and pucka pakhee. By the former,
the zemindars enter into contracts with their
ryotts, and make settlements with the revenue
officers, and by the latter land is always sold.
The following are the areas of the Droon
and Khaddah, according to the nulls gene-
rally used.
Length of Nulls. Acres. Roods. Perches. Square Feet.
Cubits
32
0
21
423134
Droon... 8 ditto
25
1
10
1073
7 ditto
22
1
13
1503
Khaddah
(7 ditto
5
2
13
1053
16 ditto
4
0
30
1121
73 ditto
1 Null. 7
Cubits
1 Null
12 Nulls long
6
=l Cannee.
Nulls long
=1 Pakhee
10 ditto broad
5
ditto broad
Measure-
ment by the
Beegah.
Rent and
ryotts.
Rent accord-
ing to the
quality of the
soil.
The measurement by the beegah is chiefly
confined to indigo and safflower lands; there
are two beegahs in use, viz. one of 100 cubits
square equal to two roods, two perches and
179 feet, and the other of 100×80 cubits
equal to one rood, 26 perches and 31 feet.
Rent and Ryotts.-The rent of land varies
according to the quality and elevation of the
soil, and the number of crops it is capable of
yielding in one year.
year. Jungle and newly
formed chur lands are let rent free for the
first year in the second, a small rent is
charged, which increases in amount until the
fourth or fifth year, when the full value is im-
posed. The ryotts in general are partial to
Chur lands. the cultivation of chur lands. The value of
bheetee, or artificially raised lands, depends
entirely on its site, or on its being old or re-
Bheetee
laud.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
149
cently formed land, and also on the stock of
trees upon it. In Bickrampore it ranges
from five to thirty rupees per cannee, while in
the western parts of the district it averages
four Rupees per pakhee. A ryott making
new bheetee land is not charged rent for three
years. Sugar cane, cotton, safflower and
indigo lands are let, at rates, which vary
considerably in different parts of the country.
The rent of land for the cultivation of the
first of these articles is generally 25 or 30 per
cent. more than that of rice lands. Indigo
lands, in the western parts of the district, are
let on an average at 6 annas per beegah; but
churs upon which this article is cultivated
pay less than rice lands. Of the rice lands,
the levels for the bhora, or transplanted crop,
are let at the highest rates, and the Aoos lands
at the lowest. Lands producing two crops
in the year, as the Chotna rice lands, on
which legumes, and small grains are raised,
are charged about one-fifth more rent than
land yielding one crop; but when any of the
more valuable articles of produce constitutes
the second crop, as cotton or safflower, the rate
is about one-third. The changes produced on
the soil by the rivers occasion a corresponding
change in the relative value of land; in some
parts of the district, within the last thirty years,
the value of land has been depreciated to the
extent of seventy-five per cent. from this
cause; while in other situations it has been
proportionally augmented. Rent is generally
paid in cash it is collected monthly, or at the
Lands for
the cultivation
of Sugar-cane,
vary in rent.
Cotton, &c.
Rent of rice
lands.
Rent paid in
cash.
150
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
expiration of every fourth or sixth month:
Occasional- annual payments are rare. Occasionally
ly land let on
tah tenure.
Definition
of it.
a Burgah pot- either a Talookdar, or the holder of a lease,
lets his land on what is called a Burgah pot-
tah, which resembles the "Metayer" tenure
of farms on the continent of Europe. He
gives the land rent free, and provides half the
seed the ryott furnishes the remaining half,
cultivates the ground, and
reaps the
crop, and
the produce is equally divided between them.
A ryott, if he is too poor to purchase seed,
enters into an arrangement with the seller of
that article, by which he stipulates to give
him in return for the seed received a share of
the produce of his fields; or if he happens to
lose his cattle, he employs his neighbours to
plough his land, for which the latter is gene-
rally paid in money. The ryotts or jotedars
on this side of the Ganges, with the exception
of a few who have Kymes in perpetuity, do
not consider themselves as possessing any
proprietory right in the soil, they cultivate, or
that they are entitled to alleniate their jotes.
They cannot therefore sub-let their lands, ex-
At Furreed- cept on a Burgah tenure. In the district of
Pite practice is Furreedpore, on the western side of the Gan-
ges, the opposite practice obtains in general.
There the jotedar is at liberty to sub-let his
lands, and cannot be disposed by the Zemin-
Ryotts there dar. The ryotts seldom emigrate beyond the
possessed by district or places in its immediate vicinity,
the Zemindar. except where they are induced to do so, by the
pore an
site practice
followed.
cannot be dis-
advantageous offers held out to them by rival
Zemindars. On these occasions, the expense
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
151
Mode of as-
tlement.
of removing their property, and of erecting
their huts is defrayed by the Zemindar,
and an advance of money, without interest
being charged for one year, is also made to
enable them to stock their farms. This prac-
tice, it may be remarked though attended
with some advantages to the ryotts, is never-
theless, in a majority of instances, an indirect
encouragement to those who are in arrears
of rent to desert, before they have liqui-
dated their debt, and is therefore a frequent
occasion of disturbance leading to serious
affrays in the district. The mode of assess-
ment that was practised by the Zemindars, sessment pre-
vious to the
prior to the permanent settlement, consisted permanent set-
in making a hustabood or measurement of
the ryott's fields at the commencement of
the harvest, agreeably to which estimate, the
produce of the land was valued and the rent
imposed. The demand on the husbandman
appears to have been regulated by the rates
paid by persons cultivating new lands, but
the standard of assessment, whatever it was,
was never adhered to by the Zemindar, and
the ryott therefore seldom derived any bene-
fit from an abundant harvest, and had no
inducement to cultivate more land than was
actually necessary to yield him a subsistence.
Notwithstanding the oppression they were
thus subjected to, the ryotts objected to any
change in their old established customs,
and when pottahs or leases were first intro-
duced, they threatened to leave their villages;
and it was a considerable time before they
The grant-
ing of pottahs
when first in-
troduced ob-
jected to by
the ryotts.
152
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
ces of revenue.
Bunkar, and
Julkar.
Bunkar.
could be prevailed on to enter into any written
engagement, or conform to the present prac-
tise of receiving a document of this kind,
and granting a kabooleat in return. Besides
the rent derived from arable lands, there are
Other sour- several other sources of revenue enjoyed by
the landholders. Of the three great immuni-
Of Nankar, ties of Nankar, Bunkar, and Julkar, (literally
bread, wood, and water) which were allowed
to Zemindars during the Moghul administra-
tion, the last two yield a considerable profit on
some estates. Waste lands are let out in
farm to persons who cut grass, reeds and
brushwood for fodder, thatching and fuel, but
in some instances the right of Bunkar is en-
joyed by persons, who are not the proprietors
of the soil. The numerous rivers, and mo-
rasses abound with fish, and the Julkar, or
revenue arising from this source, is often of
considerable amount. Jheels are let at rates
varying from 5 to 500 rupees according to
their extent. The fishermen, called Jerattee
ryotts, pay according to the extent of their
boundaries on a river, or to the number of
persons employed in their boats, while in
many places a consolidated rent for bheetee
lands, and for the right of fishing is charged.
During the season of inundation, when the
fishing localities on rivers become less valu-
able, Jerattee ryotts pay a small rent, and at
this season fishermen plying their occupation
in parts of the country, where they paid no
Julkar previously, are distinguished by the
name of "Bhassanea ryotts," and pay a tax
Julkar.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
153
Another
source of re-
venue to the
Zemindars.
equal to the rent of the Jerattee ryotts. The
right of fishing on inundated lands "Kala-
panee," is often distinct from that on conti-
guous rivers, and occasionally belongs as in
the case of Bunkar, to persons who are not
the proprietors of the soil. The persons, who
purchase fish from the fishermen, to supply
the bazars in the city, pay a tax to the Ze-
mindars, which is equal to the amount of
rent paid by the Jerattee ryotts. Ferries, and
hauts, or weekly markets, also yield a con-
siderable revenue to the proprietors of land.
The other sources of revenue are taxes on
pan gardens and sugar mills, presents or nuz-
zurs at the Pooneeah, or day of annual settle- Mills, &c. &c:
ment, at marriages, &c. and fines imposed in
cases of disputes, and quarrels referred to the
Zemindar for settlement.
es-
Ferries and
hauts.
Pan gardens
and Sugar
Talooks as-
signed by the
Nuwaubs for
nance of the
the mainte-
fleet.
Talookdars.-The Dacca district, like most
of the frontier ones subject to invasion, was
subdivided at an early period of the Moghul
Government, into a number of small estates
or Talooks, which were granted by the Nu-
waubs to persons employed to defend the
province. The greater number of these
tates were assigned for the maintenance of
the fleet, and were included under the Jaghire
of "Omleh Nowarrah." The Talookdars,
who are distinguished by the name of "Tuks- Talook dars.
mee" in the records of the district, are those
whose lands were specified in the Toomaree
Jumma or rent roll prepared by Torel Mull
in the year 1588; and who, from having a
U
The Tuksmee
154
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
the title of Ze-
four descrip-
proprietary right in the soil, were afterwards
made independent. To collect the revenue
with greater ease, a number of small adjoin-
ing Talooks were originally put under the
charge of the most considerable Talookdars
amongst them, who collected their rents, and
paid them along with his own to Government.
From whence From this circumstance, he was called "Zim-
midar derived. mahdar" or Jemadar (from zimmah, charge ;)
and his own Talook, to distinguish it from
the others whose revenues he was the collec-
tor, was called "Neez, or own," and consti-
tuted the only real property belonging to
him, and which, in the event of his trans-
ferring the rights of his Zimmadarship, he
could dispose of, or that could be claimed by
Originally the purchaser. There were originally four
tion of Talook- descriptions of Talookdars, besides a renter
Junglebooree called Howalladar in this district. 1st-Jun-
glebooree Talookdars. They were persons
who undertook to clear jungle lands before
the country was divided into Tuppahs. When
the Tuxeembundy was made, the newly cul-
tivated lands were considered Talooks, and
were included in the rent roll of the nearest
Zemindar. If any increase or remission was
granted to the Zemindar by Government a
proportional part fell to the Talookdar. The
property was hereditary, but if the Talook dar
died without issue, the Zemindar became the
manager of the estate on the part of Govern-
ment. 3d-Zurkhereed Talookdars. The land
holders under this denomination were at
liberty to sell their Talooks without the per-
dars.
Talookdars.
Zur-Khe-
reed Talook-
dars.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
155
:
mission of the Zemindar, but on failure of
heirs, the Zemindar could take possession,
and sell the lands or keep them as he might
be inclined they were entitled to remission
or subject to increase proportionally with Ze-
mindars, and agreeably to their respective
amounts of rent. 3d-Pottah Talookdars.
The Zemindars and Chowdries could grant
hereditary Talookdaree pottahs to any person
for lands belonging to themselves, whether
cultivated or uncultivated, in which pottah it
was stipulated that the Talookdars should
have possession of the whole lands agreed on,
and that the management should descend to
his heirs for ever, but this Talookdar could
neither sell nor make over by deed of gift the
lands of his Talook, nor could the Zemindar
dispose of it, but on the failure of issue it re-
verted to the latter. Pottah Talookdars were
subject to remissions, and increases of revenue,
along with the Zemindar. 4th--Wassut Ta-
lookdars. They stood in the same relation to
other Talookdars that Zurkhereed Talookdars
did to Zemindars. 5th-Howalladars. In
Bickrampore and the southern parts of the dis-
trict, the purchaser of a portion of a Talook
was called a Howalladar of the land he thus
held. He paid his rent to the Talookdar, but
if a dispute arose between them, they sepa-
rated, and the property was included in some
other Talookdaree lands. The property was
hereditary and transferable, and the owner
subject to encrease and remission of revenue
with other renters. Most of the Talooks of
In
Pottah Ta-
lookdars.
Wassut Ta-
lookdars.
Howalladars
or Renters.
156
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
ber of Talook-
dars.
this district are divided into small detached
portions of land, which are not unfrequently
Total num- scattered over many pergunnahs. The total
number of Talookdars in this Collectorate in
the year 1836-37 amounted to 7154, of whom
7025 paid their revenue into the Dacca
Cutcherry, and 149 into the Cutcherry at
Fureedpore.
The following table shews the different
rates of revenue of the Talooks
with the Dacca Cutcherry.
No. of Talooks.
2 pay from
Different
rates of reve-
nue paid by the
314
39
Talookdars.
462
3743
1310
624
295
"9
193
60
""
22
"
Total 7025
وو
ક
connected
Rates paid by each Talook,
1 to 12 pie.
1 to 8 annas.
8 annas to
1 rupee to
10 ditto to
25 ditto to
50 ditto to
100 ditto to
1 rupee.
10 rupees.
25 ditto.
50 ditto.
100 ditto.
250 ditto.
250 ditto to 500 ditto.
500 ditto to 1000 ditto.
Rs. 141156 12 1
Zemindars.
cennial settle-
Zemindars.-The number of Zemindars
compared to that of Talookdars, is small in
At the de- this district. At the time of the Decennial
ment claimed settlement, many of this class of landholders
* right to the did not possess a foot of ground in the district,
yet they claimed a right to the lands, and
were allowed the usual russoom or fee in the
Mehals under their management. The Ze-
who exercised mindars of this district were originally Teh-
Magistrates. sildars, and according to the Sunnuds or
commissions given them by the Moghul
Government, they exercised the office of Ma-
gistrates or Justices of the Peace, and were
Originally
Tehsildars,
the office of
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
157
In which
capacity they
were ineffici-
ent and un-
fidence.
worthy of con-
Many lands
taxation on
furnishing
men and boats
to oppose the
Mughs.
liable for the restitution or value of any
property, that happened to be stolen, within
their respective jurisdictions. During the
time that they were entrusted with this autho-
rity by the Company, the district suffered
greatly from their inefficiency. Decoits be-
came very numerous, and so daring, that it
was not safe to venture beyond the city; and
in several instances, the Zemindars them-
selves were found to be in league with these
robbers, and were the receivers of the stolen
property. Many of the Zemindars were ori-
ginally allowed to hold lands exempt from exempt from
revenue, on condition of their furnishing boats condition of
and men to oppose the Mughs in their in-
cursions into the district, and the lands so
held were called "Nowarrah." The Zemin-
dars, who engaged to go in person on these
expeditions, were allowed to hold a still
greater proportion of land, in consideration of
their personal services; and these grants, Those who
though included under the general name of went in person
Nowarrah, were distinguished by the specificities.
term, Hissazaut," or by a term expressing
the extent of country or river, which they
undertook to guard. The condition of the
Zemindars of the present day appears to be the Zemindars
greatly improved, compared to what it was the permanent
prior to the permanent settlement. According settlement.
to Mr. Day, the Collector, in 1788, “there was In 1788
not a man of wealth or credit among them always in pe-
at that time, and he mentions that during
his residence of fifteen years in the district,
he never heard of a Zemindar or any other
66
were allowed
greater immu-
Condition of
greatly im-
proved since
cuniary diffi-
culties.
158
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
The cause.
Mode of
raising money.
sent condition.
renter having credit with the merchants in
the city except on mortgaging their lands.
Their difficulties arose principally from their
leaving the management of the collections to
Naibs, who committed every kind of abuse,
and enriched themselves at the expense of
their employers. The common mode of rais-
ing money at this time was by mortgaging
their estates to the Shroffs for double or treble
the amount borrowed, under an engagement
"that the produce of the lands should be
simply considered as the interest of the loan,
and the land only restorable but on the pay-
ment of the amount principal." The Zemin-
Their pre- dars in the present day, are in very different
circumstances from those here represented.
Many of them residing in the city are men
of wealth, and the greater number of ther
at least derive incomes from their estates,
which enable them to live in affluence.
Present cause The pecuniary embarrassments, in which the
few are placed, are chiefly occasioned by
disputes among the Zemindars themselves,
which lead to the keeping up of an expensive
establishment of servants, to expensive law
suits, and the desertion of ryotts. Disagree-
ment among the shareholders of an estate,
frequently terminating in hostile opposition
to each other, is here one of the chief causes
of their poverty, and from the difficulty and
expense attending the separation of the shares
of a Zemindaree, it leads in a majority of in-
stances, to the sale of the property for arrears
of Government revenue. The loss occasion-
of pecuniary
embarrass.
ments.
Quarrels
among the
shareholders
of an estate.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
159
The courses
of rivers being
times a benefit
a loss to the
ed by the change in the course of rivers can-
not easily be estimated, some estates suffering changed some-
from their encroachments, others being bene- and in others
fitted by an accession of soil, while in some Zemindars.
parts, lands are depreciated, and in others,
increased in value by the filling up of their
channels. The common mode of borrowing
money among Zemindars is by letting their
lands in Izarah or farm for a certain time, but
the total quantity of land held on this kind
of tenure, here, is small, compared with what
it is in other districts. The Zemindars, pay- zmier
ing revenue above 1,000 rupees, (as registered paying reve-
nue exceeding
in the Collectorate records in 1836-37) amount 1,000 rupees.
to sixty-three in number, of whom forty are
Hindoos, twenty Mussulmauns, and three
Christians. Of the former eleven are Bralı-
mins, eight Bhaids, fourteen Khaistyas and
seven Sudras.
Number of
Zemindars
Servants
employed in
collecting the
rents of a Ze
mindaree.
The establishment of servants required to
collect the rents and keep the accounts of an
estate varies according to its extent, situation
and number of shareholders. In some per-
gunnahs or estates, several villages are an-
nexed and are called a Tuppah; in others, a
Jowar. In every Mowza or village, there is
a servant called Mundul,* whose business it The Mundul,
is to superintend the lands, and to settle dis-
putes among the ryotts regarding them
over two or three villages or a Tuppah there
and
and his duties.
The Putwa-
ree, and bis
is stationed a Putwaree, whose office it is to duties.
* Known also by the names of Sander, Pansoy, Huldar or Shama.
+ Ditto Itmamdar, Shikdar Subraidar or Tuppahdar.
. 160
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
On larger es-
tates a person
of higher rank
employed.
draw out the accounts, collect the revenues,
and adjust differences referred to him, regard-
ing the allotment of land. In the more ex-
tensive estates, there is an
officer of a still
higher grade, who is called Chuck ladar or
Tehsildar, and who exercises the same kind
of controul over the Putwarees, that they have
over their subordinates the Munduls. All the
accounts are prepared and delivered over to
the Zemindar or his Naib, who makes over
such as relate to the assessment to a Mohurer
The accounts or writer called Theetnuvees," and such as
made over to a refer to the collections and expenditure to
when prepared
Mohurer and
who form ab-
stracts of
them.
vants belong-
ing to these
two offices.
Ootpernuvees another writer called "Ootpernuvees," and
these two persons having arranged the several
accounts of their respective departments form
abstracts of the whole called " Ehsaf His-
sab;" belonging to these two offices, there are
several other servants as a treasurer, a poddar
Other ser- or teller of money, a letter writer, &c. By
way of check the Zemindar visits his estate,
at least once a year, or deputes a trustworthy
Aumeen to make a survey of the lands, and
measure such as may be considered necessa-
ry. Besides the above establishment, the
The Zemin- principal Zemindars have a Dewan, and a
estate yearly. Vakeel and attornies to manage their business
at the Zillah Courts, and generally an attor-
A Dewan and ney at each of the police thannahs connected
with the estate. A Jemadar and a number
principal Ze- of Burkindazes or Paiks are employed to
blishment. guard the Cutcherries on the Zemindaree, to
assist the collectors of rent in troublesome
villages, and to convey money from the per-
dar visits his
Vakeel at-
tached to each
mindar's esta-
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
161
gunnahs to the residence of the Zemindar or
to the Sudder station. The petty Talookdars
generally employ one Mundul, and collect the
revenues themselves without the assistance of
a Putwaree or three or four join and have a
Putwaree among them. In some estates the
Munduls and Putwarees receive their wages
in money, in others in land and money. In
many instances they follow other occupations,
and are paid at a rate varying from two and
half to three rupees a year for the Mundul, and
from three to ten rupees a year for the
Putwaree. In parts of the district subject
inundation, they are allowed boat hire from
June to November.
to
The petty Ta-
lect the reve
lookdars col-
nues them-
selves,
The Munduls
and Putwarees
paid in money
and sometimes
in land or
kind,
CHAPTER VI.
Arts of Weaving, Embroidery, Bleaching,
Gold and Silver Work, Manufacture of Shell
Bracelets-List of Professions, Trades and
Occupations in the City-Commerce-De-
cline of Commerce.
Of the several arts practised in the city and
district, the principal are weaving, embroi-
dery, bleaching, gold and silver work, and the
manufacture of shell bracelets.
Weaving.-Dacca has long been celebrated
for its muslins. These fabrics were known
Ꮃ
Weaving.
162
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Muslins
known in
Europe at
a very early
period.
in Europe in the first century of the Chris-
tian era, and according to some writers they
constituted the "serice vestes" which were
so highly prized by the ladies of Imperial
Rome, in the days of its luxury and refine-
ment.* Pliny in enumerating the imports
from Egypt and Arabia mentions the Bengal
muslins, and the author of the "Circumna-
vigation of the Erythrean Sea"+ bears testi-
mony to their extreme fineness and transpa-
rency. In this work, which is supposed
to have been written by Arrian, an Egyptian
Greek, mention is made of several kinds of
Indian muslins, which are distinguished by
commercial names§ derived from the country.
The word "Carpassus" which is employed
to designate the fine Bengal muslins is obvi-
ously derived from the Sanscrit "Kurpass"
or Hindee "Kapass" cotton; and hence the
term Carpassium" or Carpassian, which
came into use in the time of Pliny, to denote
all the very fine kinds of cloth that were
then manufactured, whether of cotton, flax
or asbestos. The word, however, as used by
Arrian and the Egyptian traders generally
6.
* Salmasius" Exercitationes Plinianice," and Dr. Ure on "Cotton
Manufacture of Great Britain," 1836.
† Periplus Maris Erythrice.
† Σινδόνες αι διαφωρωταται αι Γαγγιτικαι λεγοιεναι The
vestes bombycino tenues pellucido serrice were so thin “ut transluceret"
that the body shone through them.-Pliny.
§ Molochina, or coarse muslins. Monachi, wide muslins of a fine
description. Zudaion, coarse cloth.—Dr. Vincent's Translation of
Penplus.
Linum Carpassium of Pliny was the fine flax of Spain.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
163
took its origin, in all probability, from "Ca-
passia," the country from whence these muslins
were exported; and which, as has already
been mentioned, was the principal seat of Mentioned
this manufacture in early times.* In the hommedan
66
'accounts of India and China by two Mo-
hommedan travellers in the 9th century,"
mention is also made of the fine cotton cloths
of India, and from the notice of certain circum-
stances connected with the country in which
they were manufactured, it is very evident
that the Dacca muslins are the fabrics that
are alluded to. After mentioning the rich
possessions and great number of elephants
belonging to the King of the country, the
travellers state, "In this same country they
make cotton garments in so extraordinary a
manner that no where else are the like to be
seen. These garments are for the most part
round, and wove to that degree of fineness
that they may be drawn through a ring of
middling size. Shells (1) are current in this
country and serve for small money, notwith-
standing they have gold and silver and aloes (2)
and sable skins (3) of which they make fur-
niture of saddles and housings. In this same
country is the famous karkadur or uni-
corn."()† The Empress Noor Jehan greatly
* This part of the district which is now in a great measure overrun
with jungle, abounds with the dry beds of tanks, &c. which shew that
it was at one period the seat of a dense and busy population.
"Accounts of India and China by two Mahommedan travellers,"
translated by Abbe Froissart.
(¹) Cowries—(2) Aggur Wood-(³) otter skins-(4) Rhinoceros, at
appears from a subsequent paragraph.
by early Mo-
travellers.
164
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
facture of
Dacca muslins
encouraged by
Noor Jehan
and acquire
great cele-
brity.
The manu- encouraged the manufactures of the country,*
and under her patronage the Dacca muslins
acquired great celebrity. They became at
this time, the fashionable dress of the Omrah
at the Imperial and Vice-regal Courts of
Hindostan, while the finer fabrics, so exqui-
sitely delicate, as to be styled in the figurative
language of the East "webs of woven wind,"
"abroan," running water, or shubnem,"
morning dew,† were exclusively appropriated
to adorn the inmates of the seraglios. Through-
tain their cele. out succeeding times the Dacca muslins have
maintained their high reputation, and even in
the present day, notwithstanding the great
perfection which the art of weaving has at-
tained in Britain, these fabrics are unrivalled,
and in point of transparency, beauty and de-
licacy of texture are allowed to excel the most
finished productions of the loom in any coun-
try in the world. "Yarn continues to be spun,
And con-
tinue to main-
brity.
Acknow.
ledged to be
superior to
the produc-
tions of the
loom of any
country.
The finer
muslins made
of the desee
cotton.
and muslins to be manufactured at Dacca."
Dr. Ure writes in 1836" to which European
ingenuity can
can afford
afford no parallel, such
indeed as has led a competent judge to say
it is beyond his conception, how this yarn
greatly finer than the highest number made
in England can be spun by the distaff
and spindle, or woven afterwards by ANY
machinery.‡
All the fine muslins are made of the desee
or indigenous cotton of the district. The cot-
* "Cotton manufactures of Britain by Dr. Ure."
+ Tasikh Khafy Khan.
So named, from being, when wet, not discernible from either.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
165
The cotton
of Mirzapore.
The Arra-
can cotton
next in value.
The Bhoga
cotton used
exclusively for
description of
the coarsest
cloth.
Cotton
cleaned by
the women.
ton imported from Mirzapore yields the thread
for the baftas, hummums and other assort-
ments of cloth of an inferior quality. The
Arracan cotton ranks next to the Mirzapore:
it is imported in small quantities, but is never
used, as has been represented, in the manufac-
ture of the fine muslins. Bhoga cotton, the
produce of the Garrow and Tipperah hills, is
employed exclusively for the manufacture of
the coarsest description of cloths, which are
worn by the poorer classes. The importation
of these different kinds of cotton has greatly
diminished, however since the influx of Bri-
tish yarn into the district, and probably does
not amount to one-sixtieth of the quantity im-
ported in 1787. The cotton is cleaned by the
women who spin the thread. The instru-
ments which are used to separate the
from the wool are the cherkee and dullun
cathee. The former is the common hand
mill, or pair of fluted cylinders, which is in use
throughout the country, and which is employ-
ed here to clean cotton for the second rate
qualities of thread. The dullun cathee is
used to clean small quantities of the material
for the finest thread. It is simply an iron the Maharatta
pin that is rolled upon a flat board, upon
which the cotton is laid; and which is made
a little thicker at its middle than at the ex-
tremities, which project beyond the sides of
the board, so as to admit of its being worked or
rolled by the hands or feet. It is on the same
principle as the Maharatta machine which
seeds
Instruments
used to sepa-
from the wool.
rate the seeds
Their de-
scription.
The Dullun
Cathee acts
on the same
principle as
machine.
166
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
A
has been described by Dr. Lush of Bombay,
and of which there is an engraving in the
papers on cotton, &c." lately published by
the Court of Directors. The only difference
between the two implements consists in a
board being used here instead of the stone
slab, which is employed in the Maharatta
country. About Dacca, the dullun cathee is
of a small size, and is worked with the hands,
but in Mymensing the roller is moved by the
feet, which are protected by wooden soles,
similar to those used in the Maharatta coun-
Said to in- try. The dullun cathee is said to crush the
jure the fibre
of the cotton fibre, less than the mill. The next step is
less than the to teaze the cotton, or to free it from the
mill.
Further
measures
adopted to
free it from
its husks.
Mode of
carding the
remains of husks. This is done by means of
a small bow made of bamboo, with a string
of catgut or moonga silk. In the town there
are a few persons, who make the bowing of
cotton a distinct trade, but what they clean,
is never used for the manufacture of thread,
but is exclusively applied to the manufacture
of quilts and articles of winter clothing for
the Mussulmauns. The cotton that is used
cotton when a for the finest thread, undergoes a carding
fine thread is
required.
before it is teazed or bowed. The instrument,
which is employed for this purpose, is the
dried jaw bone of the Boali fish (Silurus
Boalis.) This part forms an arch about 2
inches in diameter, and presents on its inner
surface a great number of very fine recurved
teeth it is used in the manner of a comb,
and allows only the fine fibres of the cotton
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
167
to pass through it. After this process of
carding, the cotton is reduced to a state of
downy fleece by means of the bow; and is
then carefully spread out upon the smooth
surface of the dried skin of a Cheetul or
Cuchia fish. This is next rolled up into a
small cylindrical case, which is held in the
hand during the process of spinning.
Coarser kind
spun with the
of thread
churkhee.
the spindle.
Manner
of using the
All the thread is spun by women, who
generally employ their leisure hours in the
business. The coarser kinds, consisting of
the Bhoga and other inferior qualities of cot-
ton below No. 30 of English yarn, are manu-
factured by the churkhee or wheel; but all
above that number, are spun with the tukwa
or spindle. A tukwa for the finest quality of The finer by
thread, is a fine polished steel spindle about
ten inches in length, and of the size of a large
needle; with a small ball of clay attached to
it, about an inch from its lower extremity.
It is held in an inclined position, with its point spindle.
resting upon the hollow surface of a broken
cowrie shell or a piece of turtle's egg imbed-
ded in a small mass of clay, which serves as
a stand for it: and is revolved between the
finger and thumb, while the cotton, which is
held in the left hand, is gradually raised from
it, and the filaments, as they are drawn out,
are formed into a thread. This is the mode
of spinning that is practised here, by which,
a person expert at the business can form a
thread upwards of four miles in length from
168
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
ners Hindoo
Women.
one rupee or sicca's (180 grains) weight of
The best spin- cotton. The best spinners are Hindoo women
from 18 to 30 years of age. After 30 they
begin to fall off, and at 40 their sight is gene-
rally impaired, and they are incapable of
spinning very fine thread. They usually
work in the morning and afternoon, when the
light is less dazzling to the eyes, and there is
moisture in the air to prevent the thread from
breaking. "The cause of the perfection of
the muslin manufacture of India," as Dr.
Ure observes, "must be sought for in the
exquisitely fine organization of the natives of
the east. Their temperament realizes every
feature of that described under the title ner-
vous by physiologists." The depressing pas-
sions, I may further remark, materially
influence their handiwork, the most expert
spinners being incapable, while suffering from
grief or any domestic affliction, of manufac-
turing even the second rate qualities of thread.
Specimen of There is a specimen of Dacca thread in the
at the India Museum at the India House, which was pre-
Dacca thread
House.
sented to it many years ago by Sir Charles
Wilkins; and which has been much admired
for its fineness. It was weighed and mea-
sured by the late Sir Joseph Banks, and was
found to be in the proportion of 115 miles, 2
furlongs and 60 yards to the pound avoirdu-
poise of cotton.* Thread however has been
spun in England of the length of 167 miles
* Baines' "History of Cotton Manufactures."
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
169
•
The finest
thread of
which musling
in Britain are
to the pound weight of staple, but this yarn,
which ranks as No. 350, is of too great a
tenuity to be manufactured or woven into
muslins in Britain. The finest, that muslins
are ever made of there, is No. 250, which is
in the proportion only 119 miles to the made.
pound weight of cotton, though it is seldom
that a number above 220 is used. No. 250
has been imported into Dacca, and muslins
have been made of it; but it falls far short of
the finest quality of native thread. Thread
is spun here, and can be woven into muslin, used at Dacca
which is in the proportion of 7200 yards
to 1 tolah or 180 grains weight of cotton,
or upwards of 160 miles to a pound of the
staple. I had lately in my possession a spe-
cimen of this kind which was spun in 1837. possession.
It was very carefully weighed and measured
and was found to be 200 yards in length, and
5 grains in weight. The Dacca thread is
The finest
thread that is
for weaving.
Specimen
in the author's
Dacca
muslin more
generally allowed to be softer than English durable than
mule twist, and the cloths made of it, it is English.
well known, are much more durable, although
from imperfect bleaching, they do not always
look so well as the English muslins. It is
said to be irregularly twisted, and that it ap-
pears under the microscope like an ill-made
hair rope bristling with loose strands. The
filaments vary in their diameter from To。。 to
1500 of an inch, and are flat and ribbon-shaped.
It is on this shape of the filaments in their
separate state, that the transparency of the Dacca mus.
Dacca muslins depends, and it is said, that if
X
1
000
Cause of the
transparency
of
lins.
170
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
cotton not re-
Dacca spin-
ners
spinning af
forded em-
ployment to
all ranks.
Rapidly de-
clined since
the introduc-
tion of British
yarn.
they were more closely twisted they would
form an opaque yarn like the British thread.
American The more cylindrico-spiral, the longer and
ported favor- more elastic the filaments of cotton are, the
ably on by the
better adapted they appear to be for manu-
facture by machinery, and less suited for spin-
ning with the fingers. Accordingly the Ame-
rican cotton, which possesses these several
Formerly qualities, is well adapted for the British
looms, but cannot be manufactured into the
finest thread here. A small quantity of Sea
Island cotton, which was sent to the Commer-
cial Resident in 1811 was subjected to a trial
and the result was unfavourable, the spinners
not being able to make good thread of it,
and pronouncing it to be unfit for the manu-
factures of the Dacca aurungs. The spin-
ning of thread afforded employment to all
ranks and classes of the inhabitants of the
district in former times. This branch of in-
dustry began to be affected in 1824, when
British yarn was first imported into the dis-
trict, and since 1828 it has been in a rapidly
declining state. Most of the cloths, that are
now manufactured here, are made of British
twist ranging from No. 30 up to No. 200.
Numbers 60, 70 and 80 are principally used.
The following is a comparative statement of
the different numbers of English twist usually
imported into Dacca, and of the correspond-
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
171
ing qualities of country thread, with the
prices of each kind.
Nos. of English
thread.
Weight of Country
thread correspond-
ing to the English
numbers.
Price of of a
Morah or 1 and
of a Hank of
English thread.
Siccas.
A s.
Gds.
Rs. As. Gds.
Price of of a
Morah or I and
of a Hauk of
Country thread.
Rs. As. Gds.
Comparative
statement of
prices between
English twist
and of country
thread.
200
0
0
0
3
190
0
18
180
1
15
0
170
2
16
160
4
0
0
150
5
7
140
1
6
17
0
130
1
12
05500055
MONN2222
0
13
0
15
10
0
15
6
0
10
10
10
0
5
0
120
1
10
13
15
110
1
13
5
0
15
100
2
0
0
0
90
2
80
2
70
2
60
3
50
40
30
6
ZOOGÑCOW:
11
0
0
0
1
0
I
5
1
10 10 10 12
0
0
خورت
0
0
1
0
1
0
10
4333 ANNIOI22NN
0
10
0
15
15
15
15
D050055500
thread prefer-
Difficulty
country thread
of procuring
quality.
The English thread, independent of its English
cheapness, will always be preferred by the red by the
natives, on account of its uniform size, and natives.
the facility of obtaining any quantity of a
particular quality that may be required.
To procure country thread of a certain quality
is a task attended with considerable labour
and expense; it can only be done by visiting
the different marts in the district, and it is
estimated that two-thirds of the time occupied
in preparing the fine muslins, are spent in
searching for thread suited for the manufac-
ture.
of a certain
172
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Number of
the different
manufactured.
Proportion
lish twist and
country
thread.
There are about thirty-six different kinds
kinds of cloth of cloth manufactured in the district, and it
is estimated that of the whole quantity made,
6-8ths are manufactured of English twist, rang-
ing between numbers 30 and 200: one and
made of Eng half of an eighth of country thread below
No. 30 and one half of an eighth of fine
country spun thread above No. 200 of English
yarn. The muslins that are manufactured of
thread, above the latter number, consist of
plain fabrics which are generally made to
order, and are called "mulmul khas." It is
said that in the time of Jehangire a piece of
Abrowa muslin could be manufactured, mea-
suring 10 cubits in length, by 2 cubits in
breadth, and weighing only 5 siccas or 900
grains, the price of which was 400 rupees.
The finest that can be made in the present
day, of the same dimensions as the above,
weighs about 9 siccas or 1600 grains, and is
sold at 100 rupees. Flowered, spotted, striped
ed and chec- and chequered muslins are manufactured in
considerable quantities. The finer descriptions
of flowered or Jamdanee muslins are made
flowered mus. of country thread, but a large proportion is
country thread. also manufactured of No. 200 of English twist.
Sent to the na. They are sent to Oude, and the different
Hindostan. native courts of Hindostan, but the whole
quantity annually manufactured does not
exceed one lac of rupees in value. This ma-
nufacture appears to have been introduced
by the Mussulmans, and is still chiefly in
their hands. During the Moghul Govern-
Flowered,
spotted, strip-
quered mus-
lins.
Finer des-
criptions of
lins made of
tive courts of
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
173
formerly
Cloth made
and tussur
ment, the weavers of Jamdanee muslins paid The weavers
a tax, and were prohibited from selling cloths taxed.
above a stated value to foreign merchants.
A large proportion of the cloths, manufac-
tured of English thread, are plain fabrics,
which are embroidered in the city, and ex-
ported annually to the Persian Gulf and the
Red Sea. Cloths are also made of cotton
and tussur silk, and of plain and coloured also of cotton
thread mixed, and constitute about one-eighth silk.
of the manufactures of the district. All these
different kinds of cloth are distinguished by
names denoting the fineness of their texture,
their pattern, the origin of their manufacture,
or the uses to which they are applied as
"Abroan running water, and Shubnem, or
night dew," as being when wet not discerni-
ble from either; "Doorea or double threads,"
"Charkonna or chequered,"
Circar Ali or
the Newaub's household," &c.
(6
These dif-
ferent kinds
tinguished by
of cloths dis-
names denot-
ing their tex-
ture, &c.
The wea-
ver always
The mode of weaving is much the same.
as that practised in other parts of the country.
The process is rude enough, though, it may
be observed, it is not quite so simply con-
ducted as European travellers have described
it to be. The weaver, instead of erecting
his loom under the shade of the nearest tree, plies his loom
as he is generally represented to do, always under shelter.
plies his business under the roof of his own
dwelling, or under a shed raised for the pur-
pose. To admit sufficient light, the hut is
open on all sides: a pit is dug in the floor, to
afford room for the lower part of the gear, and
174
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
implements
facturing mus-
lins.
composed of
bamboo and
reed and very
simple.
