mental buildings on the top, evidently of more modem work,
which are finifhed by an ornament made of copper, and gilt,
perfectly refembling the trident of the Greek Neptune. Thefe
Pagodas have each a fmall chamber in the center, of twelve
feet fquare, with a lamp, hanging over the Lingham*. The
paffage to it is exadtly of a heigth and width fufficient to admit
one perfon. This chamber can have no light from without,
but what enters from the door and through the paffage.
A t Deogur multitudes of pilgrims are feen, who carry the
water of the Ganges to the weftem fide of the peninfula of
India. The water is carried in large flaiks or bottles, holding
nearly five quarts each, fufpendcd at either end of a bamboo,
which refts upon the fhoulders. A confiderable trade is
carried on by thefe people, and thé price of the holy water
bears a proportion to the diftance of the place where it is fold
from the river.
O ur return was fo nearly in the diredtion in which we
came, that no opportunity was offered for any new obferva-
tions ; indeed this part of the country does not abound in ob-
jeffcs'ojf curiofity. In the great famine which raged through
Indoftan in the year x 770, and the ravages- of which were
particularly felt in every part o f Bengal, the Jungleterry is
* The Lingham is the great objeft of fuperftition among the followers of
Brahmah, it being the general fymbol of-renovative nature.
find to have Suffered greatly. I have underftood that it was
before this time highly cultivated, and filled with induftrious
hufbandmen .and mahufadturers, and the population was efti-
mated at more than eighteen thpufand people. It is, however,
at prefent reduced to a few hundreds, great numbers
baying been cut off by famine, and. qthers having migrated in
fearch of food. The filehce that reigns here, owing, to this
depopulation, fpreads a melandholy over the mind o f the traveller,
and % miles together, nothing is lieardW tHe "fcreams
'of the cormorant, nor is the trace of any footfteps found but
thofe of the wild elephant. On my return to Baxiglepoor,'*
converting on this fubjedt with my friend, I mentioned.tlje,
popular imprefiions that had. gone forth at, and after that,
melancholy period, and expreffing my feelings on the fubjedt',;
not without feverity againff fome leading characters, then in
Bengal,, and who had been accufed o f'taking advantage o f the
public diftrefs for the accumulation of large private, fortunes ]
he with his ufual candour and regard to juftice, explained the.
condudt of certain gentlemen, who had very unjuffly fuffered
in their character, by malignant infinuations, and fhewed roe,
from'the archives of the diftridt, written documents, cplle^dl,;
at the time, which .convinced me that the gentlemen, who
then refided in public chara&ers at Moorihedabad, and at
Bauglepoor, and other furrounding diftridts, where,the famine
raged’in its utmoft violence, had- taken and employed
every means that liberality and benevolence, under the direction
of ability, could pbffibly fuggeft- for the prefervation of