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MEMOIR

OF A

MAP OF HINDOOSTAN, &c.

MEMOIR

OF A

MAP OF HINDOOSTAN, &c.

S

O great an extent of country is contained in this map, and the quality of the materials is fo various in different parts, that it became neceffary, in order to prevent confufion, to divide the account of its construction into separate fections, agreeable to the natural divifion of the country; and, in fome measure, to the nature of the materials. It is accordingly divided into seven sections: The first contains the fea coafts and islands.

The fecond, the furveyed tract on the fide of Bengal; or that occupied by the Ganges and its principal branches, as far west as the city of Agra.

The third, the tract occupied by the Indus and its branches.

The fourth contains the tract between the Kiftna river and the countries traversed by the Ganges and Indus; that is to say, the middle parts of India.

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The fifth contains the peninfula fouth of the Kiftna.

The fixth, the countries fituated between Hindooftan and China; namely, Thibet, Bootan, Affam, Pegu, Aracan, Ava, and part of Siam: and

The feventh, and laft, contains Tables of diftances between the principal cities, &c.

But, before I proceed to the particulars of the construction of the map, it will be neceffary to explain the itinerary measure adopted

in places where no furveys have been taken. The ufual measure of this kind in Hindooftan, is the cofs, or crores, commonly estimated at two British ftatute miles. I have not been able to get the true length of the cofs, as fixed by Acbar, and other Emperors; and, even if I had, it would be of no ufe in the prefent enquiry, as all my Hindooftanny itineraries and tables are in computed coffes.

It may reasonably be expected, that in a country of half the extent of Europe, the cftimated length of the itinerary measures, although of the fame denomination, muft vary in different parts of it. It is no more than what happens in different provinces of the fame kingdom, in Europe. But as far as we have any data for making a just comparison, the cofs does not vary fo much as one-fixth part over the whole country; and between the northern and fouthern extreme of India, (that is, in an extent of about 1700 miles) the difference is not more than one-fixteenth part. The miles vary much more in their proportions, in the different parts of Europe.

Taking the medium of the cofs throughout Hindooftan, and the Deccan, there will be about 40 of them to a degree of a great circle on the globe: that is, each cofs is about a geographical mile and half. But this is to be underflood of horizontal measure; in which the windings and inflections of the roads are allowed: for the eftimated routes could not be applied to geographical purpofes, by ́any other rule. The cofs, in road measure, is about one statute mile and nine-tenths; or at the rate of 190 British miles to 100 coffes; one part in feven, being allowed for winding, when the line of distance is extenfive. Or, feven miles of road measure, are allowed to produce fix miles horizontally, or in a direct line.

In Malwa and its neighbourhood, the coffes are larger than any where else, and are about 1,7 geographical miles, or 35 to a degree. And on the road from Baglana to Mafulipatam, they are fo fhort, that 46 are required to make a degree. But having only one example for the latter proportion, I fhall found no rule on it. The proportions that I have adopted for Hindooftan, Malwa, and the

Carnatic,

Carnatic, from a great number of examples, are refpectively 1,43; 1,71; and 1,5 of geographical miles to a horizontal cofs; or 42, 35, and 37 to a degree of a great circle. The cofs of Hindooftan proper, is therefore shorter than any other, and prevails throughout the greatest extent of country. There is again in Nagpour (the ancient Goondwaneh) a Goondy cofs, which by the medium of all the accounts I could get, is about 2,76 geographical miles, reduced to horizontal distance; or 21,9, or 22 to a degree. This measure appears to be in ufe by the natives, throughout Mundilla and Boggilcund, as well as in Nagpour; and fometimes occafions great confufion in the reports of the caids, or couriers: however, they have a computation of Hindcoflanny ccffes alfo, in the fame country; and the proportions agree in general remarkably well with that feale, between the Bengal Provinces and Aurungabad; and between Mundilla and Hydrabad.

Having mentioned the windings of the roads, it may not be improper to give the refult of my enquiries on this head, for the benefit of those who may have itineraries, kept in eftimated diftances, to work up. One in feven is allowed as above: and is what will be found to take place in large diftances, in fuch countries as are interfected by deep rivers, or watercourfes: or in fuch as have no artificial roads; and where thofe on the natural level, have obftacles to furmount. The degree of winding of roads, in different countries, is, (cæteris paribus) according to the ftate of improvement, in which the roads are. In India, the roads are at beft, little better than paths, and whenever deep rivers, (which in that country are frequent, and without bridges) moraffes, chains of mountains, or other obftacles, oppofe themfelves to the line of direction of the road, it is carried round, fo as to effect the eafieft paffage; and for this reafon the roads there, have a degree of crookednefs, much beyond what we meet with in European countries, where bridges are laid over every confiderable watercourfe, and where hills are either levelled, or reduced to a convenient degree of acclivity; and after

all,

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