Mode of
dressing the
thread and
forming the
warp.
for the weaver's legs as he sits at work, and
above the loom he erects a sort of canopy,
consisting of a mat or two supported on four
bamboos to protect the web, from dust and
Number of rain dropping from the roof. The total num-
used in manu- ber of implements used in converting the raw
material into thread, and weaving the latter
into the finest muslin is said to amount to 126.
Principally They are all made of small pieces of bamboo
or reed tied together with twine or thread, and
are of a style of workmanship so rude and
simple that almost every weaver can make
them himself, although to save time and trou-
ble they are usually sold ready made in the
bazars. The thread is dressed with starch
made of parched rice, and after exposure to
the sun for some time is wound off upon two
small wheels, which are held by the weaver,
one in each hand, as he forms the warp.
This latter operation is done between four
Separating bamboo stakes driven into the ground. An
instrument like a comb is used to separate
the threads of the warp, every alternate
thread of which passes through a correspond-
ing loop or ring of a thread chain which is
connected with the gear above and the
treadles below. There are two of these
chains of thread loops which are attached,
one to each treadle, and by means of which
the threads of the warp are alternately raised
and depressed, to allow the shuttle to pass
between them. This latter implement it may
be mentioned, is not so sharp pointed as the
The Shuttle. English shuttle, and instead of having a fixed
the warps.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
175
The rainy
season most
favorable for
ne muslins.
weaving the
season water
the warp
bobbin inside, the thread of the woof is wound
upon a small piece of reed which revolves
upon an iron pin or wire. The most favour-
able time for weaving the fine muslins, is
during the rains, at which season the moisture
in the atmosphere prevents the thread from
breaking. In dry hot weather, it is requisite, In the hot
while weaving the finest fabrics, to have used to keep
beneath the web shallow vessels of water, the moist.
evaporation from which keeps the warp
moist, and it appears to have been from this
circumstance, that the idea of the Dacca
muslins being fabricated in water, originated.
Most of the weavers are Hindoos. They Weavers
weave the plain muslins in Dacca, Dumroy, duos.
Teethbadhee, Junglebaree and Sunurgong.
At the latter place the Mussulmans who form
the principal body of weavers there, are en- Mussulmans
gaged in making the jamdance muslins, making the
Coarser cloths are made by the lower castes muslims.
of Hindoos and Mussulmans called Joogees
and Joolahs.
There is never more than two or three yards
of the web uncovered, during the process of
weaving. The starch used for the Shenen
muslins is mixed with a small quantity of
lamp black, and hence the name Sibnem
signifying “half dark” or twilight according
to the weaver's interpretation.
*On viewing the Indian yarn, it is easy to see how from the want
of cohesion it should require to be woven on some occasions under
water in order to give it support as the anatomist developes filmy
textures which float in the same medium.-Ure on the "Cotton Ma-
nufacture of Hindostan.”
mostly Hin-
At Suner-
gong mostly
employed on
jamdanee
176
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Embroidery
greatly prac-
tised.
sulmans very
expert.
Embroidery.-Next to spinning and weaving,
the art of embroidering is most extensively
The Mus- practised here, especially by the Mussulmans,
who display in the use of the needle, a dex-
terity fully equal to that exhibited by the
Hindoos in their labours at the spindle and
Ruffogurs the loom. Ruffogurs or darners are persons
or darners.
Their ex-
pertness.
Zurdose.
shawls work-
ed.
employed to repair muslins, that have been
injured during bleaching, and also to mark
and form the heading of cloths with gold and
silver thread. An expert Ruffogur can re-
move a thread the whole length of a web of
muslin, and replace it with one of a similar
quality. All the workmen of this class are
opium eaters and few of them can work well,
except when under the influence of that drug.
The flowering of muslin dresses is performed
Chuckendose. by a set of embroiderers called Chucken-
dose," and the embroidering of muslins,
scarfs and shawls with silk by workmen
called "Zurdose."
Zurdose." The latter description of
work is highly esteemed in Europe, and is in
a much more flourishing condition, than any
Scarfs and other kind of manufacture here. The scarfs
and shawls are imported from Calcutta, and
are worked to order chiefly for transmission to
England. This year about 1000 have been
manufactured, and a few I believe for her
The flowering Majesty. But the principal branch of the art
of embroidering, and the one that affords the
most extensive employment to the inhabitants
of the city, is the flowering of different kinds.
of cloth with the Moonga or Tussur silk.
These fabrics, which are principally made of
of cloth,
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
177
I
Embroidery
a favorite oc-
cupation with
all classes of
women.
English twist, are called Khasseidas. They
have the pattern of the flower that is to
be worked, stamped upon them with a red
dye by a class of workmen called "Cheepi-
gurs," after which they are distributed to the
embroiderers in the town, by persons (Oasta-
gars and Oostanees), who contract with the
merchants for the work, and who supply the
embroiderers with silk and an occasional
advance of money. The principal embroi-
derers are Mussulmaun women of the lower
classes, and the wives of Doobees, who devote
the time they can spare from their usual
domestic duties, in thus earning a little money
for themselves and families. Embroidery ap-
pears to be a favorite occupation among all
ranks and classes of Mussulmaun women. For-
merly, when there was a greater demand for
Khasseida cloths of different kinds, than
there is at present, females of the first families
in the place were in the habit of employing
their leisure hours in this way, and I believe it
is no unusual thing in Turkey in the present
day, for ladies of distinction, including even
those of the Sultan's seraglio, to send embroi-
dered work to the Beresteens of Constantino-
ple, for sale. About 20,000 pieces of Khassei-
das are annually worked here, and are sent
to Persia, Egypt, and Turkey, where they are
chiefly used as turbans. A few years ago,
Mohammet Ali Pasha imported a quantity of
Tussur silk into Egypt, with the view of Tussur silk.
establishing this manufacture in his country,
Y
Mussulmaun
178
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Bleaching.
of bleaching.
but the experiment was unsuccessful, and after
a short time, the article was returned and sold
in the bazars of Calcutta.
The bleaching of cloths is confined to the
northern division of the district, where the
soil is watered by the clear branches of the
Berhampooter. Abul Fazel mentions a place
in the pergunnah of Sunergong as being cele-
brated for a reservoir of water, which gives a
peculiar whiteness to the cloths that are wash-
ed in it, and the natives in the present day,
it may be mentioned, ascribe the same pro-
perty to the water of all the wells in the
kunkar, and clayey soil of this part of the
Their mode country. The mode of bleaching adopted
here is to steep the cloths in a vessel of soap
and water, after which they are wrung out
and spread upon a smooth field. When dry
they are put into an earthen vessel, which is
filled with well water drawn from a reservoir,
and are then subjected to the process of boiling,
which is conducted with great caution. They
are allowed to remain in the boiler for one
night, and next day they are beaten upon
the washerman's board, and are then spread
out upon the grass to dry. This alternate
process of boiling and bleaching is repeated
four or five times, and the last time with
diluted lime juice. This article has always
been used in the bleaching of muslins here.
Tavernier mentions it as being used at Broach
for the same purpose, and states that the
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
179
cotton goods of Bengal were sent to this
place to be bleached, on account of the large
meadows of lemons there. The Abbe Raynal,
on the other hand, remarks that it is peculiar
to the cotton cloths of India, that they can
never be well bleached, except in the place
where they are manufactured. Muslins,
after they have been bleached, are subjected
to several operations as arranging the threads
that have been displaced during washing,
beetling, folding, &c. The first process is done
with a light brush made of the spines of the
Nagphunee (Cactus Indicus). It constitutes
a distinct trade, and is performed by a class
of Mussulmauns called Nurdeahs. The beet-
ling of the fine muslins is done with a large
smooth chank shell, and the coarser kinds
with a wooden mallet, and is performed by a
different set of workmen. Folding the cloths
and pressing them into bales are done by the
Nurdeahs.
Gold and
silver work.
Number of
persons em-
Gold and silver work. The Dacca work-
men employed in this art, excel in filigree
work. They make bracelets, neck chains,
ear-rings and other ornaments, and also vel-
sels for otta and rose water, all of which are
sent to different parts of the country. There
are upwards of 300 persons engaged in this ployed.
business in the city, besides a class of persons,
(upwards of 60 in number) who purchase the
dust or sweepings from the workshops, for
the sake of the filings, which they extract by
washing.
180
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Shell brace-
lets, manufac-
ture of.
Other arts.
Attornies.
Bakers.
Barbers.
Manufacture of shell bracelets. There are
about 500 shell cutters in the town, who are
employed in the three distinct branches of
this art, viz. pointing the shells, sawing them
into rings and polishing, carving, and joining
the different pieces. The average number of
chank shells imported annually from Calcutta
amounts to 300,000. Ready made bracelets
and separate rings, elaborately carved and
painted, are sold in large quantities in the
city at all the great annual fairs.
The other principal arts practised in the
city and district are boat building and the
manufacture of brass and copper articles, and
of soap, paper, &c.
The following is a list of the professions,
trades and occupations of the native inhabi-
tants of the city, as ascertained by a census
of the population in 1838.
Baunburdars, or bearers of
standards, &c. at marriages.
Badla-wallahs, or makers of
silver thread.
Bhidri saj, or manufacturers of
bidri hookahs.
Bearers of doolies and palan-
kins.
Beggars.
Bhoojawallahs, or sellers of
parched grain.
Blacksmiths.
Boatmen.
Book-binders.
Brahmins who perform Juma-
nee ceremonies.
Brokers.
Butchers.
Bye, or dancing women.
Byeragees.
Cacharoos, or makers of lac
bracelets.
Cage-makers.
Card ditto.
Carpenters.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
181
Chukendose, or workers of flow-
ered muslins.
Cheepigurs, or persons who
stamp cloths for embroidery.
Cheerakush, or engravers of
copper utensils.
Confectioners.
Colleahwallahs, or cuppers.
Cotton cleaners.
Cow-keepers.
Distillers and vendors of spi-
rituous liquors.
Domes, or carriers of dead bo-
dies.
Domnees, or Mussulmaun fe-
male musicians.
Drummers.
Dusterbunds, or makers of tur-
bans.
Dustferash, or sellers of old
cloth.
English writers.
Etmamdars, or collectors of rent.
Fishermen.
Gardeners.
Ghaut-manjees, or boat agents.
Glass blowers.
Goldsmiths.
Gorekunds, or grave diggers.
Goroo dagneahs, or persons who
brand cows.
Grass-cutters.
Grinders of wheat.
Gyndars, or repairers of boats.
Haut-kootees, or pounders of
bricks.
Hausighurs, or makers of fire-
works.
Hog-keepers.
Huckahs, or makers of glass
beads.
Juhooree, or sellers of precious
stones.
Idol-makers.
Istereewallahs, or persons who
iron clothes.
Khassarees, or brasiers and cop-
persmiths.
Khundegurs, or workers in horn
and ivory.
Kheratees, or turners.
Kofutgurs, or gilders.
Koolus, or oilmen.
Kootees, or persons who clean
grain.
Khorany Mollahs, or persons
who administer oaths in pub-
lic offices.
Kurdhunees, or makers of waist
strings.
Malakars, or makers of artifi-
cial flowers.
Manufacturers of blankets.
""
""
99
وو
of blue vitriol.
of candles.
of cane chairs.
of dholucks or
drums.
Hackeems and koberaj, or Mus-
sulmaun and Hindoo physi-
cians.
of ink.
وو
وو
of rope & twine.
22
of sealing wax.
182
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Manufacturers of screens
39
وو
وو
Match makers.
(cheekhs) for
doors.
of umbrellas or
chattahs.
of violins.
Merchants, including mahajans,
traders and gooldars.
Murseeah singers, or Chanters
of dirges at the Hossanee
Delaun.
Midwives.
Mohurers, or writers.
Mollahs.
Moodees, or grocers.
Moorgee-wallahs, or sellers of
poultry.
Moorakush, or persons who
glaze paper and cloth.
Moradars, or brokers who sell
grain.
Mugjee, or persons who sew
the borders of cloth.
Muneeharees, or keepers of
stalls in the choke.
Musicians.
Naulbund, or farriers.
Neelghurs, or dyers of blue
cloth.
Nukhas, or picture sellers and
painters.
Nurdeas, or persons who ar-
range the threads of muslins.
Nychabunds, or hookah snake
makers.
Oostagurs and oostanees, who
superintend the embroidery
of kosseidas.
Pannee-wallahs, or gold beaters.
Pautooahs, or makers of silk
cords for bracelets and orna-
ments.
Patnees, or ferrymen.
Pensioners.
Poddars, or money changers.
Potters.
Prostitutes.
Pundits.
Punsarees, or sellers of spices
and drugs.
Purtullahs, or makers of bands
for chaprass or badges.
Raujh, or masons.
Ranga-wallahs, or workers in
tin and lead.
Rejahs, or terrace beaters.
Ruffogurs, or darners.
Rungrez, or dyers.
Rungsaj, or house, boat and
palankin painters.
Sankharees, or shell cutters.
Sanghurs, or cutlers.
Sawyers.
Seekligurs, or polishers of
steel.
Sellers of attar and perfumed
وو
39
99
50
وو
oils.
of bamboos.
of caps.
of charcoal and hookah
gools.
of firewood.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
183
وو
Sellers of flour.
of fruit.
of lime.
29
""
of ditto for pan leaf.
وو
99
of misee or tooth pow-
der.
of muddud or prepara-
tions of opium.
of paper.
""
of pattarahs or baskets.
وو
99
وو
of pattee, or fine mats
for seats and beds.
of shoes.
of straw.
""
of taree.
of tobacco.
""
of vegetables.
وو
وو
Servants, including burkun-
dazes and peons.
Salgurs, or cleaners and darn-
ers of shawls.
Shikarees, or killers of game.
Shoe menders.
Soap makers.
Spectacle makers.
Sundhoas, persons who extract
gold filings from the sweep-
ings of goldsmiths' shops.
Sungtarash, or stone cutters.
Sweepers.
Tailors.
Takhoor-poojah, brahmins who
officiate at Hindoo temples.
Talookdars.
Tamboolees, or sellers of pan
leaf.
Tarkush, or wire drawers.
Timber merchants.
Singha-wallahs, or dry cup-
pers.
Street coolies.
Summajees, or musicians who
attend nautches.
Subloh-wallahs, or musical in-
strument makers.
Sapooreah, or snake catchers.
Vakeels.
Washermen.
Weavers.
Weighers of grain, lime, &c.
Workers in leather.
Zemindars.
Zurdose, or embroiderers with
silk, and gold and silver.
thread.
Commerce. The principal exports are cloths,
indigo, betelnut, safflower, pat, soap, skins,
shell bracelets, jewellery, copper utensils,
cheese and preserved fruits. The former
consist chiefly of flowered muslins, which are
sent to different parts of the country, and of
khasseidas or embroidered cloths, which are
Exports.
Flowered
muslins.
184
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Their aggre.
gate value.
Indigo and
safflower.
Betel nuts.
Hides,
Soap.
Cheese and
preserved
fruits.
Imports
mustard and
til seed.
exported exclusively to Bussorah and Jidda,
from which latter place they are re-exported
to Egypt and Turkey. The aggregate value
of this export during the last four years
has not exceeded 9 lacs of rupees. Indigo
and safflower are sent to Calcutta, and betel-
nuts to Rungpore, Assam, Arracan and Pegu.
Hides are exported in considerable quan-
tities to Calcutta, otter skins to China, soap
to different parts of the country, and to the
Mauritius and to the Islands to the Eastward,
and cheese and preserved fruits to places in
the Lower Provinces, and to Jidda and Bus-
sorah. The imports comprize mustard and
til seed from Assam and Mymensing; sugar
from Furreedpore and Garipore; lime from
Sylhet; timber from Assam, Morung, Rung-
Sugar, lime, pore, &c. tobacco from Purnea and Rungpore,
bacco, cotton, cotton from Arracan, Chittagong, Tipperah
and Mymensing; catechu, ivory, pepper,
arsenic, wax, gold and silver are brought from
Arracan and Pegu; Moongah or tussur silk
from Assam and Sylhet; cocoanuts and
bhukum wood from Chittagong and Backer-
gunge; sheilds and aggur wood, or fragrant
aloe wood, from Sylhet; wheat, grain, shoes
and blankets from Patna; and chanck shells,
English yarn and piece goods, consisting of
long cloths, chintzes, cambrics, and also
shawls, woolen cloths, earthen and glass ware,
needles, country drugs, spices and cutlery
from Calcutta. Dacca and Naraingunge are
also marts for the produce of the surrounding
timber, to-
catechu, ivory,
&c. &c.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
185
districts, grain and oil seeds are imported from
Sylhet, Mymensing, and Tiperah, and salt from
Chittagong and Bulloah to the latter mart, for
transmission to different parts of the country.
Weights.
The weight of the seer is 80 siccas, and is
the one by which goods of every kind are
retailed, with the exception of a few articles
as brass ware, which is frequently sold at the
rate of 78 siccas, and lime at that of 90 siccas
per seer. The tolah is used in weighing gold
and silver, jewels, spices, medicines, thread
and fine cloth; the number of mashas in a tolah
varies, being 10 for gold and silver weights:
12 and two ruttees for medicines and spices,
and 12 for jewels. In Fureed pore and
Backergunge the seer is only 60 sicca weight.
The grain and liquid measures consist of cane
or wicker baskets, and hollow bamboos. They
have reference to a determined weight, and
are alt specific proportions of the seer weigh-
ing 80 siccas. There were formerly two kinds And measures,
of cloth measures in use in the city, viz. the
Sultanyghuz, which was equal to 36 inches,
and the Company's guz, which was 39 in
length. The English yard is now used, and
also a measure called the Kuttaneeguz, which
is equal to 34 inches in length. The very
fine muslins are sold by weight called Dukhee,
the price rising in proportion to the decrease
of weight, the length of the cloth and the num-
ber of threads in it. Thread is weighed in
scales resembling the Danish balance.
Z
186
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
The mer-
With the exception of four or five Mussul-,
mauns, and about the
about the same number of
Christians, all the merchants are Hindoos.
The merchants that belong to Dacca export
munity mostly their goods to Calcutta while those who are
cantile com-
Hindoos.
Manner of
conducting
their specu
lations.
natives of the Upper Provinces and have
settled here, carry on a traffic with that part
of the country. Many of them come to attend
the annual fairs of which there are five in the
vicinity of Dacca, and afterwards sell their
remaining stock of goods in the town. The
cloth merchants repair to Calcutta in Novem-
ber to dispose of their investments to the
Nacodas of Arab ships, and are generally
absent four or five months. There is a good
deal of petty trade carried on by small joint
stock companies, frequently consisting of a
number of individuals to whom the merchan-
dize belongs, and also of the owners and crews
of boats, who receive instead of wages a share
of the profits of the speculation. There is an
agent here who transacts business for a
Calcutta Insurance Office, and two Native
merchants who insure goods to the Upper
Delols and Provinces. Dellols and Shroffs or Poddars,
formed at one time a wealthy and influential
body in the city. The former were brokers,
who were employed by the Company's com-
mercial servants to procure their investments,
and who managed the details of the business
through the agency of Pykars: and the latter
had extensive dealings with merchants and
Zemindars in the exchange of coins, and the
Shroffs.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
187
remittance of money to different parts of the
country. These two classes were extensively
engaged in trade, and to them belonged a
great portion of the capital embarked in it,
and which was ultimately withdrawn by them
on the abolition of the Arcot currency, and
the promulgation of the regulation which
fixed the interest of money at 12 per cent.
The transactions of Poddars are confined at
present to granting hoondees on Calcutta,
Patna, Moorshedabad, Benares, Sylhet and
Mirzapore. They advance money to Indigo
planters on bills drawn on Calcutta, and loans
to the inhabitants on mortgages of houses
and land, and on jewels, gold and silver arti-
cles, &c. left in pledge with them. Many of
them import English thread from Calcutta
and retail it to the weavers, but this article
is purchased in largest quantities by the mer-
chants who visit Calcutta in the cold season.
Pykars form another numerous class of per-
sons connected with the manufactures and
trade of the place. They are agents who
make purchases of country thread in the
different bazars in the country, and procure
cloths for the merchants in the city. An
advance of money is made by the merchant,
and the Pykar enters into an agreement to
deliver to him a certain number of bales of
cloth of certain dimensions, quality and num-
bur of thread within a specified time. He
distributes the money among the weavers and
superintends the work, and for his trouble
receives a small commission of about 2 per
1
Shroffs now
confine them-
selves to grant-
ing hoondees
and loans on
mortgage.
Pykars or
agents.
188
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Commerci-
al intercourse
ca and Eu-
rope.
With the
cent. When the investment is large, the
cloths when brought to the. merchant are
assorted by a Jackindar or prizer, who divides
them according to their quality into four
classes, each of which has a certain value
attached to it, and whatever is too coarse to
be admitted into the 4th class is rejected or
thrown on the hands of the Pykar.
Decline of Commerce. The commercial in-
between Dac- tercourse between this part of the country and
Europe in early times was carried on via
Masalia, (Masulipatam) Taprobane, (Ceylon)
to Byragara, (Broach) on the western coast
of India. From this latter place it extended to
Aduli on the Red Sea, and to Alexandria in
Egypt, and from thence to the different anci-
ent ports of Europe, bordering on the Medi-
terranean. Spikenard, pearls and cloths appear
Its antiquity. to have been the exports. From the accounts
of India and China by two Mahommedan
travellers, we find that the Chinese purchased
cloths, Rhinoceros horns, and in this part of
the country in the 9th century and in the
time of Vertomannus in the year 1503, the
manufactures of this part of Bengal were
exported to Turkey, Syria, Arabia, Ethiopia
and Persia. He states that in the city of
Bengala were "many merchant strangers"
who purchased precious stones, and that 50
ships laden with cloth of Bombasin* and silk
were dispatched annually to the countries
above mentioned. Fitch also in his notice of
Chinese.
• Derived from the Italian word for cotton.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
189
Considerable
trade with Su-
rat after the
discovery of
the passage
Sunergong in 1586, mentions that " 'great
store of cotton cloth goeth from hence and
much rice, wherein they serve all India, Cey-
lon, Pegu, Malacca, Sumatra and many other
places;" and Tavernier speaks of the cossae,
muslins, the silk and cotton stuffs, and the
flowered or embroidered fabrics of Dacca,
having been exported, (prior to the time of
his visit 1666) to Provence, Italy, Languedoc,
and Spain. When Surat, after the discovery
of the passage by the Cape, became the prin-
cipal emporium for the goods of Europe and
of India, Dacca carried on considerable round the
Cape.
trafic with that place. Rice was exported
to the Coromandel Coast, and cloths to
Surat and chanks and tortoise-shell were
taken in return, but the balance of trade
being then greatly in favor of the district,
specie was imported direct, and in this
way the Arcot rupee appears to have been
introduced into the eastern parts of Bengal.
The exportation of cloths to different parts of Exportation
Hindoostan was also very extensive in former
times. The annual investments for the im- in
perial wardrobe at Delhi and for the Vice-
regal Court of the province monopolized the
whole of the finer muslins. The manufacturers
were not allowed to sell cloths exceeding a
stated value, to native or foreign merchants,
and to superintend the provision of these State
investments, a special agent resided on the
spot who exercised an authority, independent
of Magistrates and Government officers, over
all brokers, weavers and embroiders engaged
Introduction
roopee.
of the Arcot
of cloth to
Hindoostan
very extensive
former
times.
Courts of
Delhi, and of
the province
the finer mus-
monopolize
lins.
An agent
appointed by
prevent manu-
ing c'oth
the court to
facturers sell-
190
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
exceeding a
certain value.
tation of bul-
on the aboli-
tion of the
mint.
in the business. Coral, amber and tortoise-
shell ornaments were exported in the time
of Tavernier to Boutan, Assam, and Siam.
Cloths, otter skins and shell bracelets were
sent to Nepaul, and chowrees, China silk, and
toosh (a kind woolen cloth) were imported
into Dacca. With Pegu and countries to the
eastward an extensive trade was carried on.
Gold and silver and catechu were imported
in much larger quantities than at present,
and muslins, silk, shawls, betel nuts and
The impor- jewellery were taken in return. The impor-
lion declined tation of bullion began to fall off on the aboli-
tion of the mint, and since the Burmese war
the trade has greatly declined and appears to
be transferred to Calcutta. Mr. Holwell men-
tions that the Shabunder duties amounted to
two crores of rupees in 1765. But this we
may infer, was the value of the trade, for
there can be no doubt that the Sayer duties
here never amounted to this sum. In 1761
Trade fallen we find that the Company's investments at
off since the the Dacca factory amounted to about 22 lacs of
rupees, and the expenditure, including salaries
and charges of every kind, was rupees 56,667.
In the year 1787 Mr. Day, the Collector, esti-
trade in 1787. mated the trade of the district at one crore of
rupees or 1 million pounds sterling, of which
sum between 30 and 40 lacs of rupees were
expended annually in the purchase of cloths.
for exportation to Europe. The total value
of goods manufactured for European markets
amounted in 1807 to rupees 8,61,818-8-5. In
1810 and 1813. 1810 it was rupees 5,56,996, but in 1813 it did
Burmese war.
Value of
Company's
investments
in 1761.
Value of the
In 1807,
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
191
Abolition
of the Com-
dency in 1817.
not exceed rupees 3,38,114-12-8. In 1817 the
Commercial Residency was abolished, and
from that time the exportation of cloths to mercial Resi-
Europe may be said to have ceased. The
produce of the Dacca looms now chiefly con-
sists of flowered muslins and khasseidas,
besides the common cloths of the country, but
the quantity manufactured is small compared
to what it was in former times.
The following comparative statement of the
value of cotton goods that passed as exports
through the Dacca custom house from 1817 to
1835 shews the declining state of this branch
of trade.
...... ""
1817-18 ...... Rs. 15,24,974 1 8
1821-22
12,16,252 0 5
1825-26
6,29,183 11 3
1829-30 ...... Rs. 5,04,882 12 0
1831-32 ....
1834-35 ...
3,60,747 5 0
3,87,122 0
Comparative
statement of
the value of
0 exports of cot-
ton goods
from 1817 to
1835.
CHAPTER VII.
Revenue during the Mogul Government-Ditto
since the commencement of the Hon'ble Com-
pany's Administration-Civil administration
and local occurrences since 1765.
The Mehal
and Sayer as-
The assessments that were levied by the
Mogul Emperors were classed under the heads sessments.
of Mehal and Sayer.* The former or territo-
rial revenue was collected in 19 circars, into the territorial
* Vide papers in the Appendix to the 5th Report on the Affairs of
the East India Company.
The former
collected from
revenue.
192
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
The latter
hauts, &c. &c.
which Bengal was divided by Rajah Torell
from taxes on Mull in the year 1588, while the latter con-
sisting of customs or duties corresponding to
our taxes was levied at hauts, gunges and
The Dacca bazars. The circars connected with Dacca
Circars were
Sunergong.
Their as-
sessment.
Extent of
Torell Mull in
time.
Bazoobay and were Bazoohay and Sunergong. The form-
er, which included the city, stretched eastward
from Barbeckabad towards Sylhet: it con-
tained 32 pergunnahs and was assessed at
rupees 9,87,921. The latter had most of its
lands on the eastern side of the Megna and
Berhampooter, and comprized a considerable
portion of what now constitutes the district
of Tiperah; its pergunnahs were 52 in num-
ber, and the amount of its revenue was rupees
2,58,283. The "Tukseem Jumma" of the va-
rious allotments and portions of land included
the Circars of in the pergunnahs of the circars of Bazoohay
Jaffier Khan's and Sunergong was their fixed jumma or rent,
as adjusted by Torell Mull. It appears to
have been made upon a "Moozawaree," that
is, the amount of revenue of each village was
specified, whether it was included in the "Neez
Talooks of Zemindars or in those of the Zim-
mahdars or independent Talookdars. In the
reign of Sha Mahummud, and during the Vice-
royalty of Jaffier Khan in 1722, the original
circars of Torell Mull, together with those sub-
sequently annexed by Sultan Shujaa in 1658,
were formed into 13 chucklas or military,
and civil jurisdictions. The chuckla of Je-
hangirenuggur (or Dacca) included the circars
of Sunergong, Bokleh (Backergunge), portions
of Bazoohay and Fatteehabad (Noacolly), as
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
193
Its subdivi-
as-
Its revision
by Suja Khan.
far as the river Fenny, and also the circar of
Odeypore (Tipperah) and Moradkaneh (Sun-
derbunds.) This extensive circle was sub- sion and
divided into a number of Zemindarees, which sessment.
were classed under the principal one of Jel-
lalpore; it contained 236 pergunnahs, and
was assessed at rupees 19,28,294. Suja Khan
who succeeded Juffier Khan in the govern-
ment of the province, considering that the
collection of the revenue was unequally dis-
tributed by this arrangement, formed in the
year 1728, a corrected rent roll or "Jumma
Toomary Teskhes," by which the province
of Bengal was divided into 25 Eahtimam or
Zemindaree trusts. The Eahtimam Jellal-
pore comprehended all the Khalsa or crown
lands of the Chuckla of Jehangirenuggur,
with a part of those belonging to the conti-
guous chucklas of Jessore and Ghoraghat,
constituting the great province of Dacca, un-
der the charge of a Naib of the Nazim, and
comprising, according to Rennel's survey of
it, an area of 15,397 square miles.
Assignment
of Jaghires.
The Jaghires that were assigned in the
Dacca districts, for the support of the Civil
and Military establishments of the country,
were computed to comprize one-third of its
whole extent. The following were the prin-
cipal assignments. 1st.--Omleh Nowarrah
for the support of armed vessels to guard the Omleh No-
coast against the incursions of the Mughs.
The fleet, at the time it was established by
Ackber, consisted of upwards of 3000 vessels
For the
warrah.
2 A
194
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
The
Om-
leh Ahsham. wages.
The Circar
or boats, but it was afterwards reduced to
768 vessels, besides which a number of boats
and men were furnished by the Zemindars
in return for the lands, they held under the
name of this Jaghire. The Nowarrah Jag-
hire was the principal assignment in the
district, and included the best lands of the
Neabut, and was subdivided into a number of
small talooks, which were granted to the
boatmen and artificers of the fleet instead of
2d.-Omleh Ahsham. This grant
was appropriated for the maintenance of 2,820
troops and artillery for the defence of the
forts on the sea coast. 3d.-Circar Ali.
This was an assignment to defray the ex-
penses of the Nawaub, including his house-
hold establishment: half of the lands of this
Jag Jaghire lay in the Dacca district. 4th.-The
Commander Jaghire of the Commander in Chief of the
Empire was assigned for his maintenance,
and to support the command of 2,650 horse.
The lands belonging to it were chiefly situ-
The Fouj- ated in Dacca and Sylhet. 5th.-Foujderan.
This grant was made after Dacca became the
station of a Naib, and was originally intended
to defray the Military expenses of Moorshud
Kooli Khan, who first held that appointment;
it amounted to Rupees 1,00, 145.
Ali.
The
hire of the
in-Chief.
deran.
Taxes con-
nected with
revenue called
Aboabs,
Connected with the territorial revenue there
the territorial were taxes called Aboabs, which were levied
throughout the country, on behalf of the
Nazim. They were imposed in the time of
Sultan Shujaa; but it was not until the admi-
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
195
The Khas-
The
Nuz-
zeranah Mo-
Mathout.
nistration of Jaffier Khan, that they became
fixed assessments; they were
they were raised in
commutation, it was alleged, of ancient
Military services. The Aboabs collected in
the Dacca province were, 1st-Khasnaveesy, naveesy.
or a fee exacted from Zemindars by the Ex-
chequer or Khalsa accountants at the renewal
of the leases of their lands. 2d.-Nuzzeranah
Mokerry of Suja Khan to cover the expense kerry.
of the Nuzzurs, which were sent to Court by
the provincial delegates at the Eed, and other
great Mohammedan festivals. 3d.-Zer Mat- The Zer
hout was a percentage of 12 Rupees on the
Jumma Toomary or original territorial rent,
and was composed of smaller Aboabs, viz.
Nuzzer Pooneah or presents from Zemindars
at their annual settlement of accounts. Bha
Khelat to defray the expense of Khelats or
robes which were presented to the Zemindars
at this time. Russoom Nezarut or com-
mission of 10 annas per million, which was
exacted by the head peon or jemadar of
the Khalsa or Exchequer. 3d.-Foujdaree
3d.-Foujdaree The Fouj-
Aboab. This was a permanent tax on the daree Aboab.
land which was raised by the Naib, and
retained by him as a perquisite of office.
4th-Chout Marhatta. Was imposed by Chout Mar-
Alverdi Khan on the crown lands to defray
the tribute exacted at this time by the Mar-
hattas. Other Aboabs were levied by Cossim
Khan, and Mahommed Reza Khan who was
Dewan of Dacca, during the administration
of Jaffier Ali Khan. The principal were the
Serf Sicca, and the Aboab Khemsy. The
hatta.
196
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Óther
source of
revenue.
Charges in-
curred in the
former consisted of 1 anna on each Rupee
of the Khalsa Jumma or rent paid into the
Exchequer, and the latter, which was raised
in 1765-6, was composed of several minor
taxes, on plea of being presented to the King
of Delhi, in return for his gift of the Dewanny
to the Honorable Company: for dresses or
Khelats for river embankments at Moorshe-
dabad; commission for cutcherry servants
on treasure brought from the Mofussil: and
batta or duty on the recoinage of old Rupees.
In addition to the above sources of revenue,
considerable sums were realized at different
times, under the designation of Keffyet and
Towfeer. These terms meant the profit aris-
ing from the resumption of taxes discovered
to have been illegally levied by the provincial
Naibs, Dewans and their subordinates, and
also the amount accruing from an encreased
assessment on Jaghires equal to what had
been imposed on the crown lands from the
time of Ackber. The principal Keffyet in
the Dacca districts arose from an increase of
the Sayer duties, and the recovery of per-
quisites, which were enjoyed by Nowazish
Mahommed Khan, while he was Naib and
Dewan. This and the Towfeer accruing
from the Nowarrah, Circar Ali, Ahsham, and
Commander in Chief's Jaghires amounted in
1765 to upwards of 13 lacs of Rupees.
The charges incurred in the collection of
the revenue never exceeded 10 per cent., and
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
197
the revenue.
were defrayed by appropriating for the sub- collection of
sistence of the Zemindars one or more estates,
under the designation of Nancar, to which
Bunkur and Julkar, or the rights of pastur-
age, fuel, and fishing were subsequently
added by Jaffier Khan. The other disburse-
ments were classed under the head of Mus-
coorat or Wuzeat, and comprized Neem-
tuckee or Tunga to the Canongoes which was
per cent on the khalsa jumma, on account
of the increased subdivisions of pergunnahs:
Muccudemy which was a similar allowance
to the Neez or independent Talookdars, who
paid revenue into the Exchequer; and Ay-
mah, Muddud Mash, and Roozinah, consisting
of subsistence to religious and learned men
in the country, the former two being gene-
rally in an allotment of land and the latter
consisting of a daily allowance of money.
The free lands held in this district for religi-
ous purposes amounted in the year 1763 to
Rupees 6634. The principal expense was
Rupees 90,000 for the maintenance of the
Sebundy troops on account of the Nazim.
The second great branch of revenue or
Sayer was established at an early period of
the Moghul administration. It consisted of
duties or customs levied upon almost every
article of life, and of imposts on trades, pro-
fessions and personal property; and was
under the joint controul of the Naib and De-
wan of the province, who exercised the right
of modifying or altering this branch of reve-
The Sayer
assessment.
198
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
The rate
of assessment
fined.
nue as they might deem proper. These taxes
were collected at certain gunges, ghauts and
bazars, and were generally let to the Zemin-
dars of the neighbourhood, to Izaradars or
farmers, or they were put under the charge
of Government officers as Aumeens and Tes-
hildars, who entered into engagements for the
payment of the annual collections. The rate
not well de- of assessment and mode of collection were
not well defined, and being in most cases
left to the uncontroulled management of
renters and their subordinates, these taxes
were generally very arbitrary and oppressive.
The Sayer The Sayer duties though quite distinct from
the Mehal or territorial revenue, were never-
theless denominated Mehals, each Mehal de-
riving its distinctive appellation from the
local name of the profession, trade or article
that was taxed. The Sayer customs connected
with Dacca were ranked under the two heads
of Shabunder, and Chundeena, and comprise
the following Mehals, &c.
Customs of
Dacca.
Mheer Baree.
1st.-Mheer Baree. A tax on the building
of boats, which varied from eight annas to
one rupee four annas according to the size of
the vessel. It was also levied upon all boats
arriving at or leaving the city whose crews
were not residents of the district, and was
extremely oppressive and injurious to the
inland trade. A boat proceeding to Moor-
shedabad was charged at the rate 8 annas
per oar; to Calcutta 10 annas; and to Benares
rupees 1-8-while boats arriving from these
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
199
places were taxed at the rate of one, two,
and four rupees per boat. The Mehal was
originally confined to the city, but it after-
ward extended to the country, where it was
exacted by the Zemindars and farmers from
every boat that passed through their estates.
It was considered useful in leading to the
detection of decoits, as a registry of the
boats, manjees, and boatmen belonging to the
district was kept by the Zemindars.
2d.-Choke Nekass. This was a tax ex-
clusive of the ground rent of shops, on all
articles sold in the market place. For a goat,
1 to 2 annas was charged in the rupee: ele-
phants and horses at the rate of 5 per cent.
and buffaloes at 14 per cent. on the price,
besides rupees 1-4 from the purchaser. The
proprietors of milch buffaloes in town and
country were taxed at the rate of rupees 1-8
per year for each buffaloe in their possession.
The sellers of copper utensils, arms, knives,
cutlery of all kinds, looking glasses, hookahs,
trinkets, bracelets, combs, &c. were all taxed
as well as pedlars in the choke, at the rate
of one anna in the rupee.
