he sank exhausted, to rise no more. The woman was saved. The second day after quitting Rajmuhal we passed Colgong. Two very bold and precipitous rocks, outposts belonging to the hills, here stand isolated in the river. The regular current being thus obstructed, the water flows between the rocks with amazing force, and causes many wrecks. On the summit of one of these rocks is a fakeer's dwelling, who is supplied by persons on the mainland with all that is needful for his sustenance.

A few miles beyond Monghir, which is the next station, there is a hot mineral spring called Seetacoond. The temperature of the water is too high to admit of the hand being held in it for a moment. It is so highly estimated, that large quantities of it are bottled and sent to Calcutta, where it is purchased as ship-store by many persons about to undertake a sea-voyage. The most remarkable circumstance with this hot spring is, that it is very closely surrounded by

F

cold ones, which possess no mineral property whatever. I visited this place, and it was then at no great distance from the river, but I was told, when I last passed it, that the latter had removed itself some miles farther out of the neighbourhood.

Monghir is the Birmingham of India. Hardware of every description is to be had there. They manufacture warranted Mantons and Knoxes, which they sell for a mere trifle. So well indeed do they imitate English workmanship, that most persons might readily be deceived by their articles, were they offered for sale elsewhere. They are in general unsafe, although a serviceable fowling-piece may be selected. The most approved method of trying their ware is to put a triple charge of powder with shot into the barrel, then tie a string to the trigger, and fire it off at some distance from behind a tree or a wall. The dealer willingly permits this, on the understanding that if the

gun will pass through the ordeal of two or three such discharges without bursting, it is then to be purchased. Monghir is also famous for the sale of birds of the most beautiful plumage, in cages. When gentlemen's boats pass the station, the shore is immediately crowded with persons who come to dispose of their various wares, and the scene is extremely animated.

One evening, as our party was strolling on shore after the day's journey, we observed a native, of most filthy appearance, engaged in what appeared to us a very extraordinary process. He repeatedly laid himself on the ground at full length, making at the same time a mark in the sand close to the crown of his head; then rising, he placed his feet by the said mark, and lay down again as before. This process he might continue ad infinitum for aught we knew, as we saw no end to it, each successive prostration gaining one length of his body to the

southward. We addressed him and inquired his object. He returned us no answer, nor did he appear to notice us: we then made the same inquiry of some natives, who were also watching him, not with curiosity like ourselves, but with the most profound respect and reverence.

He was a devout fakeer on his pilgrimage to Juggernaut, whither he was making his way in the manner described, namely, measuring the whole distance by the length of his body. He had already thus travelled more than three hundred miles, and as he had only about four hundred miles further to go, every hope was entertained of a prosperous conclusion to his journey.

This is not an uncommon mode of performing a pilgrimage to Juggernaut. Our having addressed him under the expectation of receiving an answer, was attributed either to egregious ignorance or presumption, on the part of the native spectators: though, had we met with him

in any part of his journey under no observance but our own, the magic of a rupee would, I doubt not, have loosed his tongue, and “plucked the heart out of his mystery."

Soon after, we were securely moored in the nulla* at Dinapore, near the bridge and mainguard, a very safe and snug berth in stormy weather, but hot almost to suffocation.

It was on the afternoon of an August day that we arrived at Dinapore. Our first movement was to announce the event to Captain Dobbs, at whose quarters, and by whom, both Milden and myself had been invited to hoist our flags whenever we might chance to come in his way. Our notice was speedily responded to in the form of a palkee, sent and designed to convey us to the residence of our host, one at a time. Milden proceeded first, and I followed

Nulla, a tributary rivulet. I forget whether the one in question be a river in its own right, or merely a stream from the Ganges higher up, to rejoin it at this place. In the latter case, it would be called by the natives a sota.