3d.-Dhoop Mehal. A tax on the sellers
of glass in the city. It varied from two to
six rupees a year, according as the person
sold this article in the bazar, or supplied a
fixed establishment. Grass cutters supply-
ing the stables of Europeans were charged
eight annas per month. Cow-keepers in the
Choke Ne-
kass.
Dhoop
Mebal.
200
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Mehal
Gorkattee.
Mehal
Dhall.
Mehal
Sindharee.
hal.
Pan Mehal.
Subzee Me-
city paid at the same rate, while those who
resided in the country, but sold milk in the
town, were charged at the rate of rupees two
per month.
4th.-Mehal Gorkattee. This was a tax
on persons bringing wood, bamboos, and grass
for thatching into the city for sale.
5th.-Mehal Dhall. A tax for the makers
of shields and accoutrements; it varied from
one to rupees 1-8 per year, besides the lea-
ther, which was taxed at the rate of one anna
and ten gundas in the rupee, and the Bel em-
ployed in blackening it, at six annas per
maund.
6th.--Mehal Sindharee. A tax on the ma-
nufactures of Sindharee, the red paint used
by the Hindoos, the amount is not mentioned.
7th.-Pan Mehal. A tax on Betel leaf sold
in the city it was regulated according to
the variations in the price, and was usually
levied at a certain rate per bundle. This
Mehal was held by persons who claimed the
exclusive privilege of selling pan in the city,
and suburbs. In the year 1773, it was let out
for Rs. 18,441 7 12.
8th.-Subzee Mehal. A tax on the sellers
of vegetables, varying from 1 to 5 rupees
annually, according to the extent of their
dealings.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
201
9th.
Mehal Cagutch. A tax on the sellers of
paper, at the rate of rs. 36 per shop per year.
10th.-Chundeena Allemgunge. A tax on
all persons engaged in trade in Dacca, vary-
ing from 1 to 2 rupees 8 annas per year.
11th.--Shire Chundeena and Chokundee
and Peshcush Bazar. They were taxes on
sundry artificers and shopkeepers in the city,
including the manufacturers of gold and
silver thread, and of fireworks, shell cutters,
the weavers of flowered muslins, (Chappa
Jamdanee) and gold and silver smiths. The
amount is not mentioned.
12th.-Chundeena Dumdaree. A tax on
bear, monkey, and snake dancers, on bird
catchers, singers, fakirs and conjurers.
13th.-Chundeena Byjentry. A tax on
musicians of every kind. The aggregate
amount of this, and the preceding tax was
rs. 4,500 per year.
Mehal Ca-
gutch.
Chundeena
Allemgunge.
Shire Chun-
deena and
Chokundee
bazar,
and Peshcush
Chundeena
Dumdaree.
Chundeena
Byjentry.
14th. The other taxes belonging to the
Chundeena were Mye Mehal or duty paid by Mye Mehal.
the sellers of dried fish ; Nimuck Delloly paid
Nimuck
Delloly.
Guzzur
Mehal.
by the sellers of salt; Guzzer Mehal by
washermen; and Emah Mehal or tax on the Emah Mehal.
sale of wood.
and Panchat.
15th.-Batchappee and Panchattee Mehals. Batchappee
They were established after the abolition of tee Mehals.
$
2 B
202
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
and Panchat-
tee Mehals.
Batchappee the office of Ittysub, and were placed under
the charge of officers who inspected and regu-
lated all the weights and measures in the city.
No salary being allowed to these officers, they
were authorized to levy a tax at the rate of
8 annas upon every hundred rupees of mer-
chandize. This tax was continued for some
time after the Company's accession to the
Dewanny, and was under the superintend-
ence of the Secretary to the Provincial Coun-
cil, and of Aumeens appointed by the Col-
lector. The Negabauns inspected the weights
and measures of the bazars, and affixed a seal
to them twice a month in their respective
wards, reporting cases of deficiency to the
Collecter, by whom offenders were punished.
Belonging to the Chundeena and Shabunder
branches of the Sayer, there were several
Mehals, at the marts and gunges in Bickram-
pore and other places in the vicinity of the
city. They comprized taxes on dealers in
other articles tobacco, cotton, betel-nut, betel-leaf, including
a heavy tax on Beparries and brokers engag-
ed in the purchase, and the sale of these
different articles, and also on ferry men, fish-
ermen and boat-builders. Belonging to it also
were several imposts of a more arbitrary and
oppressive character, as for instance the Mehal
called "Mokaum Tongee Jemalpore" where
all persons belonging to this place, who en-
gaged in service in other parts of the country,
were taxed on their return home, and all
strangers carrying out money from it, had to
pay 1 anna on each rupee in their possession.
Taxes on
dealers in
of trade.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
203
Besides the Chundeena and Shabunder,
duties were levied at all the hauts or markets
Duties on
kets.
Revenue
accruing
in the country. They were generally consi- hauts or mar-
dered as constituting a branch of the Sayer
revenue, but in the opinion of Mr. Douglass
they were on a different footing from it. therefrom.
These taxes were collected at 556 markets in
the Dacca province at the time the Company
acquired the Dewanny, and yielded an annual
revenue of rs. 68,784-8-13. They were abo-
lished along with the Sayer duties in 1790,
and compensation was granted to Zemindars
for the loss they sustained by their abolition;
but they continue to be exacted by the land-
holders under the head of ground rent, which
they are entitled to for fixed tenements on
their property. A considerable portion of the
Sayer was held "Lakheraj" or free, the pro-
prietors of which received pensions.
Description
and value of
that devolved
to the Com-
pany, on their
acquisition of
iu 1765.
Revenue from the year 1765.—The property
that devolved to the Honorable Company on the property
their acquisition of the Dewanny in 1765,
consisted of ground within the precincts of
the old Fort, on which the mint, public offices the Dewanny
and Nawaub's palace stood; of about 600 bee-
gahs of land belonging to the royal demesnes
in the pergunahs of Sahidabad and Jaffer-
abad: and of the Peshkush Dewanny, which
consisted of property that had reverted to the
crown from failure of legal heirs or from the
proprietors having committed crimes, which
rendered their estates liable to escheat, com-
prising also the royal Forts of Hajegunge,
Dasra and the great Kuttra, and several
204
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Property
acquired by
with the De-
wanny.
houses and detached portions of land, the
the Company whole yielding a revenue of about rs. 550 a
year. Besides these portions of land, several
houses, streets and bazars in the city, included
under the head of Chundeena, were acquired
by the Government. They yielded revenue
to the amount of rs. 7,000, but they are now
let for rs. 1,780 a year. The Nowarrah lands,
which were under the management of the
Nawaubs of Moorshedabad and Dacca, con-
stitute the principal public property that has
since been acquired by Government. When
the Nowarrah or fleet was established in the
time of Ackber, a certain number of villages
and portions of land were selected for its
support. The revenue of this assigned pro-
perty was transferred from the Khalsa or
Exchequer to the Nowarrah department, and
the only difference occasioned by this transfer
was, that the proprietors of the land paid
their revenue to the officers of the Nowarrah,
instead of to the Dewan of the province, or
were required to answer the orders of these
officers for the payment of money or for
grants of land in favor of boatmen, artisans, &c.
The amount of revenue thus originally trans-
ferred to the Nowarrah was rs. 7,12,502-13,
of which sum considerable portions were re-
sumed at different times. The amount that
was recoverable at the time of the Com-
pany's accession to the Dewanny was only
rs. 57,630-3-1, of which rs. 32,222-12 was
held by Zemindars as Hissaraut and rs.
25,408-1-17 was under the Nawab of Dacca
—thus leaving a balance of rs. 3,43,934-6-5,
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
205
which could not be accounted for.
Between
the Hissaraut and concealed lands of the
Nowarrah, situated in the districts of Dacca,
and Backergunge in the year 1798, it was
estimated that the Government were entitled
to rupees 90,000 above the amount mentioned.
The part held by the Nawab of Dacca has
long since been resumed by Government and
considerable portions of the Hissaraut and
concealed lands have also been recovered by
the revenue officers of the district. Various
small portions of land in the city and its vici-
nity, the right of which was claimed by indi-
viduals, have also from time to time been
resumed, so that with the exception of a
portion of the Nowarrah Jaghire, which is
still concealed, the whole of what constituted
the property of the state in the time of the
Moghul Government, is now in the possession
of the Honorable Company. The ground upon
which the city stands, is said to be Lakhiraj
and it appears to have been always considered
as such by the revenue officers of the district.
The other property that has more lately been
acquired by the Company consists of alluvial
land in the channels of the rivers.
Consider-
able property
since recover-
ed by the Go-
vernment.
Great re-
duction of the
revenue on the
settlement af-
ter the acqui-
On the settlement of the Dewanny on
behalf of the Company in the year 1765, the
Neabut of Dacca, which had been for some
time previously under the controul of Mahom-sition of the
Dewanny in
med Reza Khan, was reduced from its estab- 1765.
lished revenue of 38 to the comparatively
small sum of 20 lacs of rupees. The follow-
ing statement shews the different portions of
206
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
amount: and the net revenue as settled by
up to 1765: the deductions from the total
assessments and other sources from that time
daree or increase arising from additional
amount of revenue in 1722: the Ezafa Soubha-
of its area, the Ausil Jumma Toomary or
Dacca Jellalpore at this period: the extent
territory included within the province of
the Dewan in 1765-6.
Dacca Jellalpore, including
Chuckla, Jahangirenugger,
both Khalsa and Jaghire,
exclusive of Tipperah, with
annexations of Serryle and
Ruttunshay from Sylhet, with
the pergunnah of Currybary,
Soosing and Seerpore Dos-
shawneh from Chuckla Curry-
bary, Mymensing, Aleph-
sing and Zuffershay from
Chuckla Ghoraghat and Kis-
mut pergunnah from Jessore
and Boosnah.
Ausil Jumma To-
inaree of 1722.
Area in British miles.
Khalsa and Sayer
Mebals.
Jaghire assigned
Lands.
Miles. Rs.
Total.
Ezafa Soubahdaree
assessment from
1722 to 1765.
Eight Aboabs, includ-
ing Serf Sicca.
Towfeer, including
profit of Nowarrah.
Total.
Total Ausil and Ezafa of
1765-6
Wuzeeat deductions of Mus-
coorat charges of 1763, with
two additional ones charged by
M. R. Khan.
Total net revenue of Jellal pore
as settled by M. R. Khan
in 1765-6.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
15397 619673 531053 1150726|351025 548249 899274 2050000 436797 1613203
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
207
The settlement of the district by the Coun-
Increase of
revenue on the
the Council
bad in 1772
cil at Moorshedabad in 1772, for a term of settlement by
five years produced an increase of revenue. of Moorsheda-
The gross amount of collections was rupees for five years.
2,978,143, the difference having been made
up by an Ezafa and Aboab Khemsy, to make
good the defalcations by M. R. Khan at the
settlement in 1765. From this were deducted
the charges of collection (Salianeh,) leaving
a net revenue of rupees 26,93,041.
In 1777-8 the Zemindars were reinstated
by the Council Committee in their several
local trusts after the form of a Hustabood
investigation, which was conducted by Au-
meens to ascertain the actual receipts of
revenue throughout 3rds of the province during
the four or five preceding years. The amount
of the territorial and sayer revenue, as settled
with the Zemindars at this time was rupees
30,08,974 which, after deducting Zemindaree
allowances, left a mixed Jumma of rupees
28,49,110.
Revenue in
1777-8,
Revenue in
In 1783-4 the revenue, as settled by the reve-
nue officers Zemindars, for ten years amount- 1783-4.
ed to rupees 28,09,998, after the deduction of
the charges of collection, which besides Sali-
aneh (introduced in 1772) were Hoondeawun
or charge of remittance; Foujdaree or allow-
ance for peons, at the time the Zemindars acted
as Justices of the Peace; and Assurah and
Burah to defray the expense of certain religi-
ous ceremonies connected with the Akrajhaut.
208
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Extent of
the Dacca
Collectorate
the per-
at
manent settle
ment in 1793.
Amount of ergunge.
revenue in
1803.
divided into
At the time of the permanent settlement in
1793, the Dacca Collectorate consisted of this
district (as constituted at present) and of Back-
The amount of revenue in 1803 wast
12 lacs of rupees, and the number of landed
proprietors 16,000. The independent or Neez
Talookdars were originally 380 in number,
but in the year 1792, a large portion of the
inferior Talookdars, who paid their rents to
them, were made independent and were
allowed to pay their revenue direct into the
treasury. To afford relief to this numerous
body of landholders, and to obviate the neces-
sity of their travelling to a distance, the dis-
trict was subdivided in the year 1797 into a
The District number of Collectorate Zillas, where Teshil-
Zillahs for the dars were stationed to receive their revenues,
but on account of the different Talooks being
detached and scattered over many pergunnahs,
this mode of collection was found to be im-
practicable, and was therefore discontinued,
and succeeded by the present practice of
paying the revenue into the Collector's Cutch-
Division of erry. During the Moghul administration the
revenue department was divided into the two
branches of Huzzooree and Nizamut, both of
which distinctions were maintained until 1781,
when the two branches were annexed under
the first title. On the subdivision of the Col-
lectorate into Zillahs in 1797, the distinctions
of Huzzooree Teshil and Zillah Teshil were
introduced, and are still observed in the Col-
lector's office, although the mode of collection
indicated by the latter is no longer adopted.
more easy col-
lection of the
revenue,
the revenue
department
during the
Moghul ad-
ministration.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
209
Spirituous liquors distilled and sold in the
city paid no tax to Government until 1790,
when this Mehal was instituted by Mr.
Douglass and let out by him for rupees 2,100
per year. At this time a duty was charged
on each reservoir and fire place, besides a
general tax on the distillery, but a remission
was allowed during the Mohurrum, Ramazan,
and Ead at which seasons the consumption
was small, and the distillers therefore sus-
pended their work. In 1794 this tax amount-
ed to rupees 5,696, and in 1799 to rupees
6,000, at which time it was estimated that
3,200 quarts of Arrack were distilled daily.
The different preparations of opium as Mud-
dud, &c. were first taxed in 1795, and
opium itself in 1796. In 1793 the importers
of ganjah paid a tax (Koot Mehal) of Rs. 2-4
per maund, and the venders of it in the city,
a duty varying from two annas to one rupee
per month.
The following statement shews the amount
of revenue of Dacca Jellalpore for the year
1836-37.
Land
(Huzzooree Teshil Rs. 289195 9 0
Revenue. Zillah Ditto...……………. 141154 4 5
spirituous li-
quors untill
farmed for
No tax on
1790, then
2,100 per an-
num,
Its amount
in 1794.
um.
Tax on opi-
Amount of
Rs. 430349 5 2 revenue of
Dacca Jelal.
pore in
Abkaree
Ditto.
Opium, Spirits, &c. 40765 3 I
Stamps,
83265 8 0
...
Rs. 124030 11 1 1836.7.
Total 554380 0 3 3/2
The other branches of revenue are the
Choukeedaree tax, the Ferries and Post office.
2¢
210
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Civil admi-
nistration di-
departments
under the De-
shedabad.
Civil Administration of the district from the
vided into two year 1765.-At the time of Company's acces-
of Huzzooree sion to the Dewanny the Civil administration
and Nizamut. of the Province of Dacca was carried on in
two departments, designated Huzzooree, and
The former Nizamut. The former was under the pro-
wan at Moor- vincial Dewan who resided at Moorshedabad,
and transacted the business at Dacca by his
deputy Rajah Heymut Sing. This officer
had charge of the khalsa or crown portion of
the public finances, and settled all disputes
regarding revenue within his jurisdiction.
The affairs of the Nizamut were conducted
by Jusseraut Khan, who acting as Naib or
deputy of the Nawaub Nazim presided over
the Civil and Criminal Courts, and also col-
lected a portion of the revenue, which was
assigned to defray the expenses of his admi-
nistration.
The latter
under the de-
pu y of the
Nawaub
Nazim.
Expense of
the public es-
at Dacca in
The following is a statement of the annual
tablishments expenditure connected with the public esta-
blishments at Dacca, as settled by Mr. Sykes,
and the Native Ministers at Moorshedabad
in 1769.
1769.
1. Allowance to state prisoners
whose release was obtained
by Lord Clive in 1767, Rs.
2. Court of Justice of six per-
sons appointed to examine,
and decide all causes, such
Carried over Rs.
34,755 15 0
34,755 15 0
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
211
Brought over Rs. 34,755 15 0
as quarrels and disputes,
which are perpetually occur-
ing among the lower classes
of inhabitants at 50 Rupees
each per month,
3. Charges Dewanny,
4. Charges Cutcherry: for
pykes, sirdars,
munseeas
and servants, including sta-
tionery, carpets, oil, mats,
&c.
5. Charity,
6. Charges General,
7. Jusseraut Khan's allowance
at Rs. 6,000 per month,. . . .
8. Maha Sing's Provincial De-
wan at Rs. 4,000 ditto (of
this sum Rajah Heymut Sing
3,600 0 0
25,000 0 0
8,500 0 0
8,388 0 0
8,618 15 2
72,000 0 0
received Rs. 500 per month,) 48,000 0 0
2,08,862 14 0
9. Supervisor's Establishment, 36,500 0 0
Total, 2,45,362 14 2
In September 1769, Mr. Kellsal was ap-
pointed supervisor of revenue on a salary of
1,000 per month, with entire control over both
Mr. Kellsal
appointed in
1769 supervi
sor of revenue
and controller
partments
of both de-
Huzzooree and
Supervisor's
departments of Huzzooree and Nizamut. His
establishment consisted of three European Nizamut.
covenanted servants, who acted as assistants establishment.
and Persian translators, an English writer:
1 principal and 2 under sheristadars, 11 mo-
212
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Succeeded
by Mr Harris
in 1771.
hurrers, 3 aumeens, 1 naib and 2 moonshees.
He superintended the collections which were
now made by aumils in the Mofussil, and
was the medium of communication between
Jusseraut Khan and the Native Ministers at
Moorshedabad, in all affairs connected with
his criminal jurisdiction. Prior to this time,
the naib uncontrolled by any superior au-
thority, had exercised the power of life and
death, but on the appointment of Mr. Kellsal,
the proceedings of his Court, in the more
serious criminal cases, were submitted through
the Resident at the Durbar and the Council
at Moorshedabad to native ministers, for con-
firmation of the sentence awarded. The
transaction of all business in the Nizamut, in
which persons belonging to foreign factories
were concerned, was reserved for the special
investigation of the supervisor.
In 1771, Mr. Harris succeeded Mr. Kellsal
in the supervisorship, the salary of which was
raised to Rs. 1,800. The state boats of the
Nowarrah had been discontinued from the
year 1769, and now the sinecure office of
Wakanagur, and subsequently that of Ittysub
were abolished. To check the abuses in the
collection of the Sayer taxes, and particularly
those on salt, betel-nut, and tobacco, a cove-
nanted servant was appointed to superintend
this branch of the revenue; and to see that
justice was impartially administered, another
European officer was required to attend the
Adawlut Cutcherry, when important cases
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.'
213
were to be decided. Mention is made of
:
Great bodies
of Dacoits in-
Capt. Hol-
land murdered
A Dewan
appointed in
large bodies of dacoits on the rivers, and of fest the rivers.
their having hurkarus in the city to apprize
them of the measures taken for their appre-
hension. The Sunderbunds are represented
as being infested with them, and the murder
of a Captain Holland, on his passage to Cal-
cutta, is mentioned. At the commencement by them.
of this year, a Dewan had been appointed in
place of the Aumils, who were recalled from place of the
the mofussil, and almost the whole of the
revenue collected was at this time made over
to the Dacca and Chittagong factories, the
small balance being remitted to Moorshe-
dabad by bills of exchange. The expense
of keeping up the Dewanny boats was
Rs. 40,000 per year: they were now reduced
from 37 to 18 in number.
A
In 1772, Mr. Lambert was appointed Su-
pervisor, and in August of the same year was
succeeded by Mr. Greuber, with the title of
Collector, in which capacity he continued to
act until the Provincial Council was esta-
blished. When the Company assumed the
office of Dewan in the place of Mohammed
Reza Khan in this year, several changes were
made in the public departments.
Aumils.
Mr. Lam-
bert appointed
in 1772, and
succeeded by
Mr. Greuber
with the title
of Collector.
Changes in
the public de-
partments on
the Company
assuming the
office of De-
wall.
Institution
of a Court of
A dawlut.
The principal was the institution of a Court
of Dewanny Adawlut, of which the Collector Dewanny
was made the superintendent; and where
with the assistance of the native Dewan he
tried civil suits, and took cognizance of such
لي
214
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
In 1773 a great
assemblage of
Sunyassees
who plunder
the district.
In 1774 the
Provincial
lished.
cases, as had formerly been referred to Rajah
Heymut Sing, the deputy chief of the Huz-
zooree department.
In 1773 the Collector applied to Govern-
ment for an additional military force. There
were at this time about 10,000 Sunyassees
collected in the vicinity of Moodapore, plun-
dering the country, and compelling the in-
habitants to desert their villages and flee to
the jungle for safety. The murder of a Cap-
tain Thomas, and the defeat of a detachment
of Sepoys by a body of these Sunyassees, are
alluded to in the Collector's report.
The Provincial Council, of which Mr. Bar-
Council estab- well was Chief, and Messrs. Purling, Thac-
keray, Shakespear and Holland were Mem-
bers, was established in December 1774.
Naibs were now employed to collect the
revenue, and to hold the Court of Dewanny
Adawlut from which an appeal lay to the
Council, while the following appointments
Revenue
collected by
Naibs
Appoint-
ment of Co-
sistants.
venanted As- were made, and filled by European covenanted
Assistants 1st-Buxey or Treasurer; 2d-
Assistant in the Revenue Department for the
records of the proceedings; 3-Sub-Export
Warehouse-keeper and occasional Assistant
Revenue Department; 4th--Assistant in the
Export Warehouse and occasional Assistant
in Revenue Department; 5th--Secretary;
6th--Accountant; 7th-Assistant for the
Records of the Dewanny Cutcherry; 8th
-Assistant to the Secretary; 9th-Assistant
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
215
Jusseraut
Khan conti-
office.
Dispute
between the
French Fac-
tories.
to the Chief; 10th-Persian Translator. Jus-
seraut Khan, who had throughout these several nued in his
changes, presided over the Criminal Court,
was continued in his office, with a Fouzdar
and police establishment at his disposal for
the apprehension of dacoits; and in consi-
deration of his advanced age, and his fidelity
towards the Company's Government, he was
allowed to retain the salary originally granted
to defray the expense of the Nizamut depart-
ment. The principal event in this year, was
a dispute between the Chiefs of the English
and French Factories arising out of the im- English and
prisonment of a servant belonging to the
former establishment. This quarrel which
led to retaliatory measures by both parties,
gave rise to a proclamation by Jusseraut Khan,
that any native taking refuge in a foreign
factory would be considered criminal, and
punished on apprehension. It afterwards
became the subject of discussion between the
English and French Governments in Europe.
The dak establishment is represented as being
branched out into different departments, all
independent and unconnected, and the expense
partly defrayed by the Company and partly
by taxes on Zemindars and farmers. It is
described as being "involved in a labyrinth
of obscurity without check or system; and
the delays greater than those of a common
cossid." Europeans had the privilege of
franking letters. The only troops, the Com-
pany had at Dacca at this time, were two force at Dacca
Companies of Sepoys belonging to a corps at
Dak estab-
lishment, its
inefficiency.
Strength of
the Military
at this period.
216
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Bank estab-
Chittagong, but this force being inefficient, a
Regiment of Militia was raised and placed
at the disposal of the Council. It consisted
of six Companies, each one hundred strong,
and was commanded by a Captain and Su-
baltern, with a Native Adjutant, and a full
Its duties. complement of Native Officers. Its duties
appear to have consisted chiefly in guarding
the cutcherries and manufacturing aurungs in
the country, in escorting treasure, in prevent-
ing the smuggling of salt, in executing the
decrees of the Provincial Council and Fouj-
daree Court, and in apprehending refractory
Talook dars and Zemindars, who were in
arrears of revenue. Among the other pub-
lic measures of this period was the estab-
Government lishment of a Bank by Government. It was
lished. intended to afford relief to the ryotts and
landed proprietors in the district from the
exorbitant interest and exactions, to which
they were subjected by the shroffs, in the
valuation of coins, and advancing loans of
money. The Arcot rupee was at this time the
currency in the eastern part of Bengal, and
comprised altogether ten different descrip-
tions of this coin, including English, French
and Dutch Arcots. Cowries supplied the
place of copper, and the whole quantity
of gold in circulation did not exceed 50,000
rupees. The Arcot rupee was the coin in
which rents were paid by ryotts, and advances
made to the weavers and spinners. In every
village there was one or more poddars, to
whom these coins were submitted for valua-
The Arcot
rupee the cur-
rent coin of
the district.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
217
Governe
ment Bank
In 1775
Naibs ap-
pointed to
Aurungs to
decide cases
in which the
weavers were
concerned.
Their deci,
sion final in
tion prior to their exchange in the city into
siccas, in which the Government revenue was
paid. The batta varied according to the
fluctuation of the different denominations, and
at times was as high as 16 per cent. The
Bank does not appear to have afforded the
relief anticipated, and it was therefore given established.
up about one year after its institution. In
this year a party of troops under the com-
mand of Captain Ellerton, took the capital of
Jynteah. In 1775 Naibs were appointed to
the different Aurungs to decide cases, in
which weavers were concerned, and with the
exception of disputes relating to the revenue,
they were empowered to decide cases to the
amount of 100 rupees, and in all below 10 ru-
pees, their decision was final. Mr. Barwell cases below
who was appointed to the Supreme Council in
this year, was succeeded in the office of Chief
by Mr. Rous, and in the Commercial depart-
ment by Mr. Greuber. On the appointment
of M. R. Khan as Naib Nazim of Bengal,
at the end of this year, the tax levied on Ze-
mindars for the dieting of prisoners was abo-
lished. Of 110 prisoners in the Dacca jail
at this time, 87 were decoits, 15 were con-
fined for murder, and 8 for thefts, and in a
minute by the Chief of the Council, it is
stated that of the above number, 95 were at
work on the roads and in irons, "whose guilt
had never been established before a Court of
Judicature, and that many of them had been
so circumstanced for nine years." The nuz-
10 rupees.
Offences of
the prisoners
in the Dacca
jail.
2 D
218
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
1771 a colli-
sion between
Company's
Courts.
zurs received by the Provincial Council, at
the Pooneah or day of annual settlement
with the Zemindars were at this time made
over to defray the expense of repairing the
roads in the vicinity of the town.
The principal event in 1777 was a collision
the King's and between the King's and Company's Courts,
which appears to have attracted the attention
of the higher authorities, both here and in
England. Mr. Peat who resided at Dacca
in the three-fold capacity of Attorney, She-
riff Depute, and Master in Chancery, in at-
tempting to serve a writ on a person of the
name of Juggernaut, the Peshkar of the Fouj-
daree Court, at the house of Seyed Ali Khan,
the Provincial Foujdar, was resisted; and in
the scuffle that ensued between the two parties,
Meer Houssein, a relation of the Foujdar's,
was unfortunately shot. The issuing of the
writ originated in a case, in which a man of
the name of Kyeroo was confined for some
misdemeanour by Juggernaut, and who,
effecting his escape, proceeded to Calcutta,
where he instituted a suit against Juggernaut
for trespass and false imprisonment.
In 1778 the
French Fac-
tory surren
dered to the
English.
In July 1778 the French Factory surren-
dered to Lieutenant Cowe; and a party of the
Militia under the orders of Mr. Lodge, the
Secretary of the Provincial Council, took pos-
session of Jugdea, (a branch of the Dacca
Factory) in the district of Tipperah. Their
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
219
property in Dacca consisted of 26 houses, and
a gunge yielding rupees 300 per year. They
had also houses at Tezgong and Backergunge.
In 1779 Mr. Shakespear succeeded Mr.
Rous as Chief, and Messrs. Holland, Hatch,
Lodge and Day were appointed Members of
the Provincial Council.
1779.
1781 the
Council
In 1781 the Council was abolished. Mr.
Day was appointed Collector and Magistrate, abolished.
and a Court of Judicature was established, of
which Mr. Duncanson was the first Judge.
The Foujdars and Thannadars were recalled
and the Judge acted as a Magistrate in the
apprehension of decoits. In this year the
Dutch Factory was taken possession of, and
in 1783 the Militia was disbanded, and a possession of.
Sebundy or Provincial Corps raised in its
place. The Dutch property consisted of 31
houses in the town and a house at Tezgong.
The Dutch
Factory taken
From the year 1781 to 1839 fifty-nine Civil 1781 to 1839.
servants have held the office of Magistrate,
but of this number thirty have only been in
temporary charge. The average duration,
therefore, of each Magistrate's appointment.
has been two years: the longest period four
years and twenty-seven days. The number
of Collectors for the same time was thirty-
seven. Twenty of this number have been
acting Collectors: the longest period for
which a permanent Collector has held office,
is six years and forty-five days.
220
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
The juris-
diction of the
Magistrate.
The jurisdiction of the Magistrate is divided
into 20 Thannahs or Police districts, of which
number 10 are in the city, and the remaining
10 in the Mofussil. The number of chouke-
dars employed in the district is 2,619, 189 of
whom are stationed in the city, besides 90
burkendazes and 10 jemadars.
Extent of
the jurisdic-
tion.
civil function-
The Civil Judicial establishment of Dacca
and Fureedpore comprises a jurisdiction of
Number of 4,800 miles in extent. The principal officers
aries attached attached to it, are 1 Civil and Session Judge,
2 Principal Sudder Ameens, 1 additional ditto
Expenditure. and 9 Moonsiffs. The total annual expense
to it.
Collector's
Office Estab-
lishment.
Rs. 77,741-11-9. The registering of deeds
yielded Rs. 1,770 in the year 1796-7: at pre-
sent it gives about Rs. 450 per year.
The Collector's Office comprises the seven
Minor Departments of Treasury, Dewanny
Sherista, Moonshee Khana, Nazerut, Record
Office, Abkaree and Stamp Office. The
number of persons employed in it, exclusive
of the Collector and 3 Deputies, is 93. The
total monthly expense is Rs. 4,099-10-5.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
221
THIRD SECTION-CHAPTER VIII.
Population-Hindoos-Mahommedans—
Christians.
of the district
Furreedpore
of Dacca and
in 1792.
Do. in 1824.
The population of the district has never Population
been accurately ascertained. According to
a calculation made by Mr. Douglass, the
Collector, in 1792, the united Zillahs of Dacca
and Furreedpore contained 9,38,712 inhabi-
tants, of which number 3,07,144 were males,
and 310,608, females; and 1,75,752 were male
and 1,45,208, female children. In 1824 the
Superintendent of Police estimated the popu-
lation of this district alone, at 5,12,385, while
according to returns made by the Magistrate's
Daroghas in 1837 it only amounted, including Do. in 1837.
the city, to 4,03,609. This latter estimate,
there can be no doubt, is under the actual
number, and of the two it is probable that the
former is the nearest approximation to the
amount of population in the present day.
With the assistance of Mr. Grant, the Magis-
trate, I commenced a census of the district
in 1838, but I obtained the returns only of
25 villages before I left the station. These
25 villages, I may mention, contained 833
houses and 5,152 inhabitants, thus giving a
proportion of 6 persons to one house. As
this census, however, was made in one of the
most populous thannas, the proportion, no
doubt, is too high to be taken as an average
222
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
applicable to the district generally. Accord-
ing to a census of the city, which was made
at the same time, the proportion there was
not more than three persons to one house.
Assuming therefore 4 to be the mean, and
calculating the houses to be 1,02,477, the
number reported by the Superintendent of
Police in 1824, the total population of the
Population district will be 4,61,146. The population of
the city itself, exclusive of the villages in the
suburbs, amounted to 60,617, viz.
of the City of
Dacca.
Hindoos.
Mussulmauns,
Males,
Females,
15,735 ... 15,687
12,419 .
16,776
28,154
32,463
Marriages,
births and
of this number 17,675 were under 15 years
of age. The population of the villages in
the suburbs was 7,689.
The number of marriages, births and deaths
deaths for one for one year, was as follows:
year,
Population.
60,617
Marriages.
370
Births.
628
Deaths.
541
The annual mortality in the city as deduc-
ed from this census is in the proportion of
about one death to 1,120 of the population.
As no census of the European population of
the station has hitherto been kept, no true
estimate of the ratio of mortality among them
can be drawn from the registers of the church.
It may be mentioned that there are 450 graves
in the Protestant burying ground, which is at
!
223
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
least 114 years old, there being a tomb in it
of the date of 1724. This is at the rate of
four funerals per year; but as the number of
English residents at the Station prior to 1765
did not much exceed that number, we may
infer that the proportion during the last 70
years has been considerably greater than
the above rate. The proportion of deaths to
admissions into the Regimental Hospital be-
tween 1828 and 1838 is one to 38.24, which
gives a ratio per cent. of 2.63. This is about
one-half less than the ratio of deaths among
the Zillah prisoners as calculated by Mr.
Hutchinson* for the year 1833: the general
ratio among them for that year being 4.65.
The number of marriages, baptisms, and
funerals registered in the Roman Catholic
Church at Bhowal from 1801 to 1837 inclu-
sive, was
Population
estimated at
5,000
Marriages. Baptisms. Funerals.
938 3,208 2,718
The following is extracted from the regis-
ters of the Roman Catholic Church at Hous-
sanabad in the district of Furreed pore, from
1818 to 1837 inclusive.
Do. do. do.
as registered
in the Roman
Catholic
Church at
Bhowal.
Do. do. at
Houssanabad.
5,000
545
2,148 1,062
The proportion of marriages to baptisms is Hindoos.
1 to 3.42 at Bhowal, and 1 to 3.94 at Hous-
Hutchinson on Indian Jails.
224
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Instances
of longevity.
Brahmins
from Canoge
invited by
Adisur.
sanabad. Of instances of longevity, it may
be mentioned that there are three persons
in the city, viz. two Hindoos and one Mussal-
man, who are said to be above 100 years of
age, and a considerable number who are
upwards of 80. No great reliance however
can be placed on the assertions of the natives
on this head, and as instances of exaggeration
on this subject may be quoted the following
from the Annals of the Portuguese. "In 1618,
"died at Bengalla, that Moor, so famous
"for his age, being about 300 years old, when
"Nunna de Cunna took Diu, which was 60
years before that time. It is reported there
are others of 200 years old thereabouts, but
"we found only one woman of 100 years, who
had married that same year, having buried
"seven husbands before."
(6
66
Hindoos. This class are most numerous
in the southern division of the district.
There is a tradition among them to the effect,
that Adisur finding that the original Brah-
mins of the country engaged in the occupa-
tions of the lower castes, and were incapable
of performing some religious ceremonies
which he wished to celebrate, banished them
from Bikrampore and invited into his king-
dom five learned Brahmins from Canoje, a
city in the western provinces. These persons
whose names were Sandrylo, Kasyop, Bats-
chop, Borodwaj and Saboono, are said to
have come into the district with their sons
and families, amounting to 59 persons in
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
225
The Brah-
into classes.
mins divided
number. They had
They had certain villages and
tracts of land in different parts of Bengal
assigned for their maintenance, according to
which their descendants were subsequently
separated into classes, distinguished by the
names of their respective districts. Bollalsein,
whose dynasty succeeded to that of Adisur
according to the popular tradition, was the
person who made this classification, and who
also remodelled the the different inferior
castes, as they are constituted at present.
The Brahmins were divided by him into
Rarhi, Barondro and Beydick. The first of
these classes was further subdivided by him
into the two distinct ranks of Kolins and Shro-
triyos, and the second or that of Barondro
into the ranks Koolin and Caup. The Rarhi
Koolins, or aristocracy of this part of the
country, originally consisted of twenty-two
families of the Kanoje Brahmins, further
separated into two grades distinguished by
the appellation of Koolins and Gaun Koolins, Koolin Brah-
while the Shrotriyos, comprising thirty seven
families, were divided into four classes called
Sydho, Seedhu, Suseedhu, and Dorhee; A
Rarhi Koolin has the privilege of marrying
four wives without losing his Koolinship,
one of them must be the daughter of a Shro-
triyo, but he is at liberty to select the others
from the daughters of Koolins of his own
rank. If he marries more than this number,
he forfeits his true Koolinship and becomes a
“Sukrit Bhanga," or broken caste Koolin, and
may without further prejudice or loss of caste
mins.
Marrying
prescribed
more than the
number of
wives lose
caste.
2 E
226
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
of the Sukrit
lins very nu-
merous.
marry an unlimited number of the daughters
of those, who like himself, have forfeited their
The offspring Koolinship or of their descendants. The lat-
Bhanga Koo- ter or the offspring of the "Sukrit Bhanga"
Koolins from intermarrying with each other,
and with the superior castes have become very
numerous since the time of Bollalsen, and they
now constitute a third class called Bonsuj, so
that the Rarhi Brahmins of the present day
consist of three ranks, viz. Koolins, Shrotriyo
and Bonsuj; and the Barondro in like man-
Marriage por- ner, of Koolins, Caup and Bonsuj. A Koo-
a Koolin Brah- lin marrying the daughter of a Bonsuj receives
with her a sum of money proportionate to the
wives he may number of wives he happens to have at the
tions given to
min in propor-
tion to the
number of
have.
time of the marriage. If for instance he re-
ceives 1500 rupees with his first Bonsuj wife,
he perhaps will only get 1400 with the second,
the amount gradually decreasing with each
successive marriage until it falls to 40 or 30 ru-
pees. He considers that he confers a high
honor on a Bonsuj Brahmin by marrying his
daughter, and he therefore leaves it to his fa-
ther-in-law to defray the expense of maintain-
The Koolins ing his wife and children. The only pecuni-
their daugh. ry obligation that the Koolin incurs by a
obliged to give
dowers to
ters.
matrimonial connection of this kind is the
provision of marriage portions for his daugh-
ters. The male issue alone are raised to the
rank of the father, and the daughters, there-
fore, must have money to induce the Shro-
triyo and Bonsuj youth to accept them in
marriage. Few of the Koolins however, pós-
sess the means of bestowing dowers on all
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
227
which they re-
ed.
Polygamy
less extensive
districts.
The cause.
registrars of
their daughters, and the consequence is that
by for the largest proportion of the female
offspring of Koolins by Bonsuj wives, remain Without
single or unmarried. The greater number of main unmatri-
the Koolins in this district are of the Sukrit
Bhanga caste, and a few of them have as many
as 50 wives. Polygamy, however, is carried
to a less extent here, than in districts where than in other
the Barondros constitute the majority of the
Brahmins. This is attributed to the great ex-
pense attending marriages, on account of the
number of Ghuttucks in the district. These Ghuttucks or
Ghuttucks or registrars of Koolin's marriages, Koolin mar-
are all entitled to a fee on the occasion of a riages.
Koolin's marriage. They keep a register of
pedigrees called "Molugrauth,” in which the
lineage of every Koolin family in the country
is recorded from the time of Bollalsen down
to the present day; and upon this point there-
fore, they are always consulted by parties
about to contract a marriage. Most of the
Ghuttucks are Bonsuj Brahmins, and follow
no other occupation but that of registering Bonsuj Brah-
marriages. There are upwards of 750 houses mins.
or families of them in Bickrampore, and al-
though the elders or chiefs of the small com-
munities, into which they are divided, are the
only persons that keep these registers, yet all
claim a gratuity on the occasion of a marriage,
and seldom fail to be present at the nuptials
of a Koolin, when they consider it worth their
trouble to attend. A Ghuttuck is entitled to
a fee from a pure Koolin at any time he
may choose to present himself, during two
The Ghut-
tucks mostly
228
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
CA.
The Beydick
Brahmins.
years after his marriage, but he can only
claim it from a "Sukrit Bhanga Koolin" at
the celebration of the ceremony. The amount
of the donation is always regulated by what a
Pundit Ghuttuck consents to accept.
The Beydick Brahmins were originally the
priests or readers of the Vedahs to the five
tribes of Kanoje Brahmins, with whom they
came into the district. As the original Brah-
mins of Bengal had been exiled by Adisur on
account of their ignorance of religious cere-
monies, so the Beydicks, it is alleged, were
excluded on the same grounds, by Bollalsen,
from the ranks of Koolin, Shrotriyo and Caup,
into which he divided the Rarhi and Baron-
dro Brahmins. This is the version of their
history which is usually given by the Ghut-
tucks, but the Beydicks themselves assert that
they opposed the right assumed by Bollalsen
of remodelling the castes, and therefore declin-
ed conforming to the distinctions conferred on
their brethren. The Beydicks are pretty nu-
merous in Bickrampore, and are chiefly pun-
Mostly Pun- dits and astronomers Forming but one class,
they are less fettered by the rules and usages
of caste, and with regard to the marriage of
their daughters they are not subject to the
pecuniary restrictions imposed on their less
fortunate brethren the Rarhi and Barondro
Brahmins.
dits and astro-
nomers.
The original
Brahmins of
The original or exiled Brahmins of the
country were called "Sath-suttee," from their
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
229
called Sath-
consisting of 700 houses or families. Most of the country
them after their banishment settled in the suttee.
country to the north of the Berhampooter, but
many also were scattered over the province,
and after the time of Bollalsen they formed
an alliance with the Rarhi Koolins to whose
sons their daughters were given in marriage.
There is still a considerable number of them
in Tipperah, Mymensing, and Sylhet, and one
or two families, I believe, are to be met with
in almost every large village in the province.
The Barondro Brahmins are few in number
in this district.
The Bhaide caste ranks next to the Brah-
mins in this district. Those belonging to it
place it between the Brahmins and Voishyu,
and disclaim all connection or relationship
with the Sudras, from whom it is said to have
sprung. It owes its superior rank, it is sup-
posed, to Bollalsen, who belonged to it himself,
and who at the time he remodelled the other
castes, raised it to the place it now holds
among the grades of Hindoo society. The in-
vestiture of the poita was purchased for this
caste about 100 years ago by Rajbullub, the
Deputy Naib and Dewan of the Dacca
province. He invited for this purpose all the
learned and influential pundits of Nuddeah
and Benares to his residence at Rajanagur,
and expended upwards of five lacs of rupees
on the occasion. It is said, however, that
the poita of the Bhaides consists only of
The Baron-
dro Brahmins.
The Bhaide
caste.
230
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
The Khais.
tyas or Kay-
ets.
The Sudras.
The Tantees.
two instead of three bundles of thread which
is the number in the Brahminical cord.
The Bhaides constitute a wealthy class of
Hindoos in this district: they are chiefly
Talookdars, Dewans, and Physicians.
The Khaistyas or Kayets are considered
here as belonging to the Sudras, although
they claim for themselves a higher rank.
Like the Brahmins they are subdivided into
classes which are distinguished by the names
of Koolins, Moolies and Bhataturas, and fol-
lowing the example of the Rarhis, they have
Ghuttucks who keep registers of pedigrees.
Most of them in this district are attornies,
pleaders, writers, accountants and treasurers
employed by the Zemindars in the country
and about the different Courts in the city.
The Bhataturas or lower class engage as
cooks and bearers in native families, and
many are employed as confectioners, and
retailers of rice, salt and ghee in the town.
The Sudras comprize the nine pure castes
or Novosakh of Bollalsen. Of these the
Tantees, or weavers, form the most numerous
class in the district. They are divided into
two sets called Jhappaniya and Chotba-
paniya and gyia, who neither eat or marry with each
The Jhap-
Chotbagyia.
other. The former derive their name from
a custom peculiar to them of carrying the
bridegroom in their marriage processions
upon a Jhappa or kind of throne instead
of a palankin. They are numerous in the
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
231
The Sanka-
rees.
city and at the different manufacturing
aurungs in the country. The latter or Chot-
bagyia were originally Kayets, by whom
they were expelled from the caste on account
of their practising weaving: they are scatter-
ed through the district, and in the city the
total number of their houses does not exceed
fifty. The Sankarees or workers in shells,
rank next to the weavers in point of wealth
and numbers. They all reside in one bazar
or street, where they have been settled since
the foundation of the city: they are an in-
dustrious and hard working race, and have
the character of being very rich but ex-
ceedingly penurious. Most of them are of
a fairer complexion than the natives in
general, and in some of their families there
are a few Albinos. The Kamars or ironsmiths The Kamars,
constitute a numerous class of artisans in the
city, but the greater number of them are em-
ployed as gold and silversmiths. The art of
alloying metals in this country is said to have
been first practised in Bickrampore in the
time of Bollalsen. The Khangsarees or bra-
ziers and coppersmiths of Dacca have the re-
putation of being good artificers and excel in
making small boxes and hookah stands. Most
of them belong to the district of Mymensing.
The Koomars or potters carry on their busines
in the suburbs, where they make toys and mars.
earthen articles, that are shaped by the hand.
Cooking utensils and vessels that are wrought
by the wheel are made by up country people
called Kottah-Koomars--the workmen that
The Khang-
sarees.
The Koo-
232
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Wallahs.
make idols are natives of Kishnagur, and
generally earn three times as much as that
Sugdop Go- acquired by the other potters. Sugdop Go-
wallahs are numerous in the town: they
purchase milk from the ryotts in the country,
and also keep cows in the neighbouring
villages. Aheeru Gowallahs who form a dis-
tinct caste are not numerous in this part of
the country: the few that are settled in
the town keep the Deswallee breed of cows
and sell ghee. A few of this caste occasion-
ally visit the eastern districts, in the capacity
of cattle doctors: they generally come about
the commencement of the cold season, and
their services are in great requisition among
the ryotts, for sprains, rheumatism, and ab-
cesses in their cattle; the chief remedial
means they adopt are acupuncture, and the
The Mala- cautery, The caste of Malakars consists
of gardeners, and of the makers of artificial
flowers, garlands and crowns for marriage
processions. The latter also make fireworks,
and are generally employed to assist the
Mussulmaun pyrotechnists when there is
much work of this kind in hand. The manu-
facture of these marriage decorations is a
monopoly in the hands of certain families of
Malakars, who have been settled in the city
from time immemorial: the town is divided
by them into districts, which they supply
with their wares, to the exclusion of all inter-
lopers or persons engaged in the same busi-
Most of the Napeeat caste come from
the Tipperah district, and practise as surgeons,
kars.
The Na-
peeat caste,
ness.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
233
as well as barbers, and the greater number of the
Bames, the last of the nine pure castes encroach
on the province of the Tamboolees, being retail-
ers as well as cultivators of pan or betel leaf.
The Bames.
Castes con-
sidered im-
pure.
gee.
The Gunu-
The several castes that are considered
impure, comprize a great many classes of
people following various trades and occu-
pations, and constituting the great body of
the Hindoo population of the district. The
Gunukus or Assagee are degraded brahmins,
employed in making, painting and decorating kus or Assa-
idols. They copy the almanacks that are
prepared by the Bickrampore pundits: they
are also astrologers and fortune tellers, and
are the persons whose services are so fre-
quently in requisition among the natives to
discover thefts, which they do by subjecting
the suspected parties to the ordeal of chewing
rice. The Ugradanu brahmins, from their The Ugra-
accepting the dan or first gifts offered at a mins.
Shraddu, are considered still more impure
and degraded than the preceding class. The
few that reside in the district find a subsis-
tence by attending funeral obsequies: the
gifts usually presented to them consist of
grain, oil seeds, clothes, a small piece of gold
or silver, but before they are entitled to them
they have to partake of the boiled “rice put-
rahna," which is consecrated to the corpse.
The caste of Soobernubuniks comprizes most
of the poddars in the city, and those who
keep shops for English goods; they also
deal in cloth, precious stones, &c. The
danu Brah-
The Soo-
bernubuniks.
2 F
234
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
lees.
The Pato-
nees.
The Kai-
bortos.
The Soun- Soundikus or Sowluks are divided into Ba-
dikus or Sow.
luks.
rondro Sow who deal in salt, grain, sugar and
betel-nut, and keep shops in villages; and
Rarhi Sow who are distillers of spirits. A
few of them are wealthy and have Zemin-
The Kapal darees in the neighbourhood. The Kapullees
weave sackcloth and manufacture ropes, twine
and bags; many of them also are employed
The Pateeals, as bullock drivers. The Pateeals make the
seetul-patee or fine mats on which the na-
tives sleep, and both men and women work
at the business. The Patonees are ferrymen,
they make baskets when their services are
not in requisition at the ferries, and also buy
and sell fish in the country. The Kaibortos
are divided into the two distinct classes of
Chasa Kaiborots, ploughmen or ryotts, and
Jalwah Kaibortos or fishermen. The latter
are considered the best boatmen in this part
The Tam- of the country. The Tamboolces here do
not confine themselves to the selling of pan
or betel leaf which is the office assigned to
their caste, but follow the business of Tey-
pallees, who like the Barondro Sow, deal
Gundbuniks. in oil, grain, salt, &c. in the city. Gund-
buniks, or retailers of spices, and drugs, are
settled principally in the town. Dhobees,
or washermen, reside in the city, Sunergong
and Dumroy, where they are employed by
the merchants to bleach muslins. In the
country washermen are employed only by
the wealthier native families and are paid in
money and grain. At the time the Company
were engaged in trade here, about three lacs
boolees.
Dhobees.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
235
Sootars.
Dhomes.
Bhocemallees
or Sweepers.
of rupees were expended annually among
this class; and a few of the families that were
then employed at the Factory still possess a
good deal of property in the town. Sootars,
or carpenters form a numerous body, and are
engaged principally in felling wood in the
neighbouring forests, sawing timber, building
boats and making ploughs. Dhomes, or burn-
ers of the dead, are confined to the city: they
also keep herds of swine, make baskets, and
are employed to kill dogs. Nearly allied to the
Dhomes are the Choomars or workers in lea- Choomars and
ther, and Bhoeemallees, or sweepers: the former
prepare hides, make shoes, harness, drums
and catgut strings for the bows used in clean-
ing cotton, and act as musicians in marriage
and other processions: and most of the latter
are employed as scavengers in the town.
Belonging to the caste of Chandals (a very
numerous body of low Hindoos in this part of
the country) are the greater number of ryotts
in Bhowal and other estates, in the northern
division, and also a large proportion of the
grass-cutters, gardeners, boatmen, bearers of
palankins and dhoolees in the city and dis-
trict. The Joogees constitute another numne- The Joogees.
rous class of low caste Hindoos in this district
and in Mymensing. Like all the other in-
ferior castes they have brahmins of their
own to celebrate their marriages and poojahs,
but contrary to the practice of all the worship-
pers of Brahma, instead of burning, they bury
their dead. The grave is dug of a circular
shape, and the corpse is interred in a sitting
Chandals.
236
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
posture, and along with it are deposited a
small jar of water, a hookah, and a chattah.
The history of this caste is involved in great
obscurity. The tradition is, that they are
descendants of a Sunnyassee, who after a long
course of penance and separation from the
world becoming tired of this mode of life,
broke through his Jog and returned to his
wife and family. The mendicant Joogees
also bury their dead, but whether they
observe the same ceremonies I am not aware.
Dr. B. Hamilton considers the latter to have
been originally the priesthood of the Pal
Rajahs, who were Bhuddists, and it is probable
that the two classes of Joogees which are now
distinct, constituted one tribe formerly and
settled in this part of the country along with
the Booneah Rajahs. The Joogees are met
with throughout Bengal, but they are most
numerous in the districts on the eastern side
of the Ganges. They are all weavers, and the
women as well as the men work at the loom,
They make the common coarse country cloths,
they use starch made of boiled rice instead
of Khoee, on which account they are regarded
by the other weavers, as an exceedingly
Gur impure race. The Gurwarus are a class of
people peculiar to the district. They gain a
livelihood by killing otters, turtles, porpoises
and alligators, the former for the sake of
their skins, and the two latter for the oil which
they extract by boiling, and sell for medicinal
purposes. The weapon they use is a small
spear called Teetha, with which they can
Mostly wea-
vers.
The
warus.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
237
The Bhudi-
strike an object at a distance of several
hundred yards. From their expertness in
the use of this weapon, the Gurwarus are a
terror to river decoits, and in former times
merchants never ventured on a journey to
Calcutta without a few of this class on board
their boats. The Bhudiyas, another low and
impure caste, are numerous in this part of the yas.
country. It is difficult to determine whether
they are Hindoos or Mussulmauns, their
religious sentiments, apparently, being adapt-
ed to those prevalent in the country they
settle in a considerable proportion of them
here profess to be followers of the Prophet,
and like the Gurwarus worship the river
deity "Bhuddur." The Bhudiyas reside on
the water throughout the year, and move
about from place to place generally in parties
of eight or ten boats, and according to a
custom among them, boats parting company
or anchoring at a distance from the fleet at
night have to pay a fine before they are
re-admitted. The Bhudiyas practise a great Are excellent
variety of arts. They are excellent divers,
and in the cold season are engaged chiefly in
fishing for fresh water muscles. Of the
small pearls they find, they make ornaments
for the nose and ears, and the shells, which are find pearls.
applied to a number of domestic purposes
among the natives, are sold by them in the
bazars. They sell beads, trinkets, tutenag
and tin rings, necklaces of tiger's claws, with
which the natives are fond of adorning their
children, medicines and spices, and also make
divers.
Occasionally
238
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Different
arts practised
by the Bhu-
diyas.
the Haunas or bamboo combs which the
weavers use to separate the threads of their
webs. They practice cupping, the instru-
ments they use for this purpose, consisting of
the sharp teeth of the Cankilla fish (Esox
Cancilla) to puncture the skin, and the tip of a
cow's horn with which they draw off the blood
by suction. The Bhudiyas are likewise expert
hunters and fowlers, and by snares and various
means kill birds for the sake of their feathers.
They amuse the public with tricks of leger-
demain, hocus pocus, bear and monkey
dancing, and when they fail to make a liveli-
hood in this way, they generally betake them-
selves to stealing. Like their brethren, the
the Gipsies. gipsies in other countries, they are partial to
Resemble
The Koonch
and Rajbunsi
tribes.
poultry, and their boats are generally well
stocked with fowls and ducks, they eat all
kinds of animal food, and are much addicted
to the use of ganjah and spirituous liquors, and
consequently they are regarded as a very im-
pure race. The Baughmaras, or tiger killers,
and the Bhindoos, who search for grain con-
cealed in the burrows made by rats, both
belong to the Bhudiya caste.
In the forests of the northern division of
the district there reside two tribes of people
that differ widely in their features and gene-
ral character from any of the classes, that
have yet been mentioned. They possess, the
prominent cheek bones, the flat face, and
narrow and oblique eyelids of the Mongolian
variety of the human species, and are altoge-
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
239
The Koonch
and Rajbunsi
ther a much stouter and more hardy race than
the Hindoos or Mussulmauns of the neigh- tribes.
bouring country. They are called Koonch
and Rajbunsi, and doubtless are sprung from
the same origin as the tribes of the same
names in Rungpore and Assam. They are
the aboriginal inhabitants of the northern
division of the district, and the last remnant
in this part of the country of the population
of the ancient kingdom of Kamroop, which
as has been already observed extended down
to the Boorigonga. Dr. B. Hamilton, in
speaking of the Koonch and Rajbunsi tribes
of Dinagepore, mentions that the tradition
there is, that they are Kheytriyos who escaped
from the persecution of Prosuram by fleeing
to China, and that their princes called "Nor,"
pretend to be descendants of the god Siva.
The Koonch of this district appear to belong
to the class called "Pani Koonch" in Rung-
pore; they are a poor ignorant race, who
know nothing of their own history nor have
any traditions regarding their ancestors,
They live in the heart and along the borders
of the forests of Bhowal, Cossimpore, and residence.
Attyah, and throughout the whole tract of
jungle as far as Moodapore, and notwith-
standing the unhealthiness of this part of the
country, they are in general robust and strong,
and suffer much less from miasma, than their
neighbours in the same part of the district.
With the axe and hoe they clear away jungle,
and cultivate rice, oil seeds and cotton they
also prepare charcoal, and collect deer's horns
Their prin-
cipal places of
1
240
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Cultivate
jungle and
waste lands.
which they sell or barter for spirits, at the
weekly markets held in the vicinity of the
forests. The Koonch are averse to paying
rent for the land, they bring into cultivation,
and rather than give money on this account,
they often suddenly vacate their huts, and
move into the interior, where they re-commence
their labours of clearing away the jungle.
Few of the Zemindars, however, exact rent
from them, and in lieu of it the Koonch and
Rajbunsi act as Burkendazes and fighting
men, when their services in this way are re-
quired by their respective chiefs or proprie-
tors of the soil. The Koonch live in small
villages, consisting generally of a few solitary
huts; and frequently situated at a consider-
Their man- able distance from each other. They eat the
flesh of sheep, goats, deer, hogs and buffaloes,
and drink spirits; and from this mode of
living they possess great physical strength
and courage, and armed with spears do not
hesitate, it is said, to attack on foot, wild ele-
phants and tigers. They have the character
Are said to of being strictly honest and faithful in all their
to have a more dealings, and have the virtue, which few of
gard for truth. their neighbours possess, of shewing a great
ner of living.
be honest and
than usual re-
regard for truth. As they have neither priests
nor barbers among them, they are rejected
by the Hindoos as belonging to their sect,
but the Rajbunsis, who abstain from animal
food and follow the customs and usages of
Hindoos in general, are not considered as
being excluded from it. The latter differ
but little in appearance from the Koonch, and
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
241
indeed are only a higher grade of the same
class being the descendants of their princes.
They have a language of their own, of which
the following are a few words.
Madai God.
Goom
Nose.
Their lan-
Meea
Man.
Natoon
Ears.
guage.
Ha
Earth.
Dabba
Hookah.
Cheerung Water.
Gooaee
Betel-nut.
Huno-an Fire.
Zamcha
Pepper.
Muchuck Deer.
Meerung Rice.
Choop Snake.
Thyree Plantain.
Sa
Fish.
Nyeka
Turmeric.
Roong
Boat.
Choona
Cloth.
Sheel
Iron.
Nukh
House.
Machye
Tiger.
Fong
A tree.
Wak
Hog.
Baum
Wind.
Jok
Hand,
bers.
The total number of Koonch and Rajbunsi Their num-
residing in the northern division and tract of·
jungle extending to Moodapore in Mymen-
sing, is estimated at 8,000.
In addition to the above classes there are
established here a few colonies of emigrants
from other parts of India. The street coolies,
about 300 in number, are natives of Purneah
and Bhaugulpore, and have been settled here
for upwards of a century and a half. A num-
ber of Munipooreans reside at Tezgong, where
they cultivate sugar cane and vegetables and
weave the Khess cloth of Munipore and
between three and four hundred Bunooah
Emigrants
from other
parts of India
Dacca district.
settled in the
2 G
242
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Worshippers
of Kali and
Khrisno.
saens in the
city with nu-
ples.
coolies from Beerbhoom are employed about
the Indigo factories of the district. A great
many of the Burkendazes and Peons at the
thannahs and in the service of the Zemindars
are natives of the western provinces.
About seven-eighths of Brahmins, Bhaides
and Khayets, and all the Kamars and Khan-
sarees, among the Sudras, are worshippers of
Kali; and the remaining eighth, all the Tan-
tees, one-half of the shell cutters, and three-
fourths of the Soundikus, are Busnubs or
Three Gos. Worshippers of Khrisno. There are three
Gossaens in the city, who have numerous dis-
merous disci- ciples in the surrounding country, as far as
Assam and Chittagong, and from whom they
levy annual contributions. There are about
300 Byragees, who reside in the Akharas or
convents, which are under the controul of
these Gossaens. A Byragee pays about one
and a half, when he is initiated into
· rupee
the mysteries of the sect, and is liable to fines
imposed by the Gossaen, to whom also de-
volves whatever property he may possess
at the time of his death. The principal
Busnub festival here, is held in the month
of August, on the day after Khrisno's birth
day. On this occasion, two processions are
made by the weavers in honor of two idols,
called Luckanarain and Morlee Mohun.
The former is a Salgram or stone from the
Gunduck river; it was set up as an object
of worship about 150 years ago, by a wealthy
weaver, and the latter is an image of Khrisno
The chief
Busnub fes-
tival.
•
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
243
Ceremonies
and amuse-
ments practis-
ed at the fes-
tival.
which was established at a considerably later
date, by a person of the same profession. In
these processions, the employments of Khris-
no and the members of his family, are re-
presented by boys on portable stages deco-
rated with coloured paper, tinsel and artificial
flowers. These stages are paraded through
the streets accompanied by music, trains of
elephants and horses, and at night by a dis-
play of fireworks to the great delight of the
natives, who on this occasion flock into the
city in great numbers from all parts of the
surrounding country. In former times, when
the weavers were in better circumstances than
they are at present, these processions were
conducted at a considerable expense, and usu-
ally consisted of upwards of 100 stages.
Another great Hindoo festival is held on the
banks of the Berhampooter creek (the old
channel of the river) in the pergunnah of
Sunergong. An immense multitude of per-
sons assemble here to bathe in the river.
The festival is held in March and continues
8 or 10 days. The Hindoo places of worship
in the city, are 52 Akharas, 55 Kali Barrees, of worship.
and 12 Sunghuts. The Brahmins attached.
to the temple of Daccaserry Doorga, were 18
in number, and those who perform Jujmanee
ceremonies amounted to 345 in the year 1838.
Mahommedans.-It is estimated, that the
population of the district consists of Hindoos
and Mahommedans in nearly equal propor-
tions, but in the city the latter constitute the
Another
festival held in
March on the
Berhampoo-
banks of the
ter creek.
Number of
Hindo places
Mahcmme-
daus.
244
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
dans more nu-
dous,
Mahomme- principal portion of the inhabitants, their
merous in the number according to the census taken in
city than Hin.
1838, exceeding that of the Hindoos to the
extent of 4,309 in a population of 60,617 ex-
clusive of that of the villages in the suburbs.
The Mussulmauns appear to have settled in
great numbers in the eastern districts, from
the time they conquered the country, and to
have constituted at an early period the prin-
cipal body of the inhabitants, about the mouth
of the Megna. Cæsar Frederick in 1565
mentions that "the inhabitants of Sundeep
are Moors," and in Purchas's Collection of
Travels, it is stated that about the end of the
16th century "the inhabitants near the
shore," were for the most part Mahomme-
dans. They are almost all Sheikhs; the
Seyeds, Moghuls and Patans forming but an
inconsiderable portion of the population. The
latter, however, were numerous in this dis-
trict in former times, and a few of their des-
cendants are still to be met with, at the vil-
lage of Patan-tollee near Dumroy, where they
hold lands by virtue of Sunnuds granted by
former rulers. Several of the communities
into which the lower classes of Mahomme-
dans are divided, according to their occupa-
tions and employments, have assumed the
character of castes, and in regard to marry-
ing and eating with each other, they are
quite as exclusive as the Hindoos. They
comprize, 1st.-Khasye, or butchers, who are
sub-divided into ranks according to the ani-
mals they slaughter. 2d.-Koolu, or manufac-
Consisting
mostly of
Sheikhs.
Divided
into castes.
Khasye.
Koolu.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
245
3d.-Jolan, or
Jolan.
Mallecs.
turers of til and mustard oil.
weavers of coarse country cloths. 4th.-Mal-
lees, consisting of gardeners and makers of
artificial flowers and of decorations used at
marriage processions, and during the Mohur-
rum and Beira festivals. 5th.-Challenhas, or Challenhas.
persons who catch mullet. 6th.-Bildars, or Bildars.
Gorkunds, or road makers, grave diggers,
carriers of the dead. 7th.-Dooreahs, or dog Dooreahs,
keepers, sweepers, match-makers, appliers of
leeches, &c. 8th.-Meerishkariah, or fowlers.
This
Meerishka-
riah.
Daees,
9th.-Daees, or midwives. The
persons who
follow this profession in the town are divided
into classes under the orders of Mahaladar-
nies, who settle their disputes, and are enti-
tled to a portion of the fees they earn.
municipal regulation was made in the time
of Jehangire and appears to have originally
been a branch of police jurisdiction. The
Mahaladarnies were required to report cases
of premature labour and infanticide to the
authorities, and were employed to enter and
search female apartments, and to assist in
taking the evidence of females who are pro-
hibited by their rank from appearing in open
court. Their services in this way are still
held in requisition by the Magistrate of the
city. 10th.-Hajams or barbers. 11th.-
Dhoobees or washermen. 12th.-Myeferosh Dhobees.
or sellers of fish. During the Moghul Go-
vernment the sale of fish in the town was a
monopoly in the hands of this class, and the
business is still principally carried on by
them. 13th.-Bearers or carriers of dhoolees.
Hajams.
Myeferosh.
Bearers.
246
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Sampooriab. 14th.--Sampooriah, or snake catchers. 15th.
-Bazighur, or rope dancers and jugglers.
Bazighur.
Two Pirs
and a consi-
derable num-
ber of Fakirs
in the town.
gious zeal.
There are two Pirs of great sanctity in the
vicinity of the town, and also a considerable
number of fakirs, a few of whom occasionally
Their reli- evince their religious zeal by burying them-
selves under ground during the festivals of
Mohurrum and Ramazan. A pit is dug for
this purpose, in the shape of a grave, into
which the devotee descends, carrying with
him a quantity of food and drink barely suf-
ficient to support life during the penance.
This excavation is then roofed over with
bamboos, mats and earth, with the excep-
tion of a small crevice to admit air, and in
this situation the fakir remains until the expi-
ration of the festival. The ceremonies of the
The Mo- Mohurrum are conducted at the Hossainee
hurrum festi-
val.
Delaun, which is an extensive building capa-
ble of containing a large concourse of people.
During the "ashoora" or ten days' fast, its
interior is decorated with artificial flowers,
transparencies, ostrich eggs, the walls above
Ceremonies the place where the effigies of Hussein and
Hossein are laid, are lined with black cloth,
a fountain plays in the centre of the apart-
ment and the whole is lit up at night with
a profusion of lamps and coloured candles
while the "Murseea Kownee," or funeral
dirges and eulogiums are recited by a band
of singers trained to the task, and who con-
tinues the " Shub-baydaree" or nocturnal vi-
gils throughout the fast. On the 7th day the
observed.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
247
Punjah, or representation of an open hand
mounted upon a pole adorned with flowers
and tinsel is paraded through the streets, ac-
companied by music, and on the 10th or last
day of the fast the Tabeeat, or effigies of the
two martyrs, are conveyed with great pomp
and ceremony to a place in the vicinity of
the town where they are buried. During this
festival, boys dressed in red and green peram-
bulate the town, carrying standards and lea-
thern bags filled with water or sherbets which
they offer to passengers. The festival of the
Beirah in honor of Khanjah Kizier (supposed
to be the prophet Elias) was conducted with
great splendour during the time, the No-
warrah was maintained here, but in this res-
pect it has greatly declined of late years,
and is now celebrated with less pomp and
shew, than at Moorshedabad, and other towns
in the country. A tutelary deity of the river
under the name of " Bhuddur," is very gene-
rally and daily worshipped here, both by
Hindoos and Mussulmauns, but chiefly by
the lower classes among the latter. His fa-
vor is propitiated by the sacrifice of a fowl at
the river side, and by the offering of fruits and
flowers, which are put into earthen vessels or
scooped out pumkins, and launched forth
upon the water. The worship of Bhuddur
extends down the Megna to Chittagong, and
I believe as far as Arracan.
The Bei.
rah festival.
Bhuddur
worshippers.
of Mahomme-
Within the last ten years a Mahommedan A new sect
sect has sprung up, in this part of the coun-
dans.
248
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
try and has spread with extraordinary rapi-
dity in this district, Fureed pore, Backer-
The founder gunge and Mymensing. The founder of it
tullah. is a man of the name of Shurkitullah,
called Shurki-
Called Fe
razees, differ
from Moola-
vees.
a
native of Fureedpore. This person, at the
early age of 18, made a pilgrimage to Mecca:
he visited it a second time, and took up his
abode among the Wahabees, and after an
absence of twenty years returned to his na-
tive country about the year 1828. Since his
return he has been engaged in promulgating
his doctrines, and he has succeeded in mak-
ing converts to the number, it is estimated, of
one-sixth of the Mussulmaun population of
the above places in the city they are sup-
posed to comprize about one-third of the
Mussulmaun inhabitants. The Ferazees as
this sect is called, differ little from the Moo-
lavees of the western districts, of whom there
are a considerable number (the disciples of
Moolavy Abdullulah,*) also settled here. They
profess to adhere to the strict letter of the
Koran, and reject all ceremonies that are not
sanctioned by it. The Mohurrum festival, as
it was observed by Mahummud and by the
prophets before him as they assert, is strictly
kept, more particularly the 10th day of this
moon, which they regard as peculiarly sacred,
from its being the date of Adam and Eve's
descent to the earth, and of the creation of the
Ursh, (ninth or empyrean) and of the Koor-
see (eighth or crystalline) heavens. They
* Moolary Abdoollulah makes Murids which Shurkitullah objects to.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
249
fast, accordingly, on this and the following
Tenets of
day, spend the night in prayer, and observe the Ferazees.
the commendable duties enjoined by the pro-
phet of feeding the poor, and effecting a re-
conciliation among persons at enmity with
each other; but the commemoration of the
martyrdom of Hussein and Hossein, which
is held at this time, is not only forbidden, but
even witnessing the ceremonies connected
with it, is avoided by them. They reject the
rites of Puttee, Chuttee and Chilla which are
performed between the first and fortieth day
after the birth of a child and observe only
the rite of Uqueekha, which consists in sacri-
ficing two he-goats for a male, and one for a
female child. The ceremony of shaving the
child's head takes place at this time, and the
weight of the hair in gold or silver, according
to the circumstances of the parents, is distri-
buted among the poor. In the same way
they have divested the marriage ceremony of
its formalities. The various customs observed riage ceremo-
on this occasion, viz. of "sitting in state," of
"carrying and applying turmeric," of" mea-
suring for wedding garments," and "the
Shubghust procession," are all prohibited, and
the only show or pomp that is permitted is
the adornment of the bride and bridegroom
on the day of their shaddee or marriage.
The rite is solemnized by the parties giving
their consent in the presence of witnesses,
and on this occasion music and dancing are
dispensed with, and the only expense incur-
red is a feast called " Elema Khana" to their
Their Mar-
nies.
2 H
250
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
rals.
Their Fune- friends and the poor. Their funeral obse-
quies are conducted with a corresponding
degree of simplicity, offerings of fruit and
flowers at the grave and the various Futeeah
ceremonies being prohibited: their graves
are not raised above the surface of the ground,
nor marked out by any building of brick
or stone. The Ferazees have the character
of being stricter in their morals than their
other Mahommedan brethren, but they are in-
clined to intolerance and persecution, and in
shewing their contempt of the religious opi-
nions of their neighbours they frequently
occasion affrays and disturbances in the town.
Their leader" Hajee Shuritullah" has more
than once been in custody on this account,
and is at present under the ban of the police,
I believe, for exciting his disciples in the
country to withhold the payment of revenue.
Christians.
Christians.-Christians have been settled
in this part of the country for nearly three
centuries and a half. Vertomannus in speak-
ing of the city of Bengalla in 1503, says
"Here we found many Christian Merchants
who were born in the city of Sarnan as they
told us. They resort thither as to a great
mart with cloth of silk, and wood of Aloes
and Lazer which yieldeth the sweet gum called
Laserpetium, commonly called Belzoi being
a kind of Myrrh." These Christians appear
to have belonged to the Syrian Church. It was
not until 1517 that the Portuguese visited
Bengal. In this year John DeSilveyra arrived
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
251
Settle at
Chittagong
at Serripore.
The Church
at Tezgong
to 1599.
with four sail from the Maldives, with the
view of erecting a factory in Bengallah, where
he passed the winter and suffered greatly
from famine. Shortly after this, they were
allowed to settle at Chittagong, and a few and afterwards
years afterwards they established themselves
at Serripore on the Megna. The Church of
Tezgong, in the vicinity of Dacca, is said to founded prior
have been founded by St. Augustine Mis-
sionaries prior to 1599, but it is probable from
the close resemblance of this Church to the
Nestorian places of worship in the south of
India, that it was originally built by the
Christian Merchants mentioned by Verto-
mannus, and that it was subsequently only
repaired or re-built by the Roman Catholic
Missionaries. The Portuguese appear to have
lived chiefly by piracy in the estuaries of the
Megna at the time they settled here. The
inhabitants of Serripore, who were chiefly
Portuguese, are mentioned by Fitch in 1586
as being "all rebels against the King Zelab-
din Eckbar here are so many rivers and
islands, that they flee from one to another
whereby his horsemen cannot prevail against
them." They were subsequently employed
by the Moghul Governors of the province.
In 1621 a number of them accompanied
Ibrahim Khan as gunners of his fleet, when
that Nawaub was pursued to Rajmahl by
Sha Jehan, and at a later period a consider
able number of them deserted the service of
the Rajah of Arracan, and were located at
Feringy Bazar by Shaista Khan. They were
Mode of
life of the
Portuguese.
Employed
as gunners in
1621 by Ibra-
him Khau.
252
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
As well as
employed at this time as commanders of
war boats, gunners, and artisans in the artil-
lery and Nowarrah departments, and accord-
ing to Tavernier a good many of them were
in the Ca. officers in the Cavalry of the Nawaub. They
resided in the vicinity of the Dullye Creek,
where they had a Church admired by Taver-
nier for the beauty of its structure, and also
a St. Augustine monastery, which is mentioned
Total num- by Thevenot. The total number of Chris-
valry of the
Nawaub as
officers.
ber of Portu-
guese.
First settle-
ment of the
English.
In 1678 an
exemption
from duties
granted them
by Sultan
Mabommed
Aazim.
In 1686 the
English Fac-
tory confisca
ted.
1689 their
whole proper
ty confiscated
by Aurenzebe
and the Com-
pany's ser-
vants placed
in irons.
tians belonging to the three Portuguese
Churches in Dacca, Bhowal, and Houssana-
bad is estimated at 10,150.
The English appear to have settled here.
about the year 1660. Tavernier alludes to
the English Factory, and mentions the name
of its chief in 1666, about which time Indian
muslins were first introduced into England.
The number of Company's servants attached
to this establishment prior to 1760 does not
appear ever to have exceeded five persons.
In 1678 the Company's agents presented
Sultan Mohammed Aazim with a nuzzer of
21,000 rupees, for which they received his
Nishaun or order for a free trade without the
payment of duties. In 1686 the Factory was
confiscated by Shaista Khan, and in 1689
this Nawaub or his deputy Behadur Khan,
in compliance with orders from Aurenzebe,
sequestrated the whole of the English pro-
perty in Bengal, and placed the Company's
servants here in irons. The following is a
comparative statement of the professions and
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
253
Civil.
occupations of the English residents here in
the years 1778 and 1838.
1778.
5 Members of the Provincial Council.
1 Collector of Customs.
1 Superintendant of Dewany Adawlut.
1 Secretary.
1 Assistant ditto.
1 Persian Translator.
1 Chief of the Commercial Establishment.
1 Assistant to Commercial Chief.
1 Salt Agent.
1 Surgeon.
1 Assistant ditto.
1 Commandant of Militia.
1 Subaltern.
4 Merchants.
1 Attorney.
5 Traders and Writers to Company's
Servants.
1 Pilot.
1 Deputy ditto.
1 Tailor.
2 Servants.
5 Persons without employment.
37
Professions
and occupa
tisus of the
English resi-
dents in the
years 1778
and 1838.
1838.
1 Commissioner of Revenue.
1 Civil and Session Judge.
1 Magistrate and Collector.
1 Joint Magistrate.
254
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Civil.
Military.
1 Assistant to the Magistrate.
1 Sudder Aumeen.
1 Deputy Collector.
1 Civil Servant (out of employ.)
1 Chaplain.
1 Surgeon.
J Assistant Surgeon.
13 Commissioned Officers of a Regiment
of Native Infantry.
1 Commissariat Officer.
1 Executive Officer.
1 Artillery ditto.
3 Non-Commissioned Officers.
1 Baptist Missionary.
16 Indigo Planters and Merchants.
47
Armenians
and Greeks.
Mercantile
pursuits.
Greeks.
There are about 40 families of Armenians
and 12 of Greeks in the city. The former
people appear to have settled here about the
time the Company acquired the Dewanny.
Many of them carried on an extensive trade
in cloth, salt and betel nut, and held Zemin-
daries, some of which are still possessed by
their descendants. Their Church was erected
in 1781. The Greeks established themselves
in the city at a later period. Alexis Argyree,
the founder of the Greek Community in
Calcutta, died here in 1777, and left consider-
able property, which was divided among his
sons, who took up their abode in Dacca and
Backergunge. Their Church was built in
1821, the priest attached to it belongs to the
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
255
monastery of Mount Sinai.
Like the Arme-
Their pur-
suits similar
Armenians.
nians, the Greeks were chiefly engaged in to those of the
inland trade, and there are a few who still deal
extensively in salt at Naraingunge.
Total num.
ber of Chris-
city in 1838.
The total number of Christians in the city
comprizing English, Anglo-Indians, Portu- tians in the
guese, Armenians, Greeks, and persons of
French and Dutch extraction, amounted to
304 in the year 1838.
CHAPTER IX.
Character, Manners, Dress, Customs and
Amusements-Education-Litigation, Crime
and its Physical Causes.
Character
of Bengal,
The natives of the eastern districts of Ben-
gal, like their countrymen in general, are of of the natives
the middle stature and of a slender and weak
form of body. They have never been dis-
tinguished for courage, but on the contrary
have generally been remarked for pusillani-
mity and cowardice. Captain Hamilton in
writing of Dacca upwards of a hundred and
fifty years ago, observed "the country is full
of inhabitants, but it does not breed any of
courage, for five or six men will chace away
a thousand." They are prone to indolence Indolent
and inactivity, are wanting in energy, and and inactive
little capable of enduring fatigue or much
laborious exertion, but they possess great
in their habits.
256
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Excel in
arts and occu-
pations of a
sedentary cha-
racter.
inoffensive.
patience and perseverance, and from the sen-
sibility of organization with which they are
naturally endowed, they are in general better
adapted to excel in arts in which long con-
tinued application and manual dexterity are
displayed, than in occupations requiring the
exercise of much physical strength or cou-
rage. Accordingly they are good spinners,
weavers, writers, embroiderers, workers in
gold and silver and shells, but make indiffer-
ent porters or carriers, watchmen, guards or
soldiers. As a political community, they are
Quiet and quiet, peaceable and inoffensive, and have
always been distinguished for their attach-
ment and obedience to their rulers. The
only instance of popular discontent that has
been publicly manifested since the Company's
accession to the Government, occurred in
1810 when the house tax was imposed, on
which occasion the inhabitants of the city
rose in a body to represent their grievances
to the Collector. The document in which
their complaints were set forth was signed by
nearly 9000 of the more respectable house-
holders of the place, who petitioned not only
for the repeal of the obnoxious tax, but also for
the abolition of the stamp duty, and the ap-
pointment of properly qualified persons to
the inferior Government offices. On the re-
fusal of the Collector to receive this petition
from the mob that besieged the Cutcherry,
a disposition to riot was shewn, but the
appearance of a company of Sepoys in the
streets was all that was required to preserve
Only one
instance of
discontent
since the
Company's
rule.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
257
Dishonest
and litigious,
and evince a
great disregard
for truth.
Religious
disputes rare
duos and Ma-
between Hin-
hommedans.
order and the crowd quietly dispersed to ap-
point delegates to present the petition the
following day. The worst features in their
character are dishonesty, and a propensity
to litigiousness and petty quarrels, in the
prosecution of which they indulge a great
deal of deceit and chicane, and evince an utter
disregard for truth. This disposition has
been remarked by all the official persons
who have been connected with the district,
and in this respect they have acquired the
repute of being the most troublesome set of
people in the country. Religious quarrels
between Hindoos and Mahommedans are of
rare occurrence. These two classes live in
perfect peace and concord, and a majority of
the individuals belonging to them have even
overcome their prejudices so far as to smoke
from the same hookah. The Brahmins in
this part of the country have, in a great mea- engage in se-
sure, broken through the trammels of caste
that confined them to the offices of the priest-
hood; and they now frequently engage in the
secular occupations of dewans, writers, va-
keels, &c. As a body, they are not treated with
very great respect by the inferior castes in
the city, and the only persons of their order,
indeed to whom much deference is shewn,
are the officiating priests at the temples, and
the Gossaens who possess great influence in
temporal as well as religious matters, over
their disciples the weavers, shell cutters, and
all the other worshippers of Khrishno.
Brahmins
cular pursuits.
21
258.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Societies or
clubs formed
by the Hin-
doos called
"Dulls."
Ruled by a
president.
Take cog-
nizance of the
The Hindoos in their social intercourse are
divided into societies or clubs called "Dulls."
There is often more than one of these societies
in the same caste, and even the several mem-
bers of a family not unfrequently belong to
different dulls. Each society is governed by
a president who is styled Dulpoti among the
Brahmins, Pooromanich among the weavers,
goldsmiths, barbers, &c. and Mookeah among
the Teypallees, whose assemblies from the
quarrelsome disposition of the members,
are further distinguished by the name of
Dulla Dullee. The members of the different
dulls visit and give entertainments among
themselves, and in their collective capaci-
ty take cognizance of the infringements of
infringements the rules and usages of caste, and exercise
a censorship on the conduct of their associ-
ates. Among many of the Mussulmaun
classes as the Ruffogurs or darners, and
Myeferosh or sellers of fish, &c. there are
Mussulmauns. societies of a somewhat similar description.
The office of president among the former
is hereditary, and its perquisites are the
most distinguished place at their feasts, and
a double allowance of dishes. They settle
disputes and impose fines on delinquents
guilty of a breach of their regulations, as
the refusal of a member to attend a feast,
funeral or religious festival. The president
of the Myeferosh regulates the duties, and
settles the disputes of the whole class; he
levies a contribution daily from each member
of caste, &c.
Similar so-
cieties, &c.
among the
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
259
Their mar-
riages.
of the society, and in return gives them a
feast at the end of the year. Among the
Hindoos the members of a family generally
live together until the death of the father,
when the youngest son takes charge of his
mother. Marriages on the female side are
contracted at a very early period in life, and
with the exception of the Coolin Brahmins,
the Beydicks and Jhappanye weavers, the
father of the bride among all the other castes
receives money from the bridegroom on this
occasion. The sum varies from 20 to 500
rupees. Among the Pateeals, it is regulated
by the skill displayed by the bride in the
manufacture of mats, and is settled on the
bridegroom seeing her work prior to be-
trothal the highest sum paid by this class is
100 rupees. The expense attending the cele-
bration of the marriage ceremony varies vary according
greatly, but among the more wealthy classes
of Hindoos and Mussulmauns in the city it may
be estimated at the following rates, viz. from
1000 to 2000 rupees for the higher classes: from
400 to 800 for the middle classes: and from
100 to 200 rupees for the third class. Persons
who exceed the sum warranted by their rank
or sphere of life, fail to command respect
among the more respectable natives, and their
conduct on this occasion is subject to the
censure of the members of the dulls to which
they belong. The greater portion of the
money is thrown away on processions through pended.
the streets at night, composed of the friends
of the bride or bridegroom, attended by
Expenses
In what
manner ex-
260
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
musicians, persons carrying artificial flowers,
colored lights and fireworks, with a train of
ragged bearers of flags, and batons and
beaters of kettle drums, mounted upon the
miserable half starved ponies or tatoos of the
country. The lowest rate at which the cere-
mony can be celebrated among the poorest
classes of Hindoos or Mussulmauns, is esti-
mated at 10 rupees, viz.
Hindoo.
Rs.
A s.
Brahmin,
The lowest
1 0
Comb and sindoor,
Ornaments,
rate at which Cloths for bride and bridegroom,.
the ceremony
can be cele- Shell bracelets,
brated.
2 0
1 0
0
4
1
0
Musicians,
Bridal crown,
Washerman,
0
4
1 0
0 4
Barber,..
Feast,
Miscellaneous,.
0 4
2
0
1 0
Rupees 10
10 0
Mussulmaun.
Cazi,.
0 8
Cloths for bride and bridegroom,.
3 0
Comb, &c.,
0 4
Chooree or lac bracelets,
08
Bridal crown,
8
Barber,
0 4
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
261
Feast,
2 0
Music and miscellaneous expenses,.. 3 0
Rupees 10 0
Marriages among the middle and lower
classes, it is said, are more expensively con-
ducted here than in Calcutta, but funeral ob-
sequies are less so. It is seldom that any
large sum is lavished on the latter occasion
by the wealthier classes, and among the poorer
inhabitants the expenditure is comparatively
moderate. The following is the lowest rate
of expense incurred on this account by a
Hindoo or Mussulmaun belonging to the
lower classes, viz.
Hindoo. :
Rs. As.
Funeral Clothes,
08
The lowest
pile,
Firewood,.
To a Dhome for preparing funeral
Sandal, ghee and bamboos,
expense of a
funeral.
0 8
0 12
04
Brahmin,
Cloths,
Rice and dhal,.
Brahmins feast,
Brass articles,.
Barber,
Washerman,
Shraddu.
1 0
10
2 0
1 0
1 0
0 4
0
4
08
Miscellaneous,
Rupees 7 0
262
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Mussulmaun.
Grave digger,
0 12
Coffin, cloth, mats, bamboo, &c.....
10
Mollah,.
0 4
Fourth Fateeah.
Mollah,...
1 0
Food,
0
4
Copper dish, &c.,
1 0
Cowries distributed to the poor,
0 4
Shraddu
when the fa-
Expense ofthe 1st, 2d and 3d Fateeahs, 2 8
:
Rupees 7 0
If the family are too poor to celebrate
not celebrated Shraddu, they distribute a few pounds of rice
mily are poor. and sesame and cowrees among the Ugradanu
Brahmins in the country, Dhomes are sel-
dom employed, and both there and in the city
persons who cannot afford the expense of a
funeral pile, throw the corpse into the river.
Among several of the Mussulmaun classes,
as the Ruffogurs, and the members of the
society to which the deceased belonged dig
the grave and carry the corpse to it, a duty
which they perform in their turn. Fateeahs
kept up by any are seldom celebrated by very poor people,
and never for a person who has died without
a family or friends. The Ferazees dispense
with the usual marriage and funeral ceremo-
nies, and the expense incurred by them there-
fore on these occasions is small, and consists
chiefly of money distributed in charity.
Fateeahs not
poor people.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
263
wives among
here.
How remu-
nerated.
There are no Hindoo midwives here. All No mid-
who follow this profession are Mussulmauns the Hindous
and reside in the city, where they are divided
into classes under the superintendance of
Mahaladarnis, who practise in certain dis-
tricts or quarters without interfering with each
other. There are very few villages in the
country provided with midwives, and there
the office of one is generally performed by
an experienced neighbour, who is rewarded
for her trouble with a piece of cloth or some
similar present. Four annas is the lowest
rate at which the services of one in the town
can be procured; the other expenses for pan,
betel-nut, and tobacco for attendants, and
fuel for 40 days, among the Mussulmauns,
amount to about 12 annas more, making the
total expense one rupee. In the rearing of
children Hindoo mothers always suckle their
own offspring, but Mussulmaun women very ir own off-
frequently employ nurses for this purpose.
The practise of giving opium to infants is Mussulmaun
very common among the latter: it is con- quently em-
menced when the child is a few days old, and ploy nurses.
is generally continued until it is four years
of age.
It is administered under the impres-
sion that it defends the child from cold, but
more frequently with the view of quieting it
when troublesome; and the practice, it may
be mentioned, is frequently carried by native
nurses into European families. Deaths from, Opium given
an overdose are of frequent occurrence, I be- to children fre-
lieve within the last eight months I have cause of death.
Hindoos
always suckle
spring.
women fre-
by the nurses
quently the
26-4
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
The wealthy
Hindoos imi-
tate their
brethren of
the metropo•
lis in their
mode of
speech, &c.
seen two instances of infants under the age
of ten months, who were thus accidentally
killed by it, and I know of another case in a
European family where the parents attributed
the loss of a child to it. The more wealthy
classes of Hindoos imitate the Calcutta peo-
ple in their mode of speaking, writing and liv-
ing. The Gaur or pure Bengallee, which is the
language of this part of the country, (and one
that is almost unintelligible to the inhabitants
of the western districts,) has given place to
the Calcutta dialect among the higher classes,
who also follow the mode of giving entertain-
ments, &c. adopted by their Hindoo brethren
in the metropolis. The seclusion of women
much seclud- among the Hindoos in this part of the coun-
try is not much attended to, but among the
Hindoo
women not
ed.
Mussul-
maun women
strictly so.
Lower class
Mussulmauns it is strictly enforced, and only
those belonging to the lower classes ever
of Mus-ulinaun appear abroad. Some of the latter, it may
like the men. be remarked, work quite as hard as the men,
women labour
Palankins
rul use.
especially the women of the class of Kootees,
who husk grain, carry bricks and materials
for building, and also those belonging to the
Jalwah and Budiya castes, who are employed
in rowing boats, fishing, &c. Mussulmaun
females of the middle and higher classes in
the city travel in small dhoolees or sedans
covered with cloth and carried by a couple of
bearers. The use of palankins is not general,
and native carts and carriages drawn by bul-
not in gene- locks or horses are quite unknown. Few of the
natives here ride on horseback. Most of the
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
265
Zemindars keep elephants, but the general
mode of travelling in the country is by water.
Water con-
general use
veyance in
through the
district.
The lower
classes better
dressed than
those of the
dis-
western
tricts.
Shoes.
Hindoo
and Mussul-
maun Women
wear the same
The men and women of the lower classes
here are better dressed than persons in the
same condition in life in the western districts
of the province, and few of them are seen
without two or more separate pieces of cloth.
Leather shoes are not much worn except in
the city wooden ones are used in the coun-
try, and are usually worn as a sandal with a
wooden button, or are fastened round the foot
and ankle, for which purpose the Mussul-
mauns use a leather thong, and the Hindoos a
string of hemp or cotton. Hindoo and Mus-
sulmaun women wear the same kind of dress;
the only difference is in the colour of the dress.
border, the former using a saree with a red, the
latter wearing one with a black border. Hindoo
women here wear shell bracelets frequently
covering the whole fore-arm. These orna-
ments and the silver anklets are often of
considerable value, and descend from one
daughter to another, through several genera-
tions. The bracelets and the streak of sind-
hoor or red paint upon the forehead, are
tokens of the woman's husband being alive,
widows and unmarried women, therefore,
have not the privilege of wearing them. Mus-
sulmaun women wear bracelets made of lac
or sealing wax, glass or silver instead of shell.
The other ornaments worn both by Hin-
doos and Mussulmauns, are finger rings set
with square pieces of mirror glass, nose and
Their orna-
ments.
2 Κ
266
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Pan and
tobacco much
used.
Their su-
perstition.
ear-rings, necklaces and barrel-shaped orna-
ments for the hair, in which amulets or
charms are kept. Among the middle and
higher classes they are made of gold, silver,
and small pearls, and for the poorer people
of tin, tutenag, pewter and brass.
Both men and women are much addicted
to the use of pan and tobacco. The people of
the town smoke the latter, but in the country
the women chew it with their pan. The cus-
toms of the natives in general are so inter-
mixed with their religion that any descrip-
tion of them would be but a tiresome detail
of their numerous absurd superstitions and
ceremonies. There is one, however, which
may be mentioned, from the circumstance of
its prevalence here, and from its being pecu-
liar it is said, to the eastern parts of Bengal.
It is the employment of persons by the ryotts
to protect their crops from hail storms. The
persons who pretend to have this power, are
called Shealarees, and there are few villages
in this district or the adjoining one of My-
mensing, without one of them. They belong
chiefly to the caste of Joogees, and receive a
fixed monthly salary, which is paid in money
and grain, and raised by general contribu-
tion among the villagers. Once a year a
poojah is celebrated by the Shealaree in
the open fields in the presence of the assem-
bled ryotts. On this occasion a kid, a
kitten, a fowl and a singio fish, all of a
dark color, are sacrificed; the first is killed,
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
267
Example of
their supersti-
but the others are buried alive in a large
earthen vessel, over which another vessel of tion.
a similar shape and size is inverted, and the
whole is then covered with earth so as to
form a small mound. On the occurrence of a
hail storm the Shealaree sallies out of his hut,
almost in a state of nudity, and takes up his
position upon this artificial mound. Here he
blows a buffaloe's horn which he carries
slung across his breast, and alternately repeat-
ing his muntras and waving a trisool, he pre-
tends to drive the "demon of the storm" to
his abode, which by universal assent has
been assigned to the Jynteah hills. Hail
storms being frequently partial, or limited in
their operation, falling in fields at a little dis-
tance from each other while intervening ones
escape, Shealarees take advantage of this
circumstance, and pretend that they possess
the power of sending the hail to neighbour-
ing villages, and the Shealaree therefore,
whose fields happen to be uninjured by hail
for three or four successive years, is regarded
by the ryotts as an invaluable person, and
often receives wages of double the amount
paid to his less fortunate brethren. The
mode of buying and selling by the parties
touching each other's hands under a cloth, or buying and
selling.
the "arithmetic of the touch," as it has been
called, is occasionally practised at this place,
Naraingunge and Seragegunge. The wea-
vers and merchants also have a commercial
language of their own called Tar, by which
bargains are made in the presence of other
Mode of
268
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Amusements.
persons. When a Hindoo merchant fails in
business he announces his insolvency to, the
public by burning a lamp of ghee at his door
at mid-day. The practice is general through-
out India, I believe, but from the rare
occurrence of bankruptcies here, it is seldom
that an exhibition of this kind is witnessed,
and there have not been more than four in-
stances of it, it is said, within the last fifty
years.
The principal amusements are kite-flying,
bird fights, nautches, neelas and cards. In
Boating for former times, boating was a general and
rite pastime. favorite pastime among the more wealthy
classes in the city, and probably originated
merly a favo-
of boats.
66
with the Nawaubs, many of whom took great
Description pleasure in this exercise. Their state barges
were magnificently fitted up, and were dis-
tinguished by different names according to
the figures on their prows as "Mohrpunkee"
from that that of a peacock, Muggurchera,"
of an alligator, &c. In imitation of them the
merchants, weavers and ruffogurs kept plea-
sure boats, fancifully decorated with their
crews dressed in various costumes, and re
gattas by moonlight formed at this time one
of the chief amusements of the people. In
many parts of the country, especially in My-
mensing, boat races still constitute an amuse-
ment among the ryotts, at many of the great
Kite flying. religious festivals. The flying of kites ap-
pears to be the most general amusement in
this part of the country: it is practised in
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
269
1
the city during the cold season, and in the
country chiefly in the spring months. Young
men as well as boys engage in it, and display
a dexterity in this sport which is not surpass-
ed perhaps in any country in the world.
With their kites which are small and light,
being made of fine paper and slender pieces
of bamboo attached to a very. long and fine
silk or cotton thread, they perform a number
of evolutions in imitation of the flying of
birds, but their principal object is to cut each
other's strings, on which the vanquished party
loses his kite. On the first day of the chur-
ruck poojah (11th April) young and old
people assemble in the vicinity of the princi-
pal villages in the country to fly kites, and
frequently upwards of three hundred persons
may be seen engaged in this sport in one
place. This is one of the great yearly festi-
vals, and is the day on which the Hindoos
throughout the country eat pounded barley
called “suthu" instead of rice. Another great
holiday in the country is the Mokur“ Sang-
krant" or last day of the month Poos (13
January). On this day Hindoo Zemindars
give an entertainment to the Brahmins and
the ryotts on their estates: the feast is held
in the open air, and cakes made of rice, mo-
lasses, sesame and cocoanut water are distri-
buted among the party. It goes by the name
of "Bastun poojah," and in Bickrampore Bastun Poo-
wrestling and jumping are practised on this
occasion. The principal athletic game of Athletic
the district is called "Aru Unda," and some- Aru Unda.
jah,
game called
270
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.`
Deer catch-
Shooting.
what resembles that of golf. It is played
with short bamboo clubs and wooden balls by
two parties opposed to each other, and is a
common and favorite amusement among young
people in the country during the cold season.
Hindoo Zemindars amuse themselves in catch-
ing with nets. ing deer by means of nets, and Mussulmauns
in general are fond of shooting, which they
practise a good deal about the city in the cold
season. Angling is pretty general on the
Boorigonga about the commencement of the
rains, but it is not well understood by the na-
tives here, and the clumsy and unskilful
manner in which it is practised by them seems
almost to justify Dr. Johnson's well known
definition of this sport. The Hindoos are
Fighting be fond of fights between rams; and bulbuls
And small or nightingales; dhials, and mooneas, which
Angling,
tween rams,
birds.
In door
amusements
they practise chiefly during the Doorga poojah
holidays; by the latter (or combats between
mooneas) they frequently lose and win a good
deal of money. Their other amusements
within doors consist of games of dice, cowrees,
cards, breaking of eggs and cocoanuts, and
among the weavers and other Busnubs,
nautches, and neelas or theatrical representa-
tions of the exploits of Khrishno. The Bhela
is the musical instrument common among the
instruments. Hindoos, but it is likely to be supplanted by
the violin, which has lately become a favorite
instrument in this part of the country. There
are several workshops in the town for the
manufacture of violins, and from the great
number annually made, there appears to be
Musical
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
271
a great demand for these instruments in the
surrounding country. The Gossaens and By-
ragees are said to be the principal performers.
The seetar is the favorite musical instrument
among the Mussulmauns. Their passive
amusements are nautches, fireworks, cock
fighting, dice and cards. At the latter, the
capture of the queen or begum, as she is
styled, appears to be the great object of the
most of their games.
Education.
Number of
Hindoo
Education.-Reading and writing the Ben-
gallee language and arithmetic, or the mode
of keeping agricultural and commercial ac-
counts, are the branches of learning taught in
the indigenous elementary schools. There
were 11 Hindoo schools with 302 scholars of
this description in the city at the time the schools.
census of the population was taken in 1838.
The fees paid by each scholar average two
annas per month, but the greater number of
schools are supported by the wealthier na-
tives, the poor inhabitants in the neighbour-
hood being allowed to send their children to
them free of expense. The pupils attend from
early in the morning to sunset with an inter-
val of two hours at noon for meals they are
allowed six holidays in the month, viz. four at
new and two at full moon. The number of Ma-
hommedan schools in the city in 1838 amount-
ed to 9 with 115 scholars. They are all, strictly
speaking, private schools, the teachers being
paid by a few wealthy persons, and the chil-
dren in the neighbourhood being taught free
Mahomme-
dan schools.
272
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
schools estab
lished.
of expense. For the last twenty years a
Elementary number of elementary schools have been ably
conducted by the Reverend Mr. Leonard of
the Serampore Missionary Society, to whose
unwearied industry the inhabitants of the
city are chiefly indebted for the education of
their families during that period. There were
at one time no fewer than 29 of these schools
affording instruction in the Bengallee, Persian
and English languages to 1400 scholars, but
owing to the want of funds the number has
been gradually decreasing, and is now reduced
to seven schools with 529 male scholars, and
four schools for the instruction of females, of
whom there were 99 in the year 1837. There
is also an English Christian school, a branch
of the Calcutta Benevolent Institution, under
the superintendence of the same teacher,
where reading, writing, arithmetic and trans-
lating into Hindoostanee are taught: the
number of scholars belonging to it in 1838
amounted to 78. Bickrampore is the princi-
pal seat of Sanscrit learning in this part of the
country, and ranks next to Nuddea in cele-
Number of brity. The total number of Sanscrit schools
at this place, Sunergong, and throughout the
district generally in the year 1838, amounted
to 125, affording instruction to 828 scholars.
At 68 of these schools, with 467 students, the
Bickram-
pore the seat
of Sanscrit
learning.
schools.
The branches
of education
taught,
Kalup Beakurun," or Sanscrit grammar, is
taught the books are 20 in number contain-
ing 3060 leaves, and the term of study required,
is estimated at ten years. At 33 schools with
227 scholars Nyaa or logic is the branch of
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
273
knowledge that is studied: the books that
are read are seven in number, and the time
required for a person to become a proficient
in the art of reasoning is estimated at twelve
years. At the remaining 24 schools, with 134
pupils, the Vedahs are learned the books
containing 1243 leaves are 30 in number, and
the time required for their perusal and study
is computed to be eight years. The other
Shastres that are studied at Bickrampore are
the Joutree or Astronomical and the Anbede
or Medical books. The study of astronomy
is confined to the pundits among the Beydick
Brahmins, who calculate eclipses and write an
almanack every year, which is copied and
sold by the Assagee Brahmins in the city. A
rival almanack is published at Bocola in
Backergunge, but neither of them has so wide
a circulation as that of Nuddea, which is the
one that regulates the dates of the principal
festivals. Medicine is more generally studied
than astronomy, and Bickrampore claims the
distinction of being the place where most of
the popular medical works of the country
were written. The teachers in Bickrampore
lodge, feed and clothe their pupils free of ex-
pense, and are supported themselves by dona-
tions granted by pious and charitable persons.
There is no public seminary here for the high-
er branches of Mahomedan education. The
last professor that taught at Dacca was a per-
son of the name of the Moolavy Assud Ullah.
He had a salary of 60 rupees a month from
the Moghul Government, and at his school,
which was held in a Mushjhid at the Lall
Astronomy.
Medicine.
No Mahom.
medan college
at present.
2 L
274
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
English
schools estab-
Bagh, the youth of the city were taught the
Arabic language, logic, metaphysics and law.
He died about the year 1750, since which
date there has been no public teacher of any
of these branches of learning here. The
natives of this part of the country have evinced
great eagerness to acquire a knowledge of
the English language, and accordingly the
school which has lately been established in
lished by Go- the city by Government is well attended, and
altogether is in a most flourishing and pro-
mising condition. The institution is admira-
bly conducted, and under the able tuition of
the present masters the pupils have made
great proficiency, not only in reading, writing
and arithmetic but in the higher branches
of education as geography, history and geo-
metry.
vernment.
Litigation
Proneness of
litigation.
Litigation, Crime and its Physical Causes.
-The natives of Dacca, it has already been
remarked, are of a most quarrelsome dispo-
sition and are notorious for their proneness to
the people to litigation. The perpetual occurrence of quar-
rels among the lower classes in the city was
assigned as a reason for the establishment of
no less than six Courts of Justice in 1769, and
of this characteristic propensity to strife, the
records of the different Courts, contain ample
proofs, from that time up to the present day.
The following statement of suits instituted in
the Court of one of the Moonsiffs in the
city, between the years 1833 and 1838, will
serve to shew the kind of disputes that are
usually brought before the Civil Courts.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
275
No. of Cases
instituted.
Subjects of Dispute.
Decreed
Dismissed.
Compromised.
Struck off the
file.
20 Borrowing of money,
539 Ditto ditto on bonds,
12 3 2 3
299
29
35 Recovery of money in deposit,
15
19
Arrears of interest,
11
119 Instalments of money due,…………………..
13 Accepted bills or boondees,
16 Bills or hoondees due,……………….
64
7
11
RONONO
111100
6
4
4
2
31
18
3
2
10 Money due on mortgaged property,
4
2
3
62 Arrears of rent due by ryotts,........
22
10
10
20
75 Wages due,......
43
11
9
7 Money paid in advance,
5
10 Claims for food and clothing,.
1
61 Ditto for ornaments.....
32
6
10
13
+3
4
22 Price of houses and lands and posses-
14
sion of Talooks,
3
2
3
40 Possession of houses, huts and land,.
28
4
2 Notice to quit houses,
1
0
31 House rent,
15
5
5 Rent of land,
1
1
9
Sale of bricks,
3
2
5
shoes,...
3
""
0
shells,.....
3
2
13
>>
""
cattle,
7
4062 ~ ~ ~ ~
3
2
2
3
3
thread and silk,..
2
""
0
0
10
9
"9
""
wood,
3
"
11
"
3
""
milk,
,, grass,
•
Saws for cutting shells,
,, mangoe trees,
3 Recovery of money paid by the bride-
groom to the father of the bride in
consequence of the non-fulfilment of
the marriage contract,..
Recovery of fees paid to Vakeels,
6
3,
1
"
3
2
4
42
1
1 4
1
0 0 0
0 1
NO
2
3
2
28 Agreements,
20
0
13
2 Illegal imposition of tines,
2
3 Illegal sales,
0 1
5 Recovery of sale money.
1
5 Ditto of property in pledge,
3
17 Hire of boats,
7
2 Ditto of saws for cutting shells,
11 Dealings in grain,
3
2 3
69 Sale of cloths,
42
9
9
040670Q-39
3230
5
0
2
7 Ditto of shawls,
2
4
0
10
hides,
6 0
"
6
""
,, soap,
1
25
""
""
co co cr
""
""
Europe goods,
boats,
12
•
4
""
,, watches,
3
0
,, sugar,
2
4
""
perfumed oil,
,, meat,
4031 Balances of accounts due,
6 Recovery 3d share of kaubbin given byĮ
the bridegroom to bride,.........
3
2
0
155
22 152
74
3
0
0 3
29
1815
Miscellaneous,
13
6 1 9
Total......
915 159 403 338
Number of
suits in a
Moonsiff's
Court from
1833 to 1838.
276
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Stamps.
The average annual number of stamps sold
during the last ten years was 1,11,795, of which
10967 were of the value of 1 anna,
27327
6847
49010
197
2 ditto,
4 ditto,
8 ditto,
12 ditto,
1 rupee,
Crimes.
Gang rob-
bery.
10763
making a total average number 10,5,111 for
sums under one rupee.
Gang robbery and the murder of children
for the sake of their ornaments are crimes of
less frequent occurrence in the present day
than in former times. At one period the
rivers of the eastern districts swarmed with
dacoits, and it was not until some time after
the Company's accession to the Government
that these depredators were extirpated. In the
early records of the district, mention is fre-
quently made of the plunder and burning of
villages, of the murder of ryotts and their
families, and of whole tracts of country being
laid waste by these ruffians. They formed
organized bands, frequently amounting to
1,500 men in number, and headed by daring
leaders, generally under the protection of
some powerful Zemindar who shared the
Roads dan plunder with them. A journey to Calcutta
or Moorshedabad in those days, was an un-
dertaking attended with no inconsiderable
danger; and required the adoption of mea-
sures for self defence, that form a striking con-
gerous from
these gangs.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
277
"1
Larceny,
assaults.
Perjury,
incendiarism
and adultery.
trast to the mode of travelling in the present
day, which is performed with a facility and
security that can be only appreciated by those,
who experienced its risks in former times.
The prevalent crimes are larceny, affrays and
assault, to which may be added perjury, in- affrays and
cendiarism and adultery. Daring burglaries
are of rare occurrence, but unaggravated cases
of house breaking are not unfrequent in the
town; the articles that are stolen consist ge-
nerally of small sums of money, ornaments,
cloths, brass and copper utensils, hookahs,
&c. There is a set of light fingered pilferers
here, corresponding to pick pockets in Eng-
land, who frequent the bazars in the evening,
the great annual fairs in the district, and
attend the different religious festivals, and
wherever there happens to be a great con-
course of people. They pick up small articles
from huckster's stalls, deprive children of their
ornaments in a crowd, and rob bystanders
which they effect by cutting off the corner of
the cloth, in which a native usually ties up
his money, From this latter mode of stealing
they have got the name of "Geree Kuttahs.'
They are all Mussulmauns, addicted to the
use of intoxicating drugs and to gambling,
and being by habit and repute thieves are
the persons usually suspected, and indeed
most frequently concerned in all the robberies
that are committed in the town.
Intoxicating drugs constitute the chief phy-
sical source of crime in this district. The drugs.
Intoxicating
278
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Cause of
most of the
crimes.
Opium.
Magistrate of the City in 1800 attributed most
of the atrocious crimes to this cause, and the
same may be said of them in the present day,
the greater number of the homicides, assaults
and affrays being committed by persons un-
der their influence. Opium is consumed
chiefly in the city, and by Mussulmauns;
and gunjah in the country. The average
annual quantity of opium sold by the Collec-
tor from the year 1821 to 1838 amounted to
892 pounds for the city, but only 63 pounds
for the country. In addition to this, however,
there is annually smuggled a large quantity of
this article, estimated indeed at no less than
ths of the quantity sold by Government, so
that the total comsumption of the drug (licit
and illicit) among the 32,463 Mussulmaun
inhabitants of the city, may be calculated at
1560 pounds per year, which is about one-
eighteenth of the quantity used annually in
Britain. Opium is occasionally smoked, but
is more generally eaten in combination with
pān or betel leaf, forming a substance called
muddud, which is sold in shops established
for the purpose, and of which there are about
14 in the city. It is prepared by mixing the
pān well dried and cut into small pieces with
the opium, and keeping the mass over a slow
fire, until it acquires the consistence of tar.
It is then divided into pills, one of which, 80
Ganjah and grains in weight, may be purchased for one
pice. Ganjah (Canabis Sativa) and its pre-
Mode of
using it.
its prepara-
tions.
For five years preceding 1834 the quantity of opium consumed
in Britain was lbs. 28,000 per year.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
279
parations are used chiefly in the country.
The blossoms of the plant, when gathered
at a certain season and dried, constitute gan-
jah, and the green leaf when rubbed into
a pulp, and mixed with milk, sugar, carda-
mons, anise, pepper, &c. forms the substance
called bhang or subzee. Mauzoon is com-
posed of ganjah or bhang, ghee, milk and
sugar, the mixture is boiled down to the
consistence of an electuary, and is then made
into small flat cakes of which two (each about
the size of a rupee) may be procured for
a pice. Cherus is prepared by collecting the
active principle of ganjah, (which appears to
exist in the form of oil,) either by boiling or
by incision into the seed vessel; it is smoked
with tobacco, but as it is an expensive pre-
paration it is only used by the more wealthy
inhabitants. Almost the whole quantity of
ganjah that is sold here is imported from
other districts, specially Jessore and Moor-
shedabad. The licit sale of this article amounts,
it is estimated, to 3860 pounds per year in the
country, and 2116 pounds for the city, but as
considerable quantities are smuggled into the
district, and sold by unauthorised venders, the
total annual consumption may be calculated
as being nearly double the above quantities.
Ganjah and its different preparations are
chiefly used by Hindoos, especially by the
worshippers of Kali. There are 36 licit dis-
tilleries of spirtuous liquors in the district.
The total average quantity of Arrack manu-
factured daily may be estimated at 1800 quarts,
Bang.
Mauzoon.
Cherus.
Ganjah im-
ported from
Jessore and
bad.
Moorsheda-
Quantity
sold.
Chiefly used
by Hindoos.
280
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
distilleries in
the district.
which is about one-half the quantity that
was made, according to the Magistrate's calcu-
Number of lation in 1800. In the distillation of Arrack,
there is used a substance called Bhauker,
which is a compound of rice, opium, dhatoora
and a number of other poisonous ingredients;
it is imported from Tipperah, and sells at the
rate of 1000 balls (each weighing about 10
annas in weight) for 24 or 3 rupees. There
are three kinds of liquor made, varying in
price from 4 to 9 annas per bottle (14 pint.)
Arrack is consumed principally by the native
Christians of Bhowal, and by the Chundals,
Budiyos, Gurwarus and Kooch. The other
intoxicating liquors that are drunk here are
Taree and Taree and Keitah. The former is sold in
Arrack.
Keitha.
made.
April and May: there is only one licensed
shop for its sale in the town, but it is hawked
about the streets by the "Paunsees," or per-
sons who extract it from the Tall and Khajoor
trees, and is chiefly consumed by the prosti-
Keitah how tutes in the city. Keitah is a fermented
liquor which is prepared in March, April,
May and June, and is made for domestic
consumption much in the same way that beer
and ale are brewed in England. It is made
from rice, and the barks and roots of several
trees, as the Kuthbell, Gaub, Gourds, &c.
which are put into a large earthen jar filled
with water, which is then buried for some
time under ground. The liquor is drank in
its fermented state, and as it is drawn off for
daily use, a quantity of water equal to that
of the liquor abstracted is added to the mate-
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
281
rails in the jar, and in this way a constant
supply of keitah is kept up for about three
months in the year. It is principally used
by the Mussulmauns, of whom several fami-
lies living in the same neighbourhood fre-
quently club together and have a jar among
them. Keitah is often made of great strength
and intoxicating power by means of Bhauker,
and similar ingredients, and is drank by the
low Hindoos during the festival of the Hollee.
a great source
Gaming
houses estab-
lished in dif-
ferent parts of
the city.
Gambling, which is of itself an offence Gambling
punishable by the Magistrate, is very preva- of crime.
lent in the town, and next to intoxicating
drugs, it may be said, to be the most fertile
source of crime in the district. A good deal of
gambling is carried on at the muddud shops,
but there are also established gambling houses
in different parts of the city, where the
police are bribed not to interfere. Hindoos
and Mussulmauns are addicted to it, but espe-
cially the latter who not unfrequently spend
days and nights in this way. Cards, dice
and solae, (a game of cowrees) are the usual
modes of play practised in these places. Occa-
sionally the desperate gamblers have recourse
to a more simple procedure. Sitting down
in a circle on the floor, they deposit their
-stakes smeared with a little sugar or molasses
before them, and the individual of the party,
upon whose money a fly or insect happens
first to alight, becomes the winner of the whole.
2 M
282
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Brothels.
Assaults
and petty
affrays of fre-
quent occur-
rence.
The numerous brothels in the town also
constitute another source of crime, and are
not unfrequently the scenes of assaults, thefts
and homicides.
Petty affrays and assaults are of frequent
occurrence in the city, and are usually com-
mitted by persons under the influence of opi-
um or ganjah. They generally originate in
disputes regarding the boundaries of land
and tenements, the right of pathways, the
intrusion of neighbours on each other's pre-
mises, and quarrels between children; the
want of punctuality on the part of embroi-
derers, in finishing Kasseidas, also frequently
gives use to a great deal of wrangling and
strife between them and the Oostagars and
Oostanees, or persons employed by the mer-
chants to superintend this kind of work. In
all these cases, a long continued war of words,
in which the women take an active part,
usually precedes the outbreak of open hosti-
lities; when at length, the male belligerents
screwing up their courage with a dose of
opium or ganjah, sally out and attack each
other with lateeahs or bamboo clubs. The
combat is seldom of long duration, and always
ceases on the first appearance of blood, with
which the wounded party takes care to be-
daub his clothes as much as possible, prepa-
ratory to laying his case before the Darogah
or Magistrate.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCá.
283
4
Cases tried
before the Ma-
The following statement of cases tried be-
fore the Magistrate in 1836 will tend to shew gistrate in
the character of the offences usually commit-
ted in the district.
Assaults arising from disputes regarding
1836.
lands,
167
Ditto
perty,
""
""
joint pro-
12
""
""
و,
Money,
23
""
""
""
""
Julkar,
11
Market,
9
""
""
""
""
""
""
Boat hire,
2
•
""
""
""
""
inindars and Talookdars,.
""
between Ze-
39
between Ze-
66
mindars and ryotts for rent,... ......
Affrays, &c. occasioned by the seduction
and elopement of females,
Ditto arising from disputes regarding ac-
counts or nekass,
Complaints of servants for arrears of
43
14
wages,
64
Assaults arising from disputes regarding
caste,
13
Ditto
enticing ryotts to set-
tle in other parts of the country,
· 8
Illegal confinement of persons,
Ditto seizure of cattle,
•
Disputes regarding houses, walls and
drains,..
Ditto ditto stopping of pathways,
Illegal levying of fines,
29
23
32
34
4
284
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
导
​Compelling ryotts and others to sign
agreements,
Illegal seizure of property,
Cutting down trees, crops and destroying
indigo,...
Illegal sale of muddud,.
Assaults and beating producing abortion,
Regarding the building of houses,
•
29
17
10
3.
4
9
Illegal seizure of money,
10
Absconding with ditto,.
Ditto with jewels,
5
3
Illegal attachment of property,
2
Bribery,
4
Forgery,
2
•
Rape,
3
Incendiarism,.
1
Adultery,
1
44
Perjury.
Thefts and robberies,
Forcibly collecting rent, illegally dispos-
sessing persons of land, &c..
Miscellaneous cases, including petty as-
saults and affrays, &c.
·
5
561
Total,...... 1307
Perjury is exceedingly common here, and
is committed generally by a set of persons
who live under the protection of attornies and
vakeels, by whom they are instructed what
evidence to give. False evidence is most
frequently practised in attestation of deeds, and
in minor cases not likely to attract much
attention.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
285
Incendiarism is attributed to the dealers in Incendiarism.
straw and bamboos, and also to the "Geree Kut-
tahs," who on the occasion of a fire in the town
practise their profession to great advantage.
Adultery, it is asserted by the natives, is of
more frequent occurrence in the present day
than formerly, and is ascribed to the leniency
of the regulations in reference to the punish-
ment of this offence. In a majority of instances
it leads to the administration of drugs to
procure abortion, a practice which is also pre-
valent among slaves belonging to Zemindars,
and among the unmarried daughters of the
higher castes of Hindoos.
Wilful homicide arises in most instances from
jealousy between husband and wife, and is fre-
quently accompanied with an attempt at suicide.
There has been no attempt to perpetrate a
suttee since the practice was prohibited by
Government. Between the years 1815 and
1828 one hundred and ninety-five widows
burned themselves on the funeral piles of their
husbands in this district. Of this number
10 were under 20 years of age.
43
between 21 and 30 ditto.
Adultery.
Homicide.
Number of
trated be-
}
Sutties perpe-
tween 1815
and 1828,
:
49
31 and 40
""
""
""
46
41 ahd 50
""
""
34
51 and 60
""
,,
""
12
""
61 and 70
وو
1
""
upwards of 70
33
286
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Torture for-
merly very
Of this number 28 had no children, and 24
no infant children.
Formerly it was a common practice among
Zemindars to confine their ryotts in irons, and
mong Zemin to subject them to torture of different kinds,
common a-
State of the
Jails in civil
and to compel them to pay their rents, in reta-
liation perhaps for the treatment they them-
selves suffered from the Government. Offi-
cers employed in collecting the revenue,
especially in the time of Morshud Kooli
Khan, had frequently recourse to most
disgusting punishments to enforce the pay-
ment of revenue. Zemindars in the present
day seldom go beyond the length of impri-
soning their ryotts, though instances of more
severe punishment occasionally occur. They
or their Putwarees and Naibs settle the
greater number of petty quarrels and disputes.
that occur on their estates, for which purpose
they hold a formal court where they hear
complaints, and fine or otherwise punish
delinquents.
The Civil and Criminal Jails of this district
and criminal. are contained in one building which stands
on the site of the old Fort. It consists of ten
wards, each with an open court in front;
and the whole building is surrounded by a
high wall enclosing a considerable extent of
ground. The Civil Jail is calculated to contain
30, and the Criminal one 800 prisoners. The
average number is 526. The daily allowance
i
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
287
of food to a criminal prisoner at work on the
roads is of the value of two pice, in 1790 it
was one anna per day.
Abstract Statement of Crimes committed
within the Zillah of Dacca, and number of
persons apprehended, convicted and acquitted
from 1830 to 1838.
Statement of
crimes com-
mitted and
number appre-
hended, convic-
ted and acquit-
ted from 1830
to 1838.
Description of Crimes.
Number of Offences.
Number of persons
brought to trial.
Number of persons
convicted.
Murder.........
Homicide, not amounting to murder,
With torture,
Wounding or personal injury,
Dacoitee,
cumstances,
Attempts to commit,
Unattended with aggravating cir-
Unattended with aggravating cir- 75
...
cumstances,
Exceeding 50 rupees,
Burglary,
10 ditto,......
Under
10 ditto.......
Thefts, including
cattle stealing,
Attempts to commit,
With murder, including the murder
of children for the sake of their
ornaments,
Unattended with aggravating cir-
cumstances,
.....
Exceeding 50 rupees,
Under
10 ditto,....
10 ditto....
Receiving stolen or plundered property,
With homicide.
دو
loss of life,
Number of persons
acquitted.
Remaining under
trial.
39)
157
51
52
54
13
44
20
13 11
1 15
6
9
0
1
6
0
6
38 472
99 228
141
3
3
1 2 0
77
21 8 48
15
22 14 S 0
35
42 23 16
3
74
42 31
11
1 1
1
0
1 이 ​0
0
0
196 235 163
55
17
27 53 25
35 56 40 14
98 111 88 21
45 134 71
24
4
37 26
2 17
} 54 0
4 86 49 17 20
32
22002
6
Affrays,
wounding or violent beating,
violent breach of the peace,.………….
Simple,
31 311 12 17
2
6 83 45 22
16
Assaults with wounding or personal injury,
Arson,
Forgery or counterfeiting the coin,
339 364 602 142
80
2 2
0
5
1
6
Perjury,
Rape,
Adultery,
5 20
6
...
4 31
1
Miscellaneous crimes,...
1 6 6 0 0
2927 4794 3516 876| 202
Total,............4024 7238 4890 1669 678
288
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA..
The Eas-
tern portion
CHAPTER X.
Articles of Food-Cause and Effect of Plenty
and Scarcity-Wages of Labour-Condition
of the Poor and Slaves.
The eastern part of Bengal has always
of Bengal the been considered the granary in rice for the
province. whole province. Hamilton, who visited
granary of the
applicable to
Dacca itself.
Dacca about the end of the 17th century,
remarks that "the plenty and cheapness of
provisions are here incredible," and almost
Not strictly every writer, either before or since his time, has
made a somewhat similar observation.* Strict-
ly speaking, however, this character is not ap-
plicable to Dacca itself, but to the surrounding
districts of Sylhet, Mymensing, Backergunge
and Tipperah, which in former times constitut-
ed the chief portion of the province to which
Dacca gave its name; and which were then,
The district as they still continue to be, the principal
does not pro- grain districts in the country. The district of
its own inhabi- Dacca itself does not produce grain sufficient
for the consumption of its own inhabitants, but
derives a supply of this article, equal at
least to the quantity of its own production,
from the above places, and rice, therefore, is
dearer here than in the surrounding country.
of Dacca itself
duce eno' for
tants.
Cæsar Frederick in 1565 mentions the cheapness of provisions at
Sundeep, and states as an instance that he purchased "2 salted kine
for a larine, (12 shillings and sixpence) 4 hogs for the same price, a fat
hen for a penny, (and yet the people said he paid twice their worth), and
other commodities at a like price.”—Purchas's - Collection of Travels,
A
687
Amoun Rice
per Maund,
Average 23 years.
Bazoil Rice
per Maund,
Average 23 years.
Mooshakary Rice
per Maund,
Average
18 years.
Aoos Rice
per Maund,
Average 8 years.
Dhal Urar
per Maund,
Average 23 years.
Dhal Khessaree
per Maund,
Average 23 years.
The following statement shews the average prices of the common kinds of
city for different periods
between the years 1810 and 1836 :
R. A. P. R. A. P. R. A. P.
R. A. P. R. A. P. R. A. P. R. A. P. R. A. P. R. A. P. R. A. P. Į R. A. P. R. A. P.
1 0 15 0 15 80 13 15}|
0 13 12 2 4 0
0 13 13 1 11 4 1 1
النار
0 10 13232
1 4 1612
1 8 123 1
8 13
Moonga Dhal
per Maund,
Average 23 years.
Kullye Dhal
per Maund,
Average 23 years.
Muttur Dhal
per Maund,
Average 23 years.
Moossooree Dhal
per Maund,
Average 19 years.
Bhoot, per Maund,
Average.
'spo
-
utead Jo
- de
รอว
Wheat per Maund,
Average 23 years.
Extracted from Weekly Price
Currents in the Collector's
Office.
grain in the
N 7
290
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
According to this statement, amoun rice
sells here at a price, which is about two-thirds
that of moog dhal, bhoot, and wheat, and about
one-half less than that of urar dhal. From
the limited cultivation of the different grains
yielding dhal, this article is less extensively
used by the poorer classes here, than in other
parts of the country, and only as a substitute
for fish. Urar and moog dhal are eaten by
persons of the middle classes, and khessaree,
which is the cheapest of all the leguminous
grains that are considered pure among the
Hindoos, constitutes next to rice the principal
ingrédient of diet of those who are pro-
hibited by caste from eating fish. The con-
Wheat prin- sumption of wheat is almost entirely confined
sumed by Eu- to Europeans and the wealthier classes of
Mussulmauns. Mussulmauns in the district. Although rice is
ripally con-
ropeans and
Fish.
somewhat dearer than in the surrounding
country, the difference is probably compen-
sated by the abundance of the other articles
of food, as fish, vegetables, salt and oil, some
of which are cheaper here than in the more
remote districts. All the rivers and morasses
teem with fish, and next to rice, this article
may be said to constitute the chief article of
Bazars plen- diet of the people. The bazars both in town.
and country are well supplied throughout the
year, and during some months they present no
less than twenty varieties, which may be pur-
chased at half the price usually charged in
Calcutta. It is sold whole, in slices, or in
heaps; pootee (a species of cyprinus) is the
cheapest kind, and is sold at the rate of
tifully suppli-
ed.
دن اشير
of a
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
291
Vegetables
very plentiful.
pound for 40 cowrees or the fourth part of a
pice, which is little more than of a farthing.
Vegetables, both cultivated and uncultivated,
consisting of the two great classes of roots
and unripe fruits, and of leaves and stalks are
no less abundant than fish, and are equally
cheap. There are upwards of 80 kinds sold
in the bazars, of which 19 are procurable
throughout the year, 15 during 6 months
20 for 4 months, 22 for 3 months, and 6 for 2
months. A quantity of chillies, brinjals,
kuchoo or meetha-komra, sufficient for two
meals, may be had for of a pice or the
seventh part of a farthing. The ingredients
that are used as condiments, as oil, salt, garlic, Condiments.
onions, turmeric and ginger are all plentiful
and procurable at moderate rates; salt is com-
paratively cheap, and forms but a small item
of expenditure in a family, or where two or
three persons cook together. Mustard oil
which is manufactured from seed imported
into the district varies in price, and is occa-
sionally dear, but all the other articles are
exceedingly cheap, including tamarinds and
the various acids used in cookery. The
following statement shews the average price
of salt, and oil, for a period of ten years:
Oil.
Salt.
Mustard
Dacca.
Salt per Maund….. Rs. 4 15 8
Mustard Oil per do. Rs. 7 13 5
Sylhet.
Rs.
Rs. 5 1 1 5
Rs. 8 7 11
Chittagony.
Rs. 2 2 4
Rs. 8 1 9
Average
price of Salt
and Mustard
Oil for 10
The fuel which is used consists chiefly of
reeds and of brushwood from the neighbour-
years.
Fuel plenti-
ful and cheap.
292
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Earthen
cooking uten-
sils.
Articles of
food sold in
state.
ing jungle it is sold in small bundles, and a
quantity sufficient for one person's use per
month may be purchased for 3 annas. Most
of the working classes and residents in the
town lay in a stock of firewood, which lasts
them for one year. It is brought into town
and sold by the boat load during the rains, at
which season it is particularly cheap.
Earthen cooking utensils are of an inferior
quality, and somewhat dearer than in the
western districts. Stone dishes are in com-
mon use among the lower classes of Hindoos,
and wooden platters among the poorer Mus-
sulmauns.
The principal articles of food that are sold
their prepared in their prepared state, are khoee, choorah,
cheeta or pittah, phalooree and burrah;
khoe is simply paddee* (rice in husk) parched
upon hot sand, and next rubbed with the hand
upon a fine sieve, by which the husk is sepa-
rated from the grain. Khoee mixed with
molasses forms the substance called moorkee.
Choorah is made of paddee which has been
steeped in water; it is then toasted in an
earthen vessel, and is afterwards pounded in
the dhenkee until it becomes flattened. Rice
when sprinkled with salt, and parched in the
same way as khoee, is called moorhee. The
* The Sumatran name for rice in the husk.
+ Parched corn was a common article of diet among the Jews, who
used it on the occasion of a journey or sudden emergency much in the
same way as the Hindoos use koee, &c. (Leviticus XXVIII. 14,)
(Samuel XVII. 17 and XXV, 18.)
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
293
Hindoos live on these different substances,
when they have not an opportunity of cook-
ing, as occasionally happens when they
travel by water in company with Mussul-
mauns or persons of different castes. The
other articles, viz. cheeta, phalooree and
burrah are used by the Mussulmauns. The
first is ground rice mixed with water and
baked into small cakes. Phalooree consists
of pounded bhoot or muttur dhal (pease
meal) mixed with pepper, onions, mustard
oil, and salt. Burrah is a similar compound
with the addition of vegetables, as chillies,
bygun, &c. These several articles are to be
had at the shops of the Moodees or dealers in
grain, and at a price only a little higher than
that of the various ingredients in their unpre-
pared state. Besides the above there are
several other articles of a more expensive
description sold in the city, as kheersa or
new cheese, which is hawked about the
streets, and is a favorite article of diet among the
Hindoos; and kobabs of kid's flesh, bread,
cheese and sweetmeats of different kinds which
are prepared for the use of the Mussulmauns.
Among the latter, the most elegant looking
articles are falooda cakes, which are made of
rice, starch, sugar and rose water, and tinged
with some pink or yellow colouring matter.
Falooda, sherbet (eau sucre), prepared pān,
together with the other articles above men-
tioned, are sold every evening in the choke,
where prepared hookahs are also to be had.
Various kinds of preserved fruits, &c. as
#
To be pro-
cured at the
shops.
Moodies'
294
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Facility of
transporting
a principal
cheapness.
Number of
hauts or mar-
kets in the
district.
pine apples, limes, mangoes, ginger, and su-
turmoollee (asparagus racemosus) are also
sold in the town.
Next to the abundance of the necessaries of
articles of food life, the facility of transporting them to market
cause of their is the most essential element of their cheap-
ness; and this is an advantage which is pos-
sessed by the district in an eminent degree, the
numerous navigable rivers enabling the ryotts
to bring their produce to market at very little
expense or trouble. The number of hauts or
weekly markets, exclusive of those in the
city, is 81, or 1 to 12 square miles of the cul-
tivated portion of the district. They are
held twice or thrice a week, and the articles
exposed for sale consist of agricultural pro-
duce, and of native manufacture, as rice, dif-
What is sold ferent grains, gour, ghee, salt, oil, tobacco,
turmeric, chillies, ginger, betelnuts, pan,
at them.
necessary for
sistence of a
labourer.
mats, cotton, iron, copper and brass utensils,
Lowest sum besides fish, &c. Two and a half pice is the
the daily sub lowest sum necessary for the daily subsist-
ence of a labouring man, but in a family, or
where two or more live together, the expense
is less, though not much under two pice.
Many of the Hindoo weavers in the city live
at the Akharas, paying the Byragees a cer-
tain sum daily or monthly for their board;
the usual rate is one anna per day, for which
they have two meals, consisting alternately of
dhal and rice. These Akharas, or convents,
answer the purpose of inns, and are frequent-
ly resorted to by the worshippers of Khrishna,
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
295
when they come into the city for only a few
days. There are no serais in the district,
and the few persons that travel by land,
therefore find board and lodging at these
Akharas, or at the shops of the Moodees or
dealers in grain.
What prin
cipally contri-
butes to a
plentiful bar-
vest,
Cause and effect of plenty and scarcity.
What chiefly contributes to a plentiful har-
vest in this district, is a high inundation the
preceding year, followed in the cold season
by a moderate fall of rain, which enables
the husbandman to plough his land. This
succeeded by frequent, but not by heavy
showers, in the spring months, and subse-
quently by a gradual rise of the rivers, con-
stitutes the most favorable weather for the
growth of rice. Of seasons of extraordinary
plenty in the district there are several in-
stances on record, and in all of them, the
lowest price of grain appears to have been
8 maunds or 640 pounds for the rupee. This
was the rate at which rice was sold in 1689,
when the Nawaub Shaista Khan, in order to
commemorate so remarkable an event, built up
the western gate of the city, with an injunction
that it should not be opened until rice became
equally cheap, and which is said in conse-
quence to have remained shut, until the return
of a plentiful harvest enabled Jesswont Roy,
the deputy of Serferaz Khan, to re-open it in
1739. The years 1772, 1795, 1796 and 1797
are mentioned as having been seasons of
great abundance. In the latter year, the abundance.
Low price
of grain in
1689, in what
manner com-
memorated by
the Nawaub.
Of 1772,
1795 1796
and 1797 sea-
sons of great
296
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
The grain
merchants de-
rive profit.
harvest was so plentiful, that from the want
of a market for the agricultural produce
of the district, the public revenue became
affected. Rice was sold at 8 maunds for
the rupee; chillies, it is mentioned by
the Collector, that used to bring 2 and
sometimes 3 rupees per maund, now scarce-
ly paid their transportation to market;
gour or molasses was reduced from 4 rupees
to 12 annas, and almost every other article
of common consumption was sold at a rate
equally cheap. The parties that derive the
greatest benefit from an abundant harvest
are the merchants who purchase grain for
exportation. From their command of capital
they are enabled to regulate the price of
grain in the bazars, and as the ryotts gene-
rally borrow from them at an exorbitant
rate of interest, the latter, in order to liqui-
date their debts, and to pay their rents to
the Zemindar, are generally obliged to sell
the produce of their fields immediately it is
reaped, and at a price which yields but a
small profit. The inhabitants in the city also
derive considerable benefit from plentiful
harvests, but a reduction in the price of grain
never lessens the price of other agricultural
commodities or of any of the common manu-
factures of the district. Ryotts who are not
in debt, after laying aside a sufficient quan-
tity of grain for one year's consumption,
usually lend out the remaining stock to their
neighbours. This is a common practice, I
believe, throughout India, and is mentioned
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
297
by Knox as yielding in Ceylon in his time, a
profit of 50 per cent. For each maund of
grain received, one and a half is returned to
the lender at the end of the year. Occasion-
ally the debt is paid at the expiration of six
months, and in grain of a different crop or
quality from that which has been borrowed,
in which case the rate of interest varies, but
in every instance the mode and time of pay-
ment, are specified in writing at the time the
transaction takes place.
from inunda-
rains,
From crabs.
Scarcity most frequently arises from a high Scarcity
inundation, or from heavy rain early in the tion or heavy
season. The latter frequently prevents the
seed of the Amoun rice from vegetating, and
is also productive of great injury to the tender
plants of the Aoos crop. There are several
causes which produce a partial or local scar-
city. In the southern parts of the district and
in Backergunge in particular, crabs occasion-
ally do great mischief to the rice crops, by
cutting the stalks of the plant. In 1791 the
pergunnah of Buzergoomedpore and seven
other estates in its vicinity, suffered so much
from this cause, that the payment of revenue.
to the amount of Rs. 42,264 was suspended
by Government on this account, and in the
year 1799, one half of the Aoos crop in the
same part of the country was similarly des-
troyed. The detachment of weeds and aquatic From weeds.
plants as the Pana (Pistia stratiotes), and
Hingsta (Hingsta repens), from the surface of
the morasses, is also often very injurious.
20
298.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
From
terpillars.
They frequently float in large masses or fields,
and bury the plant under water until it dies.
cat- Two species of catterpillar, distinguished by
the names of Mageea and Busha, are said to
be very destructive to the rice crops; the
former feeds on the substance of the grain,
and the latter on the leaves of the plant.
From beetles. There is also a small dark colored beetle
which is very injurious to the crops. This
insect suddenly appears and generally in large
flights; and destroys the grain by squeezing
out the milky juice, with its antennæ, leaving
the husk quite empty and flattened.* Locusts
are rare and are almost unknown to the ryotts
Hail storms, as destroyers of their crops. Hail storms
do great injury to the summer (or Aoos
and Bora) crop, and such is the dread
of them, that a class of persons find a liveli-
hood among the ryotts, by pretending to
protect their fields from their effects. This
latter crop is also much exposed to depreda-
tions by hogs, rats and birds, and watching
the fields on this account, forms no inconsi-
derable portion of the labour of a ryott's family
From drought. at this season of the year. Drought, unless it
happens to be excessive, is generally produc-
tive of less serious consequences here, than a
heavy fall of rain. The famine of 1769-70
which arose from this cause, was preceded by
a sudden and long continued inundation in
the Dacca district, that destroyed the greater
*This insect is distinguished by six white spots on its back. Last
year the crops in the vicinity of Plass on the Luckia, suffered much
from it.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
299
Distress and
sufferings of
it.
portion of the crops. It was succeeded by
intense heat and high winds, during which
time no rain fell, the tanks and wells were
dried up, and fires arising from the friction
of bamboos and other trees, were of constant
occurrence in the jungles and in the vicinity
of villages. During the scarcity that succeed-
ed in the rainy season, the poor chiefly sub- the poor from
sisted on the Sampala or stalks of the water
lily and other aquatic plants: a great many
perished, while the survivors deprived of seed
and cattle, were obliged to cultivate the
common jungle plants for their subsistence.
It appears, however, from the report of Mr.
Middleton, who visited Dacca in the follow-
ing year that this part of Bengal suffered in
a considerably less degree than the districts
to the north-west. Of all the causes produc-
ing scarcity in this part of the country, the frequent cause
most frequent is a sudden rise of the eastern
rivers, and from the proximity of the district
to the sources of the Megna, this river is
generally more destructive in this way than
the Berhampooter. The dearth that occurred
in 1784, and the famine of 1787-8 arose from
a sudden rise of these rivers. In the former 1784 and
year the Megna rose early in the season, and
destroyed the Aoos crop when it was ripe for
the sickle. At the time this occurred, there
was a deficiency of grain in the district, owing
to the failure of the preceding crop, and to a
large exportation of this article to other parts
of the country. In consequence of the famine
in the north-western provinces the preceding
The most
of scarcity
Famine in
1787.S.
300
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA:.
year, the ryotts had been induced by the
Price of rice high prices, to dispose of their stock of paddee,
in 1784.
The cause
of the price of
rice.
The inun-
dation most
severe in the
and to trust to the summer crop for their
subsistence, but now that this crop was des-
troyed, they were all at once reduced to the
greatest distress, rice suddenly rose in price,
and difficulty was experienced in procuring
it even at 16 seers for the rupee. This
high rate was in a great measure occasioned
by the precarious state of the boron or winter
crop. It was now under water, and as long as
its fate was uncertain, the grain dealers opened
their shops only at night, and refused to sell
more than one seer of rice to one person at
a time. The dearth appears to have been at
its height in the month of October, when the
failure of the winter crop was no longer
doubtful. At this time the poorer inhabitants
became riotous, and insisted on having the
grain in the markets on their own terms, and
at length proceeded to plunder the shops. To
prevent these outrages Mr. Day, the Collector
and Magistrate, employed sepoys to protect
the bazars, and at the same time made it
generally known in the city, that as there was
no established rate for selling grain, the deal-
ers had authority to dispose of it, on their own
terms, and that any person attempting to take
otherwise would be punished. This judicious
conduct produced the desired effect, rice be-
ing immediately brought to all the markets,
and sold as at the commencement of the dearth
at 17 seers for the rupee. This inundation
was most severely felt in the Sylhet and Tip-
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
301
perah districts. Villages with their inhabi-
tants and cattle were swept away, and so great
was the scarcity, that rice which in ordinary
seasons was procurable at four maunds or 320
seers per rupee, was now selling at 17 seers,
the same rate as in the city. The number of
pergunnahs and talooks, that suffered from
this inundation amounted to one hundred and
twenty. "The distress of the inhabitants,"
Mr. Day remarks, "exceeds all description.
Were the damage simply confined to the loss
of their crops, it might in a short time be
surmounted, but their cattle and property are
gone and the ryotts driven to the necessity of
seeking shelter in different parts, so that the
country is in a great measure deserted, and
scarcely a cultivated spot to be seen."
In the year 1787-8 the district was destined
to suffer a similar calamity, which was attend-
ed however with far more serious conse-
quences than those of the preceding one.
Early in the month of March the rains set in,
and continued incessant from this time up to
the middle of July, when the rivers rose to
an unprecedented height, and inundated the
whole of the country, to an extent never re-
membered by the oldest inhabitant. The
streets of Dacca, which in ordinary seasons of
inundation are several feet above the highest
level of the surrounding rivers, were now
overflowed to a depth sufficient to admit
of boats sailing through them, while through.
out the country, the inhabitants were obliged
districts of
Tipperah.
Sylhet and
The distress
of the inhabi-
tants there-
from.
Inundation
in 1787.8.
302
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
state of the
ryotts.
to quit their huts, and betake themselves to
rafts or raised stages constructed of bamboos.
In the southern division of the district, the
effects of this inundation appear to have been
most disastrous. The early crops were in
most places completely destroyed by it. From
the heavy fall of rain at the commencement
of the season, the young and tender plants of
the Aoos crop soon perished, and at a subse-
quent period the Amoun crop was completely
destroyed by it. Of all the pergunnahs in
the district those of Rajanaghur, Cartick pore
and Russoolpore sustained the greatest injury.
Mr. Day who visited this part of the country
in the month of November, remarks" that it
Destitute presented such a scene of distress as he never
beheld, the lands being totally inundated, the
country not shewing the least sign of cultiva-
tion and the inhabitants living on raised
stages" above the water. Both here and in
the adjoining pergunnahs the ryotts were
reduced to the greatest destitution. Famine
raged with violence, and obliged the greater
number to forsake their homes and search
of subsistence elsewhere, whilst every day
hundreds were dying from starvation. In
the month of July 1787 the supplies of grain
in the city became scanty, and from the now
certain ruin of the early crops, and the un-
favourable prospects of the winter harvest,
apprehensions of a future scarcity began to
prevail, and had the effect of raising the price
of provisions from 300 to 400 per cent. ex-
ceeding that of common seasons. The rich
Famine.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA:
303
inhabitants endeavoured to procure and to
hoard up as much grain as possible, and pur-
chased it at any price, while the dealers
taking advantage of the general panic, exposed
only small quantities for sale at a time. With
the view of relieving the poor and providing
against the future, Mr. Day proposed to Go-
vernment, that the Collectors in Behar should
be instructed to export grain to Dacca, to be
sold at a price sufficient to cover the prime
cost and charges of transportation. On a
public measure of this kind, and on the en-
couragement to general importation held out
to traders by the remission of duties on grain,
he relied on obtaining a supply sufficient to
meet the wants of the district. He was con-
vinced that no good would accrue from fixing
the price of grain; but on the contrary, that
any official interference of this kind, would
only add to the general distress, by inducing
dealers to conceal whatever stock they had
in hand. The importation during the past
year exceeded that of any former period,
but still it was inadequate to supply the
wants of the population, and the consequence
was, that before the beginning of the year
1788, several thousands had perished from
the effects of the scarcity. It was not until
April that any supply was received, at which
time 7250 maunds reached the town. To
add to the existing distress, a fire broke out
in the city at this period, and burned 7000
huts to the ground. A large quantity of
grain belonging to the retail dealers, was
Plan pro-
posed by the
Collector to
obtain grain
from other
districts.
Distress in
the city in-
creased by a
destroyed a
grain
fire which
large quantity
304
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
destroyed by it, and it is reported by the
Collector, that 100 persons lost their lives on
this occasion. The famine appears to have
reached its height in this month. In many
parts of the district, there was scarcely any rice
procurable even at 4 seers for the rupee, and
the consequence was that the country became
deserted. Multitudes of poor famished crea-
tures flocked into the city in search of food,
and as far as the charity and means of the
more opulent inhabitants could avail, their
wants were supplied. Between nine and ten
thousand persons were fed daily by public
contribution, but from the impossibility of
relieving all, a great number of poor wretches
died in the streets, the town and its environs
in this respect, Mr. Day remarks, “present-
ing a scene quite shocking to the sight."
From the enquiries instituted by this gentle-
Great loss man to ascertain the loss of life by this direful
calamity, he calculated that 60,000 persons
perished during the inundation and the sub-
sequent famine.
"No pergunnahs suffered
in so dreadful a degree," he observes, "as
Rajanaghur and Cartick pore. The distress
and misery to which the inhabitants were
reduced, is painful to the feeling mind to
describe. The famine raged with such vio-
lence that some thousands miserably perished,
while whole families forsook their habitations
to avoid the most cruel of deaths, but so re-
duced and emaciated were many through
sickness and hunger, that they ended their
days in search of sustenance; others repaired
of life.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
305
-
""
Parents sell
for food.
to the town of Dacca in the hopes of finding
some alleviation of their distresses, and to
such misery and wretchedness were mothers
reduced by the griping hand of hunger, that
forgetting all parental affection, they offered
their children for a handful of rice. Al their offspring
though every assistance was offered, yet the
numbers that flocked into the city, precluded
the possibility of affording relief to all. Many
thousand unhappy wretches consequently
miserably perished in the city and environs.
The loss of property occasioned by this
famine, appears to have been very great.
The Zemindars were unable to pay their reve-
nue, and subsequently, from the loss of ryotts
and cattle, their lands remained uncultivated
for a considerable time. Several of the per-
gunnahs were deprived of three-fourths of
their industrious inhabitants, who died or
emigrated, and the lands were in consequence
soon overrun with jungle, infested with tigers
and hogs.
Great loss
of property.
Wages of
labour.
The famine
an impulse to
Wages of Labour. The year 1788 may be
regarded as the era of those changes in the
relative condition of the agriculture and
manufactures of the district, which have so
materially affected all classes of its inhabi-
tants in later times. Prior to that date the
cultivation of land had been comparatively of 1788 give
neglected, in favor of the more profitable agricultural
occupations of spinning and weaving; but in pursuits.
consequence of the miserable condition, to
which the district was now reduced by
famine, a demand for labour sprung up, and
an impulse was thus given to agriculture,
which has continued to the present day.
The repeal of the duties on the exportation
of grain, the abolition of the Arcot currency,
which had long pressed as a heavy burthen
on the agricultural classes, the permanent
settlement of Government with landholders,
the rapid decline of manufactures, and the
2 P
306
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Annual
wages.
Annual
wages.
Difference
of the price of
wages in the
years of 1803
and 1837.
introduction of indigo and safflower as articles
of produce for foreign markets, have all con-
tributed to produce an extension of cultiva-
And raise tion, and to raise the price of agricultural and
common labour, considerably above what it
was in former times.
the } rice of
labour.
The following table shews the increase of
wages of labour, in a pergunnah in this district.
between the years 1803 and 1837.
Annual
wages.
1803.
1837.
1803. 1837.
Rs.
Rs
Manjees.
Rs.
Rs.
Bhandarees
domestic
Rs:
R.S
or
ser-
1 Class,......
24
vants.
18
48
2
21
""
.....
15
36
81
""
12
27
4
15
("
玩​8898
1 Class,......
12
24
2
""
6
18
Co
3
6
15
"9
Boatmen.
4
">
......
3
12
12
10
22
1 Class,..
15
27
The Coolies and
Bhandarees
re-
6
9
16
12
4
ය 0
21
ceive diet in ad-
dition to
their
18
>>
wages.
6
12
......
&
4
......
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
307
There has been a corresponding increase
in the wages of servants, employed in the
collection of revenue, during the same period.
The following is taken from the accounts of
17 estates in the district.
Average Annual Wages.
1804.
1837.
A corres-
ponding in-
crease in the
wages of the
srvants of
Government
in the collec-
tion of the
revenue.
Itmamdars,
31
3
0 41
10
0
Munduls,
18
14
0 26
2
0
....
Naibs,
64
0
0 76
0
0
Peons,
24
0
0 36
0
0
Mohurrers,
31
0
0 34
8
0
From
cotton
The decline of manufactures on the other
hand, may be referred almost to the same
period. In 1781 the weaving of muslins was
commenced in Britain, and on the expiration
of Arkwright's patent and the introduction of
mule twist in 1785, this branch of the arts
soon attained great perfection there.
the year 1781 to 1787 the British
manufactures increased in value from
£2,000,000 to £7,500,000, and in the year
1785, 500,000 pieces of muslin were manu-
factured, which appear to have rivalled the
common qualities of Indian muslins. From
this time the foreign trade of Dacca began to
be affected, and from the heavy duty of 75
per cent. which was afterwards imposed upon
its staple, it declined, in proportion as the
manufactures of Britain increased in value,
Decline of
manufactures.
Weaving of
muslins from
the introduc-
British manu-
tion of the
factures, and
duty of 75
a
per cent. upon
its staple,
308
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
until at length in the year 1817 it entirely
Commercial ceased and the Commercial Residency was
Residency
abolished in abolished. The general prosperity of the
1817.
place has still more seriously been affected by
the importation of British yarn and cloths of
The first great importation of
generally su-
country thread.
late years.
Cotton twist cotton twist into India took place in 1821, but
perceded the it was not until 1828 that it began to be
seriously felt in this district. Since that date
it has almost entirely superseded the country
thread, and has thus deprived all classes of the
inhabitants of an employment, which in a
great measure afforded them the means of
subsistence. Another serious loss has more
lately been experienced by the inhabitants of
Decline of the city, in the yearly decreasing demand for
the embroidered cloths called Kusseidas.
the demand
for embroi-
dered cloths.
Cause.
In
1835 Kusseidas, to the amount of 4 lacs of
rupees, were sold in Calcutta; in 1836, the
amount of sales was 24 lacs; in 1837 14 lac;
and in 1838 only 1 lac. This decline is attri-
buted to the changes of dress, that have been
introduced by the Sultan of Constantinople
and the Pasha of Egypt, into their armies of
late years. These cloths which are exported
to Bussorah and Jidda have hitherto been
sent to Egypt and Turkey, where it appears
they were worn as turbans by the soldiers of
Counterba- these countries. The only articles of com-
merce which have been introduced into the
tion of indigo district by Europeans, and which may be
considered as supplying the loss of its manu-
factures, are indigo and safflower. These
two dyes have been cultivated for foreign
lanced by the
introduction
of the cultiva-
and safflower.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
309
markets since the year 1800; but the aggregate
value of both products (as raised within the
limits of the district) is not more than 4 lacs
of rupees a year, or one-eighth of the capital
employed in the purchase of cloths, for the
English market in 1787.
Agricultu-
and day la-
bourers how
paid for their
A mount of
wages.
Which fluc-
tuates.
Agricultural servants and day labourers are
paid either in money, or money and food. ral servants
The servant of a ryott who is employed to
plough, to cut wood and grass, and to do the labour.
ordinary work about a farm, receives diet
and wages varying in amount from rupee 1
to rupees 1-8 per month, while boys who
tend cattle are paid at the rate of 4, 8 or 10
annas according to their age. Reapers usu-
ally receive one-fifth of the paddee they cut;
the rate varies according to the state of the
crop and the demand for labour, the lowest
being one-seventh and the highest one-fourth
part. In Mymensing and Tipperah where
labour is cheaper than in this district, one-
tenth is the proportion allowed. Women Women
constitute a large proportion of the persons
employed in the time of harvest, and they
generally earn as much as men. An active
labourer expert in the use of the sickle can
cut 100 bundles of corn in one day, his share
of which, according to the Mymensing or
lowest rate, will yield about 15 seers of paddee
or two annas. The
The reapers receive their
shares of the produce at the close of each
day's labour, and return to their homes.
Besides reaping, the weeding of lands, the
employed.
310
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
As well as
children in
picking saf-
flower and
nuts.
picking of safflower, and the shelling of betel
nuts, afford employment to a considerable
number of persons in the country, and the two
former, especially to women and children.
There are about 3000 Mussulmaun families
shelling betel settled in the city, who work as labourers and
clean grain. Prior to 1787, Dacca was entirely
dependent on the neighbouring marts for its
daily supply of grain, but after the famine of
that year, a number of families who had been
families in the reduced to poverty, took up their abode in
the town, and have since supplied the bazars
with grain. The more wealthy of this class
Number of
Mussulmaun
city employed
as labourers.
The more
wealthy of
in grain.
A few as
servants, but
the greater
number as
labourers.
The clean-
ing of grain
solely per-
formed by
females.
this class trade or kootees as they are called, trade in grain
and keep boats, which they let out for the
transportation of this and other bulky articles.
A few engage as khitmaghurs, masalchees,
peons and bheestees, but the greater num-
ber are employed as masons, bricklayers and
day labourers, in digging wells and erecting
the mud walls of huts. The cleaning of
grain is performed solely by the females
of those families; two women working the
dhenkee or pedal and one employed in win-
nowing, can clean about two maunds of pad-
dee in a day, which is equal to one and a
half maund of rice. A few years ago exten-
sive machinery worked by steam, was estab-
lished in the city for the manufacture of
mustard oil and for cleaning grain, but after
a short time, the projectors found they could
not compete with the native manufacturers,
and accordingly the speculation was aban-
doned. Boatinen form a numerous class in
Steam ma-
chinery estab
lished for the
manufactureof
mustard oil,
but shortly
afterwards
abandoned.
Boatmen.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
311
The Hindoo
boatmen sel-
district.
The Mus-
sulmaun much
the country
employed in
trade.
Boat hire.
this part of the country. The Hindoo boat-
men seldom leave the district, but of Dacca dom leave the
Mussulmaun dhandees, a great number are
employed in the inland navigation of the
country, and not a few in vessels trading
between Calcutta, Mauritius, Penang, &c.
The rates of wages in the district vary, ac-
cording to the season of the year, being
highest in the time of harvest and during the
great fairs in the vicinity. Boat hire is, how-
ever, considerably cheaper here than in the
western districts. There are about 300 street Street coolies.
coolies in the city, who belong to the districts
of Purneah and Bhagulpore. This class of
people have been settled here for about 150
years; they live in sets, each consisting about
twenty persons under the orders of a sirdar,
who regulates their work, and divides their
earnings among them at the end of the month.
Live in sets
under a sirdar.
Artisans.
Formerly
weavers work.
ed on their
own account.
Few of the class of Artisans work by the
day. Formerly the weavers manufactured
muslins on their own account, and it is men-
tioned by Mr. Bolts, that in the time of
Alverdi Khan, it was no uncommon occur-
rence for a weaver, to bring at one time as
many as 800 pieces of muslins to a merchant.
In the present day they work by contract,
receiving thread and an advance of money
from the merchants or their agents the Py-
kars. The average amount of wages of
the few that work by the day or month, is rate of pay per
estimated at rupees 2-8 per month, exclusive
of contingent work done after working hours,
Average
mouth.
312
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Wages of
embroiderers.
as the reeling off and the warping of thread
which may amount to 10 annas more. A
weaver's apprentice of 10 or 12 years of age,
gets 4 annas a month after he has been two
years in the business, and the amount gene-
rally increases every year, until he receives
12 annas the last year of his servitude. The
spinning of thread yields but a small profit
in the present day. The most indefatigable
spinners, supposing that they work every day,
cannot manufacture more than 2 sicca weight
(360 grains) or 14400 yards of the finest thread
per year, which at the rate of 8 rupees per
sicca weight gives only 16 rupees or 32 shil-
lings. This, which is more than twelve hun-
dred times the value of the raw material,
yields but the small sum of one penny a day.
The work of embroidery being practised only
as an occasional employment, the earnings of
those engaged in it cannot easily be ascer-
tained. It is calculated by the merchants
that one-fifth of the value of the whole stock
of Kusseidas is expended upon their em-
broidery, exclusive of the materials; according
to which calculation, rupees 47,500 have been
annually expended during the last four years
on this account. This money is entirely laid
out in the city, and the amount earned by
each of the Mussulmaun women supposed to
be employed in it, is not more therefore than 6
rupees per year. The work is carried on
through the medium of male and female
agents, called Oostagurs and Oostanees, who
receive the cloths stamped, and silk and
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
313
Pay of the
stampers.
Cost of
bleaching.
money from the merchants, to whom they are
responsible for the completion of the work.
The Cheepegurs or stampers of these cloths,
are paid according to the number of cloths
they prepare. The finer kinds of needle work
executed by Ruffogurs, Chukendose and Zur-
dose, are done by contract. Nurdeahs and other
workmen employed in marking and folding
cloths, and in packing them, are paid at the
average rate of 2 annas per day. Washer-
men are paid according to the length and
quality of the cloths they bleach, the rate
varying from 4 to 14 rupees per 100 pieces.
The few washermen that are to be found in
the villages, with the exception of the manu-
facturing Aurungs, are paid in money and
grain. There are three sets of workmen em-
ployed in making shell bracelets. Those that
clean and break off the points of the shells, are lets.
paid at the rate of one rupee for 420 shells, Their wages,
and can earn between three and four rupees
per month the sawyers of the shells receive
from two to four rupees per 100 shells, and
the workmen employed in polishing, carving,
&c. are paid by contract.
Makers of
shell brace.
domestic ser-
The wages of domestic servants have risen Wages of
considerably within the last forty years. In vants.
1808 bearers at the Commercial Factory were
paid rupees 2-4 per month, which was then
considered a high rate; they now receive
from rupees 3 to rupees 3-8. When employed
by the natives to carry a chattah, they are paid
at the rate of rupees 2-8. A Bhandaree or
2 Q
314
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Poor divid-
ed into three
classes.
1st class.
servant in a Hindoo family, who makes pur-
chases in the bazar, cleans cooking utensils,
prepares pan and the hookah, and carries
water from the river, receives from one to two
rupees per month, besides his food, and one or
two pieces of cloth in the year. In Mussul-
maun families, females are generally employ-
ed as cooks: they receive from ten annas to
one rupee per month, besides diet, pan,
tobacco and cloths. Khitmaghars in native
families receive from one to two rupees per
month. Barbers are paid in grain in the
country, and in the town at the rate of four
rupees per year.
Condition of the poor and of slaves.—The poor
be divided into three classes; 1st, persons
may
out of employment and unable to work on
account of sickness: 2d, destitute widows
and children: 3d, persons, who from physical
infirmities or disease, as the lame, blind and
lepers, are incapacitated from earning a
livelihood. The first class consists chiefly of
servants, boatmen and of the various artisans
in the town. When sick and unable to work,
they usually borrow money by pawning
silver ornaments, articles of dress or copper
and brass utensils. Almost every person
engaged in business in the town is a pawn-
broker. The rate of interest varies from 24 to
6 per cent. per month. In 1770, the common
rate was rupees 5-2 per cent. per month, but
it afterwards fell to rupees 3-8. At present
in cases where considerable sums are borrow-
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
315
ed, the interest is regulated by the orders of
Government, so far as relates to the rate ex-
hibited in the bond; but the party borrowing
invariably pays a larger sum than that sub-
scribed to. The engagement is made and
agreed to in the presence of witnesses, and
the money is bonâ fide paid to the borrower.
The deed being given in due course, the
witnesses retire and the borrower immediate-
ly restores to the lender, the sum that has
privately been agreed on. There is no asso-
ciation among any of the working classes
for mutual relief in times of sickness and
distress. They assemble to adjust disputes, to
settle the rate of wages and to subscribe for
poojahs, but the establishment of a fund to
afford relief to themselves and families when
out of employment, is quite unknown to them.
Many of them are often in great distress, and
notwithstanding the cheapness of provisions,
they and their families are frequently reduced
to one meal a day. Much distress and pover-
ty are also occasioned by the frequent fires in
the town. They generally occur in the cold
season, and on an average there are between
three and four hundred huts burned to the
ground every year. Most of the inhabitants
are prepared for their occurrence, and have
their money and more valuable articles either
buried in the floors of their huts, or deposited
in chests mounted upon wheels and ready
for withdrawal on the alarm of fire being
given; but notwithstanding these precautions,
a good deal of property is stolen on these
316
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
2d class.
3d class.
occasions, and the loss sustained in this way
and the expense of rebuilding, entail there-
fore, no inconsiderable distress on the poorer
classes. The second class of poor persons or
destitute widows and orphans, earn a liveli-
hood in the country; the former, by spinning,
weeding and reaping, and the latter, by tend-
ing cattle, picking safflower, &c.; in the
town, widows usually find employment in the
castes to which their husbands belonged.
The weavers employ them to twist the border
threads of Kusseida cloths, and to make
goonchas, or waist strings: the shell cutters
to clean shells, and mark out beads for sepoy's
necklaces and the iron smiths to colour tin
plates and decorate idols. Many of them are
admitted into Hindoo families as cooks,
while others eke out a subsistence by selling
vegetables and fruits, which they collect in
the jungles and jheels. Among the Mussul-
mauns, widows are employed to husk grain
and grind wheat. Many of them also sup-
ply families with river water which they car-
ry in jars, while others employ their time in
embroidering Kusseidas, and making caps
and dresses for children, or in keeping stalls
in the choke and other bazars, where they
sell ginger, garlic, oil cake, &c. The third
class comprising the lame, blind and diseased,
of which lepers form a large proportion, find
a subsistence by begging in the streets. They
are all truly pitiable and deserving objects
of charity. In the time of the Moghul Go-
vernment a provision was made from the
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
317
Khalsa, or crown lands, for the support of this
class of poor people, and was continued until
very lately under the title of " Lungur Kha-
na." Among the items of annual expendi-
ture in the Dacca district, as settled by Mr.
Sykes and the native ministers at Moorshe-
dabad in 1769, we meet with the following
under the head of charity.
1. Allowance to poor people,.. Rs. 2823 14
2. Hospital charges and black
doctor, with medicines to
attend the poor sickly
people,.
3. Allowance also to the lame
and blind,
4. Daily allowance to sundry
people, to the amount of
several hundreds, who
have ever been kept up
1518 10
3600 0
and supported by orders
of His Majesty and the
Nawaub,.
448 0
Total Rs. 8390 8
Tennant, Mill and other writers have assert-
Hospitals for
blished previ-
the poor esta-
OUS to the
Company's
ed, that there was no such establishment as
an Hospital for the poor, until the time the
Company acquired the country. This, there Rule.
can be no doubt, is a mistake. Asylums for
the poor and sick, were established in differ-
ent parts of the country, as early as the reign
of Sultan Ala Addeen Hussein Sha, about the
318
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
*
close of the 15th century, and subsequently it
was ordered by Jehangire, that " Hospitals be
erected in all the great cities throughout the
empire, and the charges for attendance and
medicines to be defrayed from the Khalsa ;
and also "in every city as well in Jagheer
as in Khalsa lands, refectories were ordered
to be established according to the size of the
place, where victuals were daily prepared for
the support of the poor inhabitants and for
the refreshment of travellers." The Dacca
Hospital and Alms house were, no doubt,
established in obedience to the above orders,
The bene- and in justice to the Moghul Government, it
Moghul Go. must be observed, that the sum of Rs. 8390-8
which they thus expended in charity, is con-
siderably more (considering the greater
cheapness of provisions in those times) than
the sum bestowed by Government on the
several charitable establishments of the city,
in the present day. Besides this public allow-
Private sub- ance, collections were made at the Hossainee
scriptions.
volence of the
vernment
its poor.
to
Delaun during the Mohurrum, and at the
Jumma Musjhid on the occasion of the Ead
for the relief of the poor, but these contribu-
tions though they are still made, have greatly
declined since the spread of the Ferazee
tenets, and can now be scarcely considered a
source of public charity. The Mussulmaun in-
habitants of the city distribute their alms, con-
sisting of cooked rice, on Thursdays, while the
Hindoos give theirs on Sundays and on the
* 10th Regulation of Jehangire, see Gladwin's History of Hindoostan.
† Gladwin's Life of Jehangire.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
319
12th day of the Moon. At the Akharas and
Food given
daily by many
of the more
wealthy in-
A charita-
ly established
houses of many of the more wealthy inhabi-
tants, victuals are served out to the poor habitants.
every day. Through the benevolent exertions
of the Revd. Mr. Shepherd, a charitable
Fund has been established in the town, and ble fund late-
has been in operation for upwards of four by the Euro-
years. It is entirely supported by the con-
tributions of the Europeans at the station,
and distributes between 80 and 100 Rupees
a month to the poor of this class.
pean portion
of the station.
Slavery more
prevalent than
portion of
Mussulmaun
and female
Slavery prevails to a greater extent here
than in the Western districts of Bengal, a in the Western
circumstance which is perhaps attributable Bengal.
to the frequent occurrence of destitution and
distress, occasioned by the sudden inunda-
tions to which this part of the country
is liable. Male slaves are distinguished by
the name of Bhandaree by the Hindoos, and Hindoo and
by that of Gholam among the Mussulmauns; names for male
and female slaves are called Dassee by the slaves.
former, and Bhandee by the latter. Almost mestics most-
all the female domestics in Hindoo and Mus-
sulmaun families are slaves. In Mussul-
maun houses they act as cooks, but among
the Hindoos they are never employed in this
capacity, the only articles of diet they are
allowed to prepare, being choorah, kooee, &c.
Male slaves are employed as agricultural la-
bourers, and do the various kind of work about
a farm, as ploughing, weeding, reaping, fish-
ing, cutting wood and grass, &c. or they act
as domestic servants in Hindoo families, car-
Female do-
ly slaves.
Males em-
ployed as agri.
cultural la-
bourers.
320
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
rying water from the river, preparing the
hookah and pan, and cleaning cooking uten-
sils. A Bhandaree or Gholam is frequently
the husband of six or eight female slaves in
the neighbourhood, but most of his marriages
are fictitious and are got up by the proprie-
tors of the female slaves to screen their own
intercourse with them. The marriage of a
slave is conducted in the same way as that of
a poor ryott. The expense is defrayed by
the owner of the serf, but in the fictitious
marriages, the proprietors of the female slaves
pay the costs of the ceremony, and also bestow
Slaves gene- a small sum on the bridegroom. In a majo-
kindly by their rity of instances, slaves are treated with kind-
rally treated
Owners,
ness and leniency by their masters. The
work exacted from them is seldom oppressive,
and generally, is even less than a hired ser-
vant would be required to perform. In most
cases they partake of the diet used by the
family, and are allowed the common luxuries
of betel nut and tobacco. Many of those born
in bondage in the houses of the wealthier
classes, are taught to read and write along
Selling of with the children of the family. The sale of
persons in slavery is not so common now, it is
alleged, as it was in former times, although it
is admitted, that it is still carried on to a con-
siderable extent. Formerly slaves were sold
along with landed property, and the transfer
was generally ratified by separate deeds of
Value of a sale. The maximum value of a male slave
in the present day, is estimated at rupees 150,
and that of a female one at rupees 100. The
them not so
common at
present as for-
merly.
male and fe-
inale slave.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
321
Protection
held out to
vernment.
them by Go-
latter are always sold at an early age and
avowedly to attend the daughters of the pur-
chasers. Many of them, however, are in-
famously disposed of to prostitutes in the
town. Most of the slaves in this part of the
country, are aware of the protection held out
to them by Government, and instances fre-
quently occur of individuals claiming it from
the Magistrates. Many of them who have
been thus liberated are scattered over the
country, and in several villages in the district
of Mymensing have formed small communi-
ties which serve as rallying points or places
of refuge for those who have obtained their
freedom or who choose to desert their mas-
ters. Slaves in general are distinguished by
the appellation of "Sing," but those who tinguished by
can read and write after their liberation,
assume the rank of Kayets. Many slaves in mission by that
the district work for only a certain number of
months or days in the year, and are allowed
wages for the rest of their labour. It is men-
tioned in the records of the district for the
year 1777, that the slaves of the Zemindar of
Toroff in Mymensing, rose in a body and
murdered the whole of the family.
Slaves dis-
the name of
Sing" and
after manu-
of Kayets.
2 R
322
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
The district
favorable to
CHAPTER XI.
Medical Topography-Diseases-Accidents-
Hospitals-Diseases of lower Animals.
From the account of the physical aspect
the production and climate of the district that has been
of malaria.
Particular
given in the first Chapter, it will be seen
that this part of the country presents in its
soil, vegetation, temperature and moisture,
the different features that characterize situ-
ations most fertile in the production of mala-
ria. We find accordingly, that this poison
is here most abundantly formed, and of all
the known agents of disease it is one that
exerts the widest influence on the health of
the population. The country generally may
localities still be said to abound with malaria, but there
are certain localities more favorable to its
development than others, and in order there-
fore to convey an accurate idea of these
places, and of the various circumstances under
which this poison is generated, it will be
necessary to advert to the difference of soil
and physical features that the district pre-
Appearance sents, or briefly to review it under the four
divided into following aspects, viz.
more so.
of the country
four divisions.
1. The low alluvial tract of country that
is inundated throughout its whole extent of
surface.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
323
2. The artificially elevated alluvial spots
intersected by creeks and tanks and only
partially inundated.
3. The diluvial or kunkar tract intersect_
ed by creeks and morasses and partially
inundated.
4. The city.
The first tract, including the different churs
or islands in the channels of the large rivers,
is the most extensive of the whole. It com-
prizes a large proportion of the land in both
divisions of the district, but the greater part
is comprehended under the southern one to
the west of the Boorigonga where it extends
in this direction to the Ganges, a distance of
40 miles. This aspect presents a slight slope
from the banks of the different rivers by
which it is intersected, down to its central
parts, which constitute the lowest levels of
the country. Many of these places are from
8 to 14 feet in depth in the rains, and all of
them are partially filled with water, through-
out the greater part of the year. Of this
description is the Churan or Ariel morass in
the pergunnah of Bickrampore. This jheel,
which is the largest in the district, is about
15 miles in circumference, and contains water
to a considerable depth, even in the driest
seasons: it is full of grass and reed jungle,
and swarms with water fowl, alligators, fish
and insects. The Amoun crop of rice, which
First divi-
sion.
324
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
visions.
is reaped in October and November is chiefly
cultivated around this morass and throughout
this tract generally. The villages are built
upon artificially raised mounds of earth,
scattered over the surface of this tract, and
forming in the season of inundation so many
islands, surrounded by water of a consider-
able depth.
Second di- The second aspect presents artificially ele-
vated spots of ground, which have been the
sites of towns and villages from an early
period in the history of the district. These
places, as Rampal in Bickrampore, and Pai-
nam in Sunergong, are entirely of alluvial
soil, and appear to have originally consisted
of separate mounds, like those of the first
tract, but from increase of population, they
have now become so numerous and approxi-
mated, as to form artificially raised portions
of country of considerable extent. They are
intersected by creeks and tanks, varying
from 10 to 20 feet in depth, and are of various
degrees of breadth, being in some places con-
tracted to narrow ditches, and in others ex-
panding out into wide terradams. For several
months in the year, these creeks are full of
water, and are affected by the tides, during
which time they alternately admit of the
passage of small boats, and present shallow
channels with muddy slimy banks. The
elevated ground above is covered with huts
and gardens, interspersed with dense thickets
of bamboos, mangoe, betelnut, cocoanut and
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
325
various trees, whose luxuriant foliage, while
it excludes the sun's rays, at the same time
intercepts the ascent of vapours and miasma
from the creeks beneath, thus constituting a
cool, but also a damp and unhealthy shade.
The third or diluvial tract consists of ferru-
ginous and calcareous kunkar soil, covered
with a superficial stratum of vegetable mould.
It is intersected by numerous creeks that
expand out into extensive morasses, in its
central parts. The beds of these lower levels
consist chiefly of stiff clay, mixed with more
or less alluvial deposit, according to their
proximity to the inundating rivers, and are
mostly covered with rank grass jungle. The
elevated kunkar soil is clad with brushwood
jungle, and in the interior with clumps of
lofty forest trees. From the aborbent pro-
perty of the argillaceous soil, this tract retains
its moisture for a longer time than the alluvial
lands, and is the site of heavy fogs on the
cessation of the rains, and during the cold
season.
Third divi-
sion.
The fourth
City.
The city and suburbs present an aspect,
which may be said to be composed of all division or
the preceding ones. On the east there is
an extensive alluvial plain, and on the north
and north west a tract of dense tree and
brushwood jungle, intersected by the beds
of creeks and morasses which are full of
water during the rains, forming a connection
between the rivers Borigonga and Luckia,
326
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
by which the town is at this season com-
pletely insulated. The red kunkar soil, upon
which the city is built, is covered towards
the river with alluvial earth; but to the
north in the direction of the cantonments, it
is exposed on the surface. A branch of the
Dullye Creek intersects the city, and sends
off numerous branches that ramify in dif-
ferent directions and ultimately join the
creeks in the environs. During the rains,
this nullah is of considerable breadth and
depth, and expands out in the centre of the
town into a large bason or lake; but in the
dry season, it is reduced to a canal of not
more than 15 feet in width, and is navigable
by small boats only at full tide. The interi-
or of the town abounds with pits, from which
earth has been dug to build the sites and
walls of neighbouring huts. Most of these
excavations are of a depth, varying from 15
to 30 feet and have an area of 50 to 500 feet
in extent; many of them have been convert-
ed into canals which communicate with the
central branch of the Dullye Creek, but by
far the greater number of them are isolated
pits, serving as depositaries for all the refuse
animal and vegetable matters and filth of the
neighbourhood. A few of them contain water
throughout the year, but the greater number
are only partially filled from April to Decem-
ber, during which time they become prolific
sources of malaria. The majority of the
Mussulmaun inhabitants bury their dead in
the interior of the town, in the immediate
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
327
vicinity of, or within the precincts of their
own dwellings. The graves are seldom more
than 44 feet deep, and after a short time the
Ferazees, who never raise any mound to mark
the place of interment, generally build huts
over them. The few Mussulmaun cemeteries
of the place are situated in the jungle to the
west of the city. Here the graves are dug
of the depth of about 6 or 8 feet, those among
the poorer classes, who cannot afford the
expense of a coffin, use a frame work of
bamboos which they lay across the body, but
notwithstanding this precaution, bodies are
often disinterred by jackals. The Hindoos
burn their dead in the vicinity of the town,
but among the poorer classes no funeral pile
is erected, and the corpse is thrown into the
river.
The rivers, that inundate the low lands of
all these tracts, are branches of the Berham-
pooter, Megna and Ganges. They begin to
overflow the lowest levels of the country in
May, but it frequently happens that for some
weeks before this time, these sites are par-
tially filled, and indeed many of them may
be said to be in a state of transition from
dryness to humidity throughout the greater
part of the year. This is more especially the
case when there is a heavy fall of rain early
in the season, or when strong southerly winds
occur to retard the current of the rivers, and
thus cause a reflux into the interior parts,
or prevent the egress of the water already
Causes of
malaria.
328
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
lodged there. But, whatever may have been
the previous fall of rain at this season, the
central parts of the first tract are full about
the middle of June, and generally by the
10th July, the whole extent of country sub-
ject to inundation, (and estimated at 8-10ths
of the area of the district) is covered with water
to a depth varying from 2 to 14 feet. Vege-
tation on land and water now becomes rank
and luxuriant in the extreme, and gives to the
whole country the appearance of one exten-
sive verdant field. As the inundation rises,
the rice plant shoots up above the water with
singular celerity; while the slender and flexile
Lotus plant, the Cyamus and the Singhara,
which are no less rapid in their growth,
throw out their broad leaves, and richly co-
lored blossoms; forming with the Pana and
other aquatic plants, a close carpet of vegeta-
tion upon the surface of the marshes, the
abode of myriads of insects and the resort
of the graceful Iacana and a variety of the
feathered tribe. The country continues in
this state of submersion, and with little per-
ceptible variation in the height of the water
until the end of September. The inundation
now begins to subside, and as the rivers fall,
the central parts of the country pour out their
contents, the water of the rice lands being
generally clear and limpid, while that of the
morasses is of a dark hue. This is more
particularly the case in the northern division
of the district, where the creeks, especially
those in the vicinity of the town, discharge
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
329
water which resembles a strong infusion of
tea in color; and which is perhaps attribut-
able to the chemical agency of the iron in
the soil upon the vegetable astringent sub-
stances in the jheels. Sickness now begins
to prevail, especially in the form of bowel
complaints, which the natives in the city
universally ascribe to this contamination of
the Borigonga water. As the draining of
the country proceeds, the water flows more
scantily, but of a darker hue, until at length,
the rice plant and aquatic weeds, forming a
saturated mass and the latter emitting a most
offensive odour, fall to the ground and give
rise to malaria, and fever. Malaria is most
abundantly evolved from the middle of Sep-
tember to the end of November; the season
in which the elements of decomposition or
the proportions of water and dead vegetable
matter, and a certain degree of temperature
appear to be in the most favorable adaptation
for the production of this agent. With the
soil now saturated with moisture and covered
with a thick layer of decaying vegetable
matter, there occurs at this time, a state of
atmospheric quiescence which appears greatly
to contribute to the elaboration of marsh
miasma. For sometime preceding and fol-
lowing the gale or stormy weather that usually
occurs on the change of the monsoon, the
wind becomes light and variable, calms are
more frequent than at any other season of
the year, and the range of temperature begins
to increase. During the day, the sky is gene-
2 s
330
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Sunergong
and Bhowal
considered the
most unheal
thy in the dis-
trict.
rally unclouded, the heat is powerful and
evaporation proceeds with activity; while the
nights from the condensation of the vapours
which now descend in the form of copious
dew, become damp and chilly and consti-
tute the time of all others in which malaria
acts with the greatest power and energy.
Of the four tracts or aspects into which the
district has been divided, the second and
third are the most unhealthy; and Sunergong
and Bhowal in particular are the sites, where
diseases originating from malaria, occur in
their worst forms. The inhabitants of these
places may be said to live in a state of per-
petual fever. Ague in all its shapes prevails
throughout the year, and its various sequels
of enlargement of the spleen and chronic
affections of the abdominal viscera, are more
common here than in any other part of the
district. The same is the case in the betel-
nut tree or areca groves on the eastern bank
of the Megna, in the Tipperah district, which
are still more unhealthy than Sunergong or
Bhowal. Here the trees are planted so close-
ly together, that their thick foliage above,
forms a covert through which the sun's rays
never penetrate to the ground: the soil
throughout these extensive tracts is partially
overflowed at spring tides during half the
year, and constitutes a fertile source of mala-
ria, which in this place is concentrated in its
worst forms. The natives acclimated to this
gloomy region, indicate too plainly by their
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
331
sallow cadaverous looks, tumid bodies and
shrunk emaciated limbs, the noxious atmos-
phere they breathe and as may be inferred
they soon fall victims to the poison of malaria.
Rice lands
particularly
Rice lands are considered particularly un-
healthy in some countries as in Russia, where unhealthy.
the cultivation of this grain is prohibited in
consequence. The diseases arising from this
source occur chiefly, in the vicinity of the
ariel or churan morass where the country is
low and the crop of Amoun rice lies long in a
wet state, on the subsidence of the inundation.
They are most prevalent in October and No-
vember, during which time a hot vapour rises
from these fields, and produces, the natives
say, fever and ophthalmia. The breaking up
of waste and jungle lands, is perhaps more
frequently productive of disease, than the
cultivation of rice. Cassan mentions several
cases of malignant fever produced by the
clearing of pasture lands in the West Indies,
and an instance lately occurred to Mr. Lamb,
which shews the danger of a somewhat simi-
lar occupation. In January 1836 he settled
30 families of ryotts, on one of his estates in
this neighbourhood, to clear a village that had
for sometime been deserted, and was now
overgrown with jungle, but before the end of
April, 15 persons died of fever and cholera,
and he was obliged in consequence to aban-
don the place. The steeping of sunn and
pat in ponds in the vicinity of villages, pat ponds fre-
The vicini-
ty of sun and
quently the
appears to be not unfrequently a cause of cause of fever.
332
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
The use of
staguant water
as drink fre-
quent source
of disease.
Wells.
fever; and it is only a few months ago, that
I had an opportunity of seeing in the person
of an European gentleman, who had been
residing in a tent, pitched near pits of this
kind, a case of insidious remittent fever,
attended with hepatic congestion, which there
can be no doubt arose from this cause. Dur-
ing the process of the maceration of hemp,
the most disagreeable exhalations are emitted,
and it may be mentioned, that on account of
its supposed unwholesomeness, the Neapolitan
Government oblige all the growers of this
article in the vicinity of Naples to steep the
plant in a small lake, assigned for this purpose
at some distance from the city. The steeping
of indigo, which is almost equally offensive
as that of sunn, is not, however, as far as I
am aware, considered unhealthy, nor in any
way injurious to those engaged in it. The
most healthy spots in the district are churs
and the banks of rivers, and their comparative
immunity from malaria, is no doubt attri-
butable to the currents of air that sweep the
channels of the rivers, and thus prevent its
lodgment in the neighbourhood.
Next to malaria, the use of stagnant water
as drink, is perhaps the most frequent source
of disease in this district. All the inhabi-
tants who happen to reside at a distance from
a running stream, invariably use jheel or
morass water for drinking and cooking.
Wells are seldom met with except in the
town. In its northern part and suburbs
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
333
where the kunkar soil is not covered with
alluvial earth, water is found at a depth vary-
ing from 18 to 22 feet, and is of a good
quality; but on the southern side of the creek
that flows through the town, well water is
generally bad and nauseous, and appears to
be impregnated with the putrescent animal
and vegetable matter that oozes through the
loose alluvial soil, from the numerous sinks in
the vicinity. None of the inhabitants use
water from wells in this part of the town,
except during the rains, at which season their
level is affected by the river, while the free
flow of water through the creek carries off
a considerable portion of the impurities from
the interior of the town. Most of the Euro-
pean inhabitants and many of the wealthier
natives have been in the habit of using the
Luckia water for many years past. The
natives attribute diarrhoeas, enlargements of ropeans and
the spleen and elephantiasis to the use of
stagnant morass water, and it would certain-
ly seem to be the case that these diseases are
most prevalent, in situations where this kind
of water is used as drink, but whether they
stand in the relation of cause and effect, it is
not so easy to determine. The other more
general causes of disease are new rice, crude
vegetables, and the want of proper clothing
and bedding in the cold season. The Aoos
or summer crop of rice, which is reaped at
the commencement of the rains, is frequently
used by the poorer classes before it is dry,
in which state it is very indigestible, and acts
The water
of the Luckia
used by Eu-
many of the
wealthier na-
tives.
Diseases at-
tributed to
the use of
rass water,
stagnant mo-
and to other
general
causes.
334
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Epidemics.
as the exciting or predisponent cause of vari-
ous diseases of the stomach and bowels. The
different crude vegetables, as several species
of the arum, jungle and jheel plants that are
sold in the bazars at this season, and also
different kinds of fish as the Boallee, produce
bowel complaints, and appear to give rise to
intestinal worms, which are here particularly
prevalent. Few of the poorer classes provide
themselves with clothing or coverings for pro-
tection against the damp cold of the winter
months. Blankets and cotton stuffed quilts
are used only by the richer natives; the only
covering that a poor person possesses is a
rug of old cloths and rags patched together,
and this with a greasy pillow case, stuffed
with simool cotton and a mat or litter of rice
straw, constitutes the whole of his bedding.
Of the prevalence of epidemics in this part
of the country, I have met with only two
notices in the records of the district. In the
One in 1781. year 1781, "a malignant distemper," the
nature of which, however, is not described, is
mentioned as having carried off a number of
the inhabitants of Calcutta, and in the month
of September Mr. Lindsay, the Magistrate of
Sylhet, writes, "it is now raging with the
greatest fury at Sylhet. Many of the Zemin-
dars and Naibs having fallen victims to it,
and the others have in a body deserted the
town." In the year 1797 the Collector in
one of his reports alludes to the sickness and
mortality in a pergunnah of Backergunge,
1797.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
335
and states, “in one house, that of a grain
dealer, 17 lives have been lost in eleven days,
and from the accounts I have received, I
consider that from four to five hundred lives
have been sacrificed to this plague, which has
not yet been subdued."
Cholera, in
1817, and
Epidemic
which has con-
tinued to ap-
pear at uncer-
The epidemic cholera, of which the pre-
ceding were in all probability instances,
broke out in 1817, simultaneously in this dis-
trict, Jessore and Nattore; it first appeared tain intervals.
here in the pergunnah of Sonergong, but of
the extent of its ravages at this or any sub-
sequent period I have not been able to collect
any correct information. As in all other
parts of the country, this scourge continues
to appear at uncertain intervals, though of
late years, its visitation have been less fre-
quent and in most instances the disease has
been of a somewhat milder character, than
formerly. The total number of cases admit-
ted into the Military Hospital of the Regiment
of Native Infantry, including a detachment
of about 30 Artillery men, has been only 28
between the years 1828 and 1837. In 1825,
427 persons died from it in the city.
Intermit-
Intermittent fever is particularly common
in this part of the country, especially about tent fever.
the commencement, and on the cessation of
the rains, and when once induced it has a
tendency to return at the changes of the moon.
Remittent fever also prevails in September and
October, and continues to occur throughout fever.
Remittent
336
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Elephanti-
asis and bron-
chocele.
Bronchocele.
Supposed
the cold season, when it frequently assumes
a low congestive type and is often fatal.
Next to intermittent and remittent fevers,
the most prevalent endemic diseases are
elephantiasis and bronchocele. The former
is common here, but particularly about the
city, and in the vicinity of the ariel morass,
in Bickrampore. The disease appears in
different parts of the body as the lower extre-
mities, scrotum, and occasionally in the arms:
the fever attending it, (called Saujhar) is
usually ushered in with strong rigors suc-
ceeded by the hot fit, which lasts for several
days, and in a majority of cases it is accom-
panied with bilious vomiting. It is apt to
recur at the changes of the moon and gene-
rally with each successive attack, the swelling
increases, as the fever abates in intensity
and duration.
Bronchocele prevails in the northern divi-
sion of the district, especially on the banks of
the Luckia and Megna, and along the Jenai,
in the district of Mymensing, but it also oc-
curs in Bickrampore and Rajanaghur, in the
southern division. Out of 106 villages be-
cause of the longing to two thanahs in this part of the
country both bronchocele and elephantiasis
were met with in 72 villages belonging to the
northern division, and in 27 in the Bickram-
pore and Rajanaghur, lying to the south of the
Dellaserry and Megna. Bronchocele arises
perhaps from the water of the Berhampooter
disease.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
337
Howing over beds of calcareous kunkar as in
the channels of the Banar and Luckia, though
judging from the nature of the localities in
which the disease is most frequently met
with, it would seem to be the effect of mala-
rious agency, rather than of this cause.
In a
majority of instances the villages, in which it
most frequently occurs, are at some distance
from running streams, where the inhabitants
make use of stagnant water for drink and
are places surrounded with fertile sources of
malaria. The opinion that bronchocele is of
miasmatic origin, is now pretty generally
entertained in Europe, and I may mention a
case that lately fell under my own observa-
tion, and which in a great measure tends to
confirm it. The case was that of a family of
three persons, of whom one had bronchocele
and another elephantiasis. The house in
which they resided was situated in the centre
of the town, within a few yards of a dirty tank
into which a large sewer emptied itself, and
close to a deep and open drain which was
choked up with weeds and rubbish. This
family used rain water for drink and in cook-
ing, and had been in the habit of doing so for
many years. Of a family consisting of eight
individuals that took up their abode in this
house, and lived with the above persons, four
were attacked with bronchocele between the
months of September and January. The
patients were females, of different ages, vary-
ing from six to twenty-five years, and prior to
this, had never shewn the slightest indication
2 T
338
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Spleen.
nor experienced any symptom of the disease.
The swelling attacked the whole of the gland
except in one case where it was confined to
one of its lobes. A cure was effected in all
of them by means of the hydriodate of potash,
but it was not until some time after they had
left the house that the disease entirely dis-
appeared. The natives attribute the preva-
lence of goitre here to the use of lime juice,
an article which the inhabitants of Suner-
gong and Bickrampore are partial to in their
cookery.
Enlargement of the spleen is the most com-
mon chronic visceral disease in this district,
and is attributed by the natives to stagnant
marsh water used as drink. It is usually
preceded by intermittent fever in which the
cold stage is severe, though in many cases the
fever is slight, while in others, the disease
comes on in a slow insidious manner, without
attracting the attention of the patient or being
attended with any constitutional disturbance,
beyond the ordinary symptoms of dyspepsia.
Children appear to be more subject to it than
adults. In many of them it is attended with
intestinal worms and in a considerable pro-
portion of cases with dysentery. Sloughing
of the lips and cheeks is a frequent accompa-
niment of the disease in young subjects, and is
attended with low fever under which the
patient soon sinks. Occasionally, a line of
demarcation is formed between the dead and
living parts, and granulations spring up on
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
339
the separation of the slough, but in the seve-
ral cases in which I have observed this resto-
rative effort made, I have never seen one in
which cicatrization was completed, or in
which the patient recovered. The sulphate
of iron, in combination with vegetable tonics
and purgatives in proportions suited to the
stage of the disease and constitutional symp-
toms, is the remedy from which the greatest
benefit is derived, but unfortunately in many
cases, its exhibition is contra-indicated by
the co-existing inflammation of the mucous
coat of the intestines.
Dysentery
Dysentery and diarrhoea are both very pre-
valent during the rains and cold season, the and Diarrhoea.
former being in most cases the result of ex-
posure to wet and cold, while the latter is
occasioned principally by the use of new rice,
crude vegetables, morass water, and several
species of oily fish. Diarrhoea is a most in-
tractable disease, and is one that carries off
annually, a considerable proportion of the
native population.
Rheumatism, in its sub-acute and chronic Rheumatism.
forms, prevails to a great extent during the
rainy and cold seasons, and appears to be
frequently induced by bathing in the river
during the latter time, and by the practice
so common among the natives of wearing
wet kummurbunds or cloths round the body.
When the disease is general it seldom gives
way to a less powerful remedy than calomel
340
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Small-pox.
Catarrh,
hooping cough
and opium, so as to affect the system. An
abuse of mercury, however, or this mineral,
as it is administered by native practitioners
in cases of syphilis, is one of the most fre-
quent predisposing causes of the disease.
This is usually practised here by inhaling the
fumes of cinnabar, and by this mode of ex-
hibiting it, the patient generally becomes
violently salivated in the course of 48 hours.
Mercury, thus administered, frequently gives
rise among the natives to obstinate rheuma-
tism, terminating in contracted joints, nodes
and caries of the bones; and in not a few
cases, to permanent closure of the jaw, the
result apparently of inflammation around the
glenoid cavity.
Small-pox generally makes its appearance
in February, March and April, and in seasons
when the weather is dry with strong winds.
Hepatitis and enteritis in their acute forms
are not uncommon among the natives at this
time and require a pretty free use of the
lancet.
Catarrh, hooping cough and bronchitis are
and bronchitis. diseases of common occurrence during the
rains, and the latter, which frequently as-
sumes a severe form among children, gene-
rally requires active treatment. Croup and
laryngitis are comparatively rare, but asth-
ma and chronic bronchitis prevail to a great
extent among old people, during the cold
season.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
341
Ophthalmia is very prevalent, particularly Ophthalmia.
in the low alluvial lands, and in the vicinity of
the Ariel morass of the first tract: it is here
a very general disease on the subsidence of
the inundation, and it is attributed by the
natives to the exhalations from the wet crops.
From neglect or want of proper treatment it
terminates in a majority of cases in opacities
of the cornea, thickening of the conjunctiva,
and entropium, all of which are frequently
to be met with here.
Affections of the lining membrane of the
nose, throat, and ear frequently present
themselves among the persons applying for
medical aid at the Native Hospital. The
well known disease called "Nakra," which
appears to depend upon a highly congested
state of the vessels of the pituitary mem-
branes and frontal sinuses, is here particu-
larly common, and like several other diseases
in this part of the country, it frequently
assumes a periodic character, or recurs at
changes of the moon. It is generally at-
tended with smart fever and severe pain
across the forehead: the common mode of
treatment adopted by the natives, as is well
known, consists in lacerating the turgid
vessels of the affected membrane with a fine
reed, when the free flow of blood usually
brings relief. Thickening of the membrane
and also suppuration and ulceration (not
unfrequently produced perhaps by the above
Nakra.
342
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Cutaneous
diseases.
Syphilis.
Dyspepsia.
practice) are of common occurrence while
nasal polypus is by no means rare.
Affec-
tions of the mouth in the form of ulcers of the
tongue and tonsils, and diseases of the ear in
the shape of thickening and suppuration of
its mucous coat, are almost equally common
as the chronic complaints of the nares.
The most common cutaneous diseases are
leprosy, ring-worm, itch, herpes and icthy-
osis. The former prevails to a great extent
in the city, and is to be seen in all its various
stages from the spotted skin to the entire des-
truction of all the tissues of the part attacked.
Syphilis is a disease, no less common than
leprosy, is often to be seen in its worst forms:
phagedenic sores induced by an abuse of
mercury are frequent as well as cases of the
entire destruction of the nose and palate,
especially in those tainted with lepra.
Idiopathic gangrene, authrax and sphace-
lating ulcers are diseases that frequently
occur in the town. The latter in particular
are often met with in persons labouring under
disease of the spleen.
Dyspepsia in all its various shapes is com-
mon among all classes. One variety of it
called " pet sool" appears to be very preva-
lent among ganjah smokers: it is attended
with excessive sensibility of the pyloric
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
343
region of the stomach: food, however bland,
is rejected about an hour after it has been
taken, and is accompanied with violent vomit-
ing, succeeded by rigid spasm of the abdo-
minal muscles and most excruciating pain,
during which the patient rolls about on the
floor in the greatest agony. Anodynes pro-
cure but temporary relief: the patients be-
come emaciated and feeble, and after linger-
ing for some time in this state, at last sink
under the disease.
Intestinal worms constitute one of the most
common diseases to which the natives of
Bengal are subject. The common round
worm, Ascarides and Tænia, are all prevalent,
but there is also a fourth variety of species of
the
genus distoma that not unfrequently occurs
and gives rise to several serious complaints
as epilepsy, colic and dropsy. This worm
is called "Chattuah" in the Bengallee and
"Breddhu-neebhu" in the Sanscrit language,
and is said by the native doctors here to be
of more frequent occurrence than the Tænia.
This species of which I lately sent a specimen
to the Medical and Physical Society, I have
called "Distoma Intestinate," to distinguish
it from the Distoma Hepaticum whose habitat
as its name implies, is the liver or its ducts.
Specific character of the D. Intestinate. Body
flat, ovate thin, and firm to the touch, with
its margin well defined; head a small trian-
gular point and somewhat incurved; pores
Worms.
344
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Maniacs.
approximate the anterior or terminal one, a
minute point scarcely visible without the aid of
a magnifying glass, the posterior pore situated
at the distance of half a line from the anterior
one and surrounded with a cartilaginous ring
projecting, orbicular and about half a line in
diameter and having in front of it a small
white tubercle; colour dark red, size from
one to one and a quarter of an inch in length
and half an inch in breadth; habitat small
intestines. The difference between the D.
Intestinate and D. Hepaticum as they occur
in the human subject, consists chiefly in the
relative situation of their pores. In the
former the posterior pore is in juxta-position
with the anterior one, whilst in the latter this
pore is subventral and situated about the
middle of the body. The D. Intestinate is
also considerably larger and its body thinner
but of a firmer structure and in shape more
obtuse anteriorly than the D. Hepaticum.
The remedy that the native practitioners here
employ for the expulsion of this worm is a
compound of the black sulphuret of mercury,
nux vomica, Butea frondosa and erycibe pani-
culata.
Between the years 1827 and 1837, seven
hundred and fifty-seven patients afflicted
with mania were admitted into the Lunatic
Asylum at this station. Of this number 658
were males and 99 females; the greater por-
tion of whom were between the ages 30 and
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
345
40. The following is a statement of their
occupations and condition in life prior to their
admission:
Ghushtas or agricul-
672
tural labourers,
Merchants,.............
2
Burkundazes,.....
1
1
Fakeers, ....
Brahmins,
14 Cooks,
13 Pansarees or druggists, I
Sepoys,
8 Singers,
1
Prostitutes,
7
Rice sellers,
1
Servants,
5
Bearer,
1
Barbers,
3 Goldsmith,
1
Tailors,
3 Bricklayer,……………
I
Byragees,
2 Sweeper,
1
Weavers,
Washermen,
2 Dhangy,
1
2 Armenian,
1
Milkmen,
Ruffogurs,
2
1
Total,...
757
The number of admissions into the Asylum
cannot be considered as affording a criterion
of the prevalence of the disease among the
native population as it is generally only those
who have committed some acts of violence
which have been reported to Magistrates,
that are put under restraint. This is appa-
rent also from the great difference in the
number admitted from this and the neigh-
bouring districts, between the years 1831
and 1837.
Dacca,
Tipperah,.
Backergunge,
Furreedpore,
...235 Mymensing, ...... 19
35 Chittagong,
28 Noacolly,
24 Assam,
18
14
4
2 U
346
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Hydrophobia.
The average number of deaths from hydro-
phobia in the city is about four per year.
Persons, who happen to be bitten by dogs in
the town, frequently repair to the hospital to
have their wounds dressed, and in most in-
stances they willingly submit to the excision
of the part. This operation, with the long
continued ablution of the cut surface by a
stream of water from a kettle or a bheestee's
mussack, and the subsequent cauterization of
the part with the nitrate of silver, is the mode
of treatment adopted here, and I have never
known a case of the disease to occur after it.
The cases of hydrophobia that do occur, are
those in which primary treatment has alto-
gether been neglected, and commonly hap-
pen among persons living at a distance from
the hospital. In the different cases of hydro-
phobia that have fallen under my observation,
two months has been the average time that has
intervened between the infliction of the bite
and the accession of the second stage of the
malady, and three days its average duration
after the development of all the symptoms.
Occasionally, a slight accidental injury to
the wounded part, after it has healed up, and
is free from pain or swelling, acts as the
proximate or immediate exciting cause of the
disease, and developes the whole train of
hydrophobic symptoms. A case of this kind
has been described by the late Dr. Adam in
the Transactions of the Medical and Physical
Society, and I have seen two instances of a
similar nature. In one of these cases the
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
347
patient had been bitten on the great toe, but
the wound which was very slight soon healed
up, and he felt no inconvenience from the
injury, until about seven weeks after its in-
fliction when a bystander happened to tread
slightly upon his foot, while he was attending
an auction. In a few hours afterwards in-
flammation of the part supervened and on
the following day when I was first called to
see him, he was suffering under all the ago-
nies of the disease. It was a doctrine of the
Arabian school, that in hydrophobia little dogs
are generated in the urine, and that the re-
covery of the patient could only be effected
by remedies that produced their expulsion.
The same opinion is held by the Mussulmaun
and Hindoo practitioners here, and accord-
ingly all their medicines are given with the
view of increasing the action of the kidnies,
and of expelling the embryo puppies; the
urine of the patient is carefully examined by
them, and their prognosis is regulated by the
appearance it presents, in reference to this
supposed cause of the disease. Of the va-
rious remedies consisting of opium, stramo-
nium, prussic acid, the vapour bath, &c.
which I have used in this disease I have
never seen more than a temporary alleviation
of the symptoms produced by any of them.
Epilepsy,
Paralysis and
Of other nervous diseases epilepsy is per-
haps the most common, paralysis and apo- Apoplexy.
plexy occasionally occur, but tetanus either
idiopathic or traumatic is comparatively rare.
348
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Diseases of
Artisans.
Of diseases incidental to artizans, impaired
sight and nyctalopia, occasionally terminating
Amaurosis. in amaurosis, are common among spinners,
Lumbago. weavers, and washermen; and lumbago
Ephidrosis. among shell cutters. Ephidrosis, or partial
sweating, a disease almost unknown in Eu-
rope, is here frequently met with in per-
sons engaged in sedentary occupations, as
among tailors, embroiderers, writers, &c.
The hands and feet are the parts generally
affected, and they present the appearance
of having been recently immersed in water.
The sweat runs off in large drops and no
sooner is the part dried or wiped with a
cloth, than it again becomes bedewed with
moisture. In cases of long standing the
palms of the hands have a shrunk and
delicate appearance and many of the pati-
ents complain of a pricking or tingling sen-
sation in them. The disease occurs in per-
sons of different constitutions and ages: the
youngest subject of it that I have seen
was a tailor's apprentice about 12 years
old. In general it increases in intensity
during the cold season, and is at this
time not unfrequently accompanied with di-
minished secretion of urine. Ephidrosis is
often attended with so much inconvenience
to the patient, as to incapacitate him from
following his occupation or profession. I
have used tonics and astringents, including
the preparations of iron, and the mineral
acids in this disease, but without producing
any good effect.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
349
The accidents that most frequently occur
in this part of the country, are fractures and
dislocations occasioned generally by falls from
trees; and wounds and injuries inflicted by
wild hogs, buffaloes, leopards, tigers, sharks,
alligators, and by several species of fish
armed with spines, as the ray singio, and
moongree, &c. The wounds from the tusks
of the hog, are generally short, and incised
and very numerous, a patient often present-
ing upwards of twenty cuts on his limbs,
back and different parts of the body: they
are generally pretty deep extending to the
muscles, which appear, as if divided with a
knife. The injuries inflicted by leopards and
tigers, in most of the cases that are brought
to the Native Hospital, are lacerated wounds
occasioned by a blow with the paw of the
animal, and are always accompanied with a
great deal of contusion, even in cases where
there is but little abrasion of the surface.
Sloughing of the subjacent cellular mem-
brane, and the subsequent formation of
troublesome sinuses, are the usual termina-
tions of injuries of this kind. The principal
danger in these cases, arises from secondary
hemorrhage, which I have often seen to occur
after the wound had assumed a healthy gra-
nulating appearance. It is apt to occur in
subjects labouring under diseased spleen
where the blood is attenuated, and not in a
state apparently to produce an internal coagu-
lum or plug in an artery of moderate size.
In a case of this kind which lately occurred
Accidents.
Wounds.
450
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
in the Native Hospital, the wound, which was
one of considerable size and situated over
the deltoid muscle, presented a clean granu-
lating surface, with the exception of one part,
where there was a speck of sphacelus not
larger than a garden pea; it was found to be
situated over the mouth of an artery and
extended apparently along its sheath to some
distance, causing ulceration of the coats of the
vessel, a few hours after the application of a
ligature. Besides ligatures compression with
sponge was also tried, but the hemorrhage
continued to recur for several days until at
last its suppression was effected by moderate
pressure on the subclavian artery, kept up
for several days, during which time granu-
lations and a coagulum were formed round
the mouth of the vessel. Wounds by buffa-
loes and alligators are more frequently fatal,
than injuries by leopards or tigers. Per-
sons gored by the former seldom recover, and
in wounds caused by alligators, the knee
joint is generally involved in the injury and
unless the patient submits to amputation, the
result is always fatal. It seldom happens,
that a native will consent to this latter opera-
tion, and opportunities occasionally occur,
therefore, of witnessing spontaneous cures in
cases of gangrene. I have seen the line of
demarcation between the dead and living
parts, form half way up the leg, leaving the
tibia, fibula, and bones of the foot quite bare,
and obliging the patient at last to submit to
their separation. Accidents from hogs, tigers,
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
351
mon
severe.
and leopards, occur principally in the north-
ern division, and chiefly to ryotts, wood
cutters and boatmen. The jungles swarm
with these animals; tigers and leopards are
frequently seen in the suburbs, and the latter
have been killed in the very heart of the city.
Wounds of the hand inflicted with the ser-
rated osseous spines in the pectoral and dorsal
fins of the singio fish (silurus singio) moong-
ree (macronopterus magur) and of several
species of the genus pimelodus are of com-
occurrence, and are frequently very
The pain and inflammation extend
up the arm, and are often followed by slough-
ing of the tendons and caries of the bone.
Fishermen are not unfrequently wounded by
sharks and rays: the latter inflict a very
severe wound with the spine upon its caudal
fin, and instances of persons being killed by
it (of which Williamson in his Field Sports of
India, mentions one,) occasionally occur. The
other accidents, next to fractures, disloca-
tions and wounds that most frequently occur,
are burns and scalds. The new method of
treating this class of injuries, by applying
layers or flakes of carded cotton to the part,
does not appear to be well adapted to this
country, especially in the hot weather and
rains in several cases in which I have tried
it the larvae of insects were generated in such
quantities on the commencement of the sup-
purative stage, that it became necessary in
all of them to remove the envelope and have
recourse to the usual mode of treatment.
352
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
sudden deaths
Number of The following is a statement of cases of
in the district sudden death occurring in the district,
and 1837. between the years 1830 and 1837 inclusive,
and reported by the police officers to the
between 1830
Magistrate during that period.
Men.
Women.
Suicides,
5
0
""
by strangulation,
4
8
Death by drowning,.
21
20
snakes,
30
26
""
""
""
""
lightning,
3
3
""
poison,
3
3
falls from trees,
3
0
""
""
assaults, &c.
9
0
、
22
""
tigers,
8
3
""
hogs,
2
1
""
""
buffaloes,
2
0
alligators,
8
6
""
""
gunshot wounds,
3
0
abortion,
0
7
""
""
""
from homicides and miscel-
laneous causes not mentioned,
45 30
Total,..
147 103
Admissions
into the Na-
Wounds and contusions of the head inflict-
tive Hospital ed with bamboo clubs or lateeahs in affrays
from affrays
and assaults and assaults in the district, form a consider-
able proportion of the cases admitted into
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
353
the Native Hospital. These injuries, though
frequently severe and accompanied with frac-
ture, are very seldom attended with ultimate
serious consequences, as separation of the dura
mater, and suppuration beneath the bone;
and of several hundred cases of this kind
which have been treated in the Hospital dur-
ing the last ten years, not one has occurred
to require the use of the trephine. Of this
operation, there have been only two instances
during that period, one on account of frac-
ture with depression occasioned by a fall, and
the other in a case of coma, arising from a
tumour of the dura mater: of these two
cases, the first recovered. Cases of wounds
inflicted with swords and spears are compara-
tively rare these weapons are seldom used,
except by up-country burkundazes and ser-
vants in the employment of zemindars, and
the effects of the use of them are therefore
only occasionally seen. The cases that most
frequently present themselves for operation selves for sur-
are, 1st, chronic abscesses which are here gical opera-
particularly common among all classes, and
persons of all ages. 2d, cataract, fistula,
lachrymalis, entropium and pterygium, of
which there are numerous cases. 3d, encyst-
ed and other tumours, including pendulous
tumours of the ear. 4th, ascites and ovarian
dropsy, particularly the former, which is a
common case for operation. 5th, hydrocele
is a common complaint here, but the natives
in general prefer the radical cure by caustic,
as practised by their own doctors to the
Cases that
present them-
tion.
2 W
354
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Calculi.
European mode, by injection, and the cases
operated on in the Hospital are therefore com-
paratively few in number. 6th, hemorrhoi-
dal tumours are treated by the native prac-
titioners by the application of an arsenical
caustic which is always productive of much
suffering and great constitutional disturbance.
Strictures, 7th, strictures and retention of urine are com-
mon, and the introduction of the catheter is
one of the minor operations that is almost
daily performed at the hospital: during the
last eight years there have been only two
cases of puncture of the bladder. 8th, urina-
ry calculus is a disease that occasionally
presents itself: during the last two years
lithotomy has been performed five times at
this hospital, and all the patients, with the
exception of one in whom there was a diseased
condition of the coats of the bladder, recover-
ed; calculi in the urethra occasionally occur,
and within the last five years four of these
concretions have been extracted at the hos-
pital. 9th, inguinal and femoral herniœ are
rare, but umbilical and ventral ruptures are
common; cases in a state of strangulation
Congenital however, rarely occur. 10th, of congenital
diseases, phymosis and hare lip are perhaps
the most common, spina bifida and cataract
Aneurism. are rare. 11th, of true aneurism or cancer
I have not seen any cases here. Persons
belonging to the lower classes of Mussul-
mauns and Hindoos in the city frequently
apply to European practitioners for obstetric
Parturition assistance. In this country, parturition is a
Hernice
diseases.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
355
process which is in general .attended with
little difficulty, though it frequently happens.
that either by the neglect or rude and offici-
ous interference of the midwives, the natural
stages of it are interrupted or retarded, ren-
dering the exhibition of medicine or manual
assistance necessary. The cases that most
frequently happen are tedious labours arising
from deficient uterine action and premature
rupture of the membranes, preternatural la-
bours and retention of the placenta. Arm
presentations form a large proportion of the
preternatural cases that occur, and among
them I have seen one of spontaneous evolu-
tion. Retention of the placenta is common,
but I have only met with two cases of uterine
hemorrhage, in both of which the accident
arose from the attachment of the placenta
over the os uteri. Most of the deaths that
occur in the
the puerperal state among the
native women here, are occasioned by the
use of stimulants after delivery. There is a
compound of various drugs which is sold in
the city, and of which the women in this state
consider it requisite to take until the dis-
appearance of the lochia: the use of this
medicine and the practice of keeping the
apartment shut up with a fire in it, even in
the hottest weather, frequently brings on
hysteritis that terminates fatally.
Hindoos, in the case of a woman dying un-
delivered, the dead child is extracted by the
Among the
Caesarian operation before the corpse is burn-
356
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Native
Hospital.
ed, and among the Mussulmauns there is a
separate place of interment.
:
The medical establishments in the city are
the Native Hospital, Lunatic Asylum, Jail
Hospital, Military Hospital and the Vaccine
Department. The first was instituted in
1803 as a branch of the Calcutta Native Hos-
pital; it is supported by a donation of rupees
150 per month and a supply of medicines
from Government, and also by the interest
of a fund of rupees 22,000 raised by a sub-
scription among the European and native
inhabitants of the city. The average number
of persons who have received advice and
medicine gratis during the last four years,
amounts to 2,610 per year. Of this number
of persons a considerable proportion are
out-patients, who either attend daily at
the hospital or are visited at their own
houses. The hospital itself has accommoda-
tion only for 40 patients, and is altogether a
confined and badly planned building, and one
by no means well adapted for the purpose for
which it was erected. It was greatly im-
proved by Mr. Walters, and more lately
by Mr. J. Grant, by whom a dispensary and
out-houses were erected. The building con-
sists of one ward 72 feet in length by 12 in
breadth, having a verandah on the north and
south, each about 8 feet wide, and terminated
by a closet at each end. The patients that
usually present themselves for admission into
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
357
Lunatic
Asylum.
it are poor, friendless and destitute persons,
who are sick and unable to work or beg;
strangers and travellers who happen to be
taken ill at the station and of whom boatmen
form a large proportion; and persons wound-
ed by accident or in affrays, of whom a con-
siderable number come from the country.
The Lunatic Asylum and Jail Hospital are
situated at the west end of the town, in the
vicinity of the choke. The former was built
in 1819, it is a commodious and well designed
building, surrounded by a large garden in
which the convalescent patients are employed
to work. The principal part of this building
consists of an open quadrangle, 54 by 35 feet,
with two ranges of cells sheltered by veran-
dahs. These cells which are 14 in number,
are each 10 feet in length by 6 in breadth,
with two doors which admit of a free circu-
lation of air through the apartment. Com-
municating with this quadrangle, there is a
court 57 feet long by 34 broad, in which there
is a ward of a corresponding length and about
17 feet wide. Apart from this court there is
a ward appropriated for convalescents, and in
a separate part of the garden and divided
from the above by a cross wall, there is a set
of apartments consisting of 3 wards with
verandahs for female patients. The height of
the different cells and wards in this Asylum is
about 12 feet and that of the doors 6 feet by
4 in breadth. The out-houses, drains and
wells are all puckah or brick built. The Jail Jail Hospital.
Hospital consists of one building 70 feet in
358
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Disease
among the
Hydrophobia.
on
another on its
length by 24 in breadth; and is divided
longitudinally into two wards by a wall
with five open arches. It has an open veran-
dah on the north and another
southern side, and at each end of the building a
room 18 feet by 8 for the reception of par-
ticular cases. The Military Hospital situ-
ated in the cantonments in the suburbs is a
large airy building, consisting of one apart-
ment, surrounded by a verandah and capa-
ble of containing 70 patients. At a short
distance from it there is a temporary mat
building which is used as an hospital when
there is much sickness prevailing: it is about
the same size as the former.
Of diseases occurring among the lower
lower animals. animals the most important is hydrophobia.
It frequently prevails to a considerable ex-
tent in the hot weather, especially in seasons,
when there is little rain and the creeks in
the interior soon dry up. The town is infest-
ed with pariah dogs, while the neighbouring
jungles abound with jackals, and in many
instances, the disease is directly imparted by
the latter to the former. In the country the
disease is frequently communicated direct by
the jackal, to the human subject, and in-
stances are common of these animals when
infected with hydrophobia: running into vil-
lages and attacking the inhabitants in their
huts. I have seen a number of cases in which
the virus was directly communicated by this
animal: in an instance that occurred lately
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
359
in this part of the country no fewer than 17
persons in one place were bitten while asleep
at night. In the hot weather, and especially
in seasons of drought, the well known erup-
tive disease called matta appears among cattle,
and is often very destructive in the neigh-
bouring villages. In the unusually hot and
dry weather that occurred in the months of
April, May and June, 1837, it occasioned
great mortality among the cattle of the dis-
trict, especially in the northern division, and
also in Mymensing, where several thousands
of bullocks perished from it. A disease
somewhat allied to it prevailed at the same
time in the Company's depot of elephants at
this station. This disease, in most of the
cases, was preceded by the refusal of food
and a discharge of blood from the urinary
passage, to which there succeeded swelling of
the glands in several parts of the body and
paralysis of the hind extremities; while in
others it was sudden in its invasion, the ele-
phant after a fit of tremor or delirious excite-
ment, suddenly dropping down dead. It
attacked males and females of different ages,
and under different circumstances with refer-
ence to the length of time they had been in
the depot, and to their food, drink and shelter.
Twenty-five died in the course of two months,
and of ten dissections that took place, all the
bodies presented morbid appearances in the
head and abdomen, consisting of a highly
congested state of the vessels of the pia mater
and effusion into the ventucles, and of inflam-
Matta.
360
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
mation of the mucous coat of the stomach
and bowels. In many of the cases blood was
found extravasated into the ventricles, and in
all of them the cerebrum and medulla oblon-
gata were highly vascular, presenting when
cut with the knife innumerable points, the
mouths of divided vessels. The inflamma-
tion of the lining membrane of the alimen-
tary canal partook in some measure of an
exanthematous character; it shewed itself in
circular spots of a livid colour, distinct, well
defined and of a size varying from that of a
pea to the bulk of a rupee or shilling. The
mesenteric glands were greatly enlarged and
indurated with an infiltration of serum around
them, and in most of the carcases that were
opened, the lymphatic glands in the regions
corresponding to the axilla and inguen pre-
sented appearances of disease like that of
the mesentery. Worms were found in all the
subjects and consisted of three kinds, viz. the
common filiaria and two species of distoma:
Of the latter one of the species was distin-
guished by a depressed disc situated upon its
under surface between the anterior and poste-
rior pores and covered with innumerable mi-
nute points apparently the mouths of vessels.
The only remedy which was likly to be any
use, viz. bloodletting was tried in one case.
A vein in the ear was opened, but as the
quantity of blood (1 lb.) which was drawn
off in this way, was too small to be of any
avail in arresting the progress of the disease,
the experiment was not repeated.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
361
Cases.
January. February. March.
Deaths.
Cases.
Subjoined is a table of cases of diseases admitted into Regimental Hospital at this
Regimental Hospital at this station between
years 1828 and 1837.
the
April. May. June.
July.
August.
Sept. October. Nov.
Dec.
Total.
Apoplexy,.........
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0
Asthma and Bronchitis,......
9 0
4
1
12
0
15
0
4
0 21
1
0
0
1
0
1
0 3 0 5
0 6
0
62
2
Diarrhoea,
55
6 13
1
34
1
21
1
23
0
28
1 29
1
20 0
16
1 26
2 25 8 66
5
356
27
Dysentery,
25
0 15
0 5
0
16
1 10
1 9
0 12
0
13
0 11
0 8
1 15 0 7
0
145 3
Fever,
220
6 154
10 170
6 234
3 203
8 159
1259
1 1301
5 359
2 609
9487
28 185
10
3340 89
Mania,
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0 1
0 0
0
1
00
0 0
0
5 0
Ophthalmia,..........
Pulmonick Affections,
Rheumatism,
4
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
1
0
1
0
5
0
2
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
21
Q
...
•
17
0
3
0
77
1
1
1
9
0
4
0
0
0
5
0
4
0
2
0 4
0
7
0
63
2
33
1 19
2 25
0
22
0
23
0
26
0
10
0
16
9
0
16 0 23
1 25
1
247 6
Small-pox,....
0
0 0
0
GO
3
0 7
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
13
1
Spleen Diseases,
I
0
1
3
0
4
1
1
1
2
1
1
0
1
1 5
0
0
0
2
0
24
5
Ulcers,
54
0
42
0 38
1 28
0
24 0
26
0
32
0
34
0 | 44
0 | 40
0
23
0
51
0
436 1
Venereal Affections,
2
0
2
0 5
0
3
0
లఱ
3
0
4
0
1
0
2
0
8
0 4
0
9
0
9
0
51
0
Wounds,
12
0
11
0 50
0 14
0 3
1
2
0
4
0
6
0
5
0
11
0
5
0 5
0 128 1
Miscellaneous diseases,
Cholera Morbus,
143
1
92
0 104
2 79
0 84
0
74
0
71
3 51
0
69
0 54
0
90
0 115
2 1046 8
2
0 2
0
1
1
5
3
5
1 1
0
0
1
0
1 4
0
4
4
1
28 11
.....
576
15 361
14 457
12 438
10 489
12 337
4 426
6 474
6 528
5764
12 683
41 481 19
5965156
Deaths.
Cases.
Deaths.
Cases.
Deaths.
Cases.
Deaths.
Cases.
Deaths.
A table of
diseases ad-
mitted into
Regimental
Hospital be-
tween 1828
and 1837.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
363
CHAPTER XII.
Concluding remarks on the decline of manufac-
tures and population and on the general
decay of the City-Means and suggestions
regarding its improvement.
Dacca, although for many years, the
metropolis of the country, was perhaps less
indebted to this circumstance than to its far
famed manufactures and extensive commerce,
for the numerous population and great opu-
lence it formerly possessed. The weaving
of muslins, together with the cultivation of
cotton, spinning and bleaching, appears to
have been the chief occupation of the Hindoos
of this district from the earliest period of its
history; while the art of embroidery has
constituted the principal branch of industry
among its Mahommedan inhabitants here,
from the time they conquered the country.
It was during the Moghul Government, and
especially in the reigns of Jehangire, Sha
Jehan and Aurenzebe, when the city was in
its most flourishing condition that those gos-
samer-like muslins were made, which have
been compared "to the work of fairies rather
than of men," and which constituted "the
richest gift that Bengal could offer to her
Native Princes." The manufacture of these
inimitable fabrics (the Malbus Khas) for the
Cause of
the decline of
and popula
manufactures
tion.
2 x
364
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Imperial wardrobe at Delhi and for the dif-
ferent Viceregal Courts throughout Hindos-
tan, exercised the ingenuity of the most skil-
ful workmen, while the provision of the annu-
al investments of plain muslins and of the
various kinds of embroidered or mixed silk
and cotton fabrics for Persia, Ethiopia, Egypt,
Syria, Turkey, Italy, Languedoc, Provence
and Spain, afforded ample employment to the
great body of the people. The Dacca mus-
lins were introduced into England between
the years 1666 and 1670, and from this time the
English, some years prior to it the Dutch,
and subsequently the French, carried on an
extensive trade here up to year 1787, in which
year the whole commerce of Dacca was esti-
mated at 1 crore of rupees or 14 million ster-
ling. Although the commercial prosperity
of Dacca had been in a declining state for
some time previous to the acquisition of the
country by the English, yet there can be no
doubt that it received its most severe shock
from the introduction of mule twist in 1785,
in which year no less than 500,000 pieces of
muslin were manufactured in England. From
1788 to 1803 is considered the golden age of
the cotton trade in Britain, and while her
manufactures increased in extent under the
magic influence of steam, were improved by
mechanical invention, and fostered by a pro-
tecting duty of 75 per cent., those of Dacca,
from this imposition of high duties acting as
a virtual prohibition of their importation into
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
365
lacs: in
England, declined year after year, until at
length they ceased to be an object of com-
merce. The exports of muslins to England
in 1787 amounted in value to 30 lacs of ru-
pees: in 1807 they were only 8
1813 they had decreased to 3 lacs and in
1817 they altogether ceased and the Commer-
cial Residency was abolished. In 1825, the
duty on Indian cotton goods was reduced by
Mr. Huskisson, to an ad valorem duty of 10 per
cent., but this reduction has had little influ-
ence in increasing the exportation of Bengal
muslins, and the little benefit that has occurred
from it has been counterbalanced in a tenfold
degree by the influx of British thread into
the country. In 1821 the first great impor-
tation of English twist took place: in 1827 it
amounted to lbs 3,063,556: and in 1831 to
lbs 66,24,823, and since 1828 this yarn has
been used here almost to the entire exclusion
of the country thread. From this recapitu-
lation of the more prominent facts connected
with the great sources of industry in this part
of the country, it will be seen that the com-
mercial history of Dacca presents but a
melancholy retrospect. In the space of 30
years, its trade with England, which amount-
ed to as many lacs of rupees, became extinct
and more lately its other great staple, the
manufacture of embroidered cloths for Egypt
and Turkey has been gradually declining
and in a few years more it will in all proba-
bility entirely cease. The manufacture of
366
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
thread, the occupation in former times of
almost every family in the district is now,
owing to the comparative cheapness of Eng-
lish thread, almost entirely abandoned, and
thus the arts of spinning and weaving, which
for ages have afforded employment to a
numerous and industrious population, have in
the course of 60 years, passed into other hands
that supply the wants not only of foreign
nations, but of the rivalled country itself.
This decline of manufactures and commerce,
as may be naturally expected, has occasioned
a diminution of the population of the city.
In 1800 the inhabitants were 200,000, but now
they do not amount to more than 68,038 in
number, according to the census of 1838.
Poverty has increased in a far greater ratio
than population has decreased, a fact which
is ascertained from the records of the chokee-
daree or assessed police tax, (the only avail-
able criterion of judging of the general con-
dition of the people) which shew that from
1814 to 1838 the collections have fallen from
rupees 31,500 to rupees 10,000. In conse-
quence of all these changes, many families
who were formerly in a state of affluence are
now reduced to comparative poverty, while
the majority of the people belonging to the
lower classes, are from want of work in a
very destitute condition, and are glad to pro-
cure any employment, however unsuited to
their previous habits, to enable them to earn
a subsistence for themselves and families.
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
367
of the city.
The town presents symptoms of decay cor- General decay
responding with the diminished population
and reduced circumstances of its present
inhabitants. A great number of houses are
unoccupied or in a state of ruin. Drains,
ghauts, lanes, and bridges are neglected from
the want of funds to keep them in repair.
The suburbs are overrun with jungle, while
the interior of the town is filled with stag-
nant canals and sinks, containing refuse
animal and vegetable matters, which taint the
water of the neighbouring wells. Disease pre-
vails as may be supposed, to a great extent,
throughout all classes of the community, but
especially among the poorer inhabitants in
whom it is aggravated by their impoverished
diet. It is chiefly dependent however on
locality for its development, and has its origin
in the unwholesome water and the numerous
muddy canals and stagnant pools above men-
tioned. These sources of malaria are extend-
ing widely every year, and whilst impure
exhalations thus generated, affect the great
body of the people with disease, incurable
maladies and infirmities of the most humi-
liating character, are every where presented
to our view in a crowd of wretched, helpless
objects, who procure a precarious subsistence
by begging in the streets. It will be admit-
ted therefore that there is here great room nicipal im-
for municipal improvement, and a wide field
open for the exercise of charity, and it is
gratifying to observe that through the benevo-
General
room for mu-
provements.
368
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
Munificent lence of the late Mr. Mitford, of the Civil
bequest exclu-
sively for the Service, these objects are likely to be accom-
benefit of the
inhabitants of plished. That gentleman who had resided
the city.
for many years here, first as Collector, and
afterwards as a Judge of the Provincial Court
of Appeal, died in Europe in 1836, and left
the bulk of his fortune amounting, it is said,
to between six and eight lacs of rupees, in
trust to the Government of Bengal for the
express purpose of applying the amount to
charitable, beneficial and public works in the
City of Dacca; "the intent of such bequest
and direction being that the amount shall be
applied exclusively to the benefit of the
native inhabitants in the manner they and
the Government may regard most conducive
to that end." In June 1837, the inhabitants
of the city had a public meeting on the sub-
ject, and addressed a memorial to the Court
of Directors, soliciting their aid in securing
and bringing into speedy operation this mu-
nificent bequest. It is to be hoped, there-
fore, that the money will be soon available
for the objects contemplated by the testator;
and if we may be allowed to offer suggestions
as to its applications, we should say that it
cannot be more beneficially employed than
in extending and improving the existing
establishments and institutions of the city.
For executing the various works falling
within the province of the Conservancy De-
partment, a sum of money accruing from the
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
369
town duties was formerly placed by Govern-
ment at the disposal of a local committee by
whom many great improvements and works of
great public utility were executed under the
superintendance of Messrs. Dawes and Wal-
ters. This grant which amounted to about 1,600
rupees per month was discontinued in 1829,
since which time the only allowance that has
been made on this account is the sum of 2,000
rupees per year for maintaining a few carts
and scavengers to clean the principal streets
and bazars. An addition to the Conservancy
fund, therefore, ought to be made and to an
Suggestio
regarding the
improvement
of the city.
extent sufficient not only for the repairs of
bridges, ghauts and drains, but also for carry-
ing on improvements conducive to the general
health, as the deepening of canals and the fill-
ing up of sinks in the interior of the town, and
the widening of streets and lanes. Fires are
here particularly common, and occasion an-
nually a great loss of property, and an estab-
lishment of fire engines, therefore, would prove
of great service to the public. The formation of
Artesian wells would be highly desirable, and wells.
from the indications of springs of water in
the kunkur soil on which the city stands,
there is reason to believe, that they might be
made at no great expense.
The Native Hospital, which was established
in 1803, has received no addition to its funds
by subscription during the last ten years, and
is at present in a condition inadequate to af-
Artesian
370
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
A new hos-
pital much re.
quired and two
dispensaries.
A charitable
ed by the Rev.
Mr. Shepherd.
fund establish-
ford aid, from its limited establishment of ser-
vants, to the various classes of poor persons
who have claims on it. The building is small,
ill ventilated, capable of containing only 40
patients, and is altogether ill adapted to the
purpose for which it was erected.
A new
Hospital therefore, on an improved plan, with
accommodation for at least 100 patients, is
much required. The establishment also of
two dispensaries, one at each extremity of the
town, would add greatly to the comfort and
convenience of the poorer classes, many of
whom, at present, are unable to attend at the
Hospital on account of the great distance of
their dwellings.
There is now no "Lungur Khana," or re-
fectory for the poor, as existed in the time of
the Moghul Government, and the only insti-
tution of the kind is the Charitable Fund,
Which was founded about four years ago by
the Revd. Mr. Shepherd. It distributes from
80 to 100 rupees a month among the more
necessitous, as the lame, blind and lepers. It
might be extended therefore, and put on the
same footing as the "District Charitable So-
ciety" of Calcutta, and in connection with it
a village in the suburbs should be assigned
for the residence of Lepers.
The City has been chiefly indebted to the
Serampore Missionary Society for education.
Twenty-nine schools, affording instruction in
TOPOGRAPHY OF DACCA.
371
Reduction
of schools
funds.
Bengallee, Persian and English, have been con-
ducted by the Revd. Mr. Leonard for upwards
of 20 years, but from the want of funds they
are now reduced to 7 in number, including the
Christian School, which is supported by the from want of
Calcutta Benevolent Institution. These schools
have been productive of great benefit to the
community, and considering that the testator,
while a resident at the station, took great in-
terest in them, it will be admitted that they
have strong claims for support from the trustees
of the bequest.
In addition to the above institutions, the es-
tablishment of a Female School of Industry
and the extension of the English School would
prove highly useful.
FINIS.
G. H. Huttmann, Bengal Military Orphan Press.
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