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ADVERTISEMENT.

THE within Tract has already made its appearance, in the Philosophical Transactions of 1781. It was suggested to the author, that it would make a very proper Appendix to the MEMOIR OF THE MAP OF HINDOOSTAN; and he accordingly offers it to the Public under that denomination: happy, should the Appendix meet a degree of indulgence, equal to what the Work itself has experienced.

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AN ACCOUNT, &c.

THE GANGES* and BURRAMPOOTER † rivers, together with their numerous branches and adjuncts, intersect the country of BENGAL (which, independent of BAHAR and ORISSA, is somewhat larger than GREAT BRITAIN) in such a variety of directions, as to form the most complete and easy inland navigation that can be conceived. So equally and admirably diffused are those natural canals, over a country that approaches nearly to a perfect plane, that, after excepting the lands contiguous to Burdwan, Birboom, &c. (which may be reckoned a sixth part of Bengal) we may safely pronounce, that every other part of the country, has, even in the dry season, some navigable stream within 25 miles at farthest; and more commonly, within a third part of that distance.

It is supposed, that this inland navigation gives constant employment to 30,000 boatmen. Nor will it be wondered at, when it is known, that all the salt, and a large proportion of the food, consumed by ten millions of people, are conveyed by water, within the kingdom of Bengal and its dependencies. To these must be added, the transport of the commercial exports and imports, probably to the amount of two millions sterling per annum; the interchange of manufactures and products, throughout the whole country; the fisheries; and the article of travelling.‡

The proper name of this river in the language of Hindoostan (or Indostan), is Pudda or Padda. It is also named Burra Gonga, or the Great River; and Gonga, the River, by way of eminence; and from this, doubtless, the European names of the river are derived. The orthography of this word, as given here, is according to the common pronunciation in Bengal; but it is said to be written in the Shanscrit language, Brahma-pooter; which signifies the Son of Brahma.

The embarkations made use of, vary in bulk from 180 tons down to the size of a wherry. Those from 30 to 50 tons are reckoned the most eligible for transporting merchandize.

These rivers, which a late ingenious gentleman aptly termed sisters and rivals (he might have said twin sisters, from the contiguity of their springs), exactly resemble each other, in length of course; in bulk, until they approach the sea; in the smoothness and colour of their waters; in the appearance of their borders and islands; and, finally, in the height to which their floods rise, with the periodical rains. Of the two, the Burrampooter is the largest; but the difference is not obvious to the eye. They are now well known to derive their sources from the vast mountains of THIBET ;* from whence they proceed in opposite directions; the Ganges seeking the plains of HINDOOSTAN (or INDOSTAN) by the west; and the Burrampooter by the east; both pursuing the early part of their course through rugged vallies and defiles, and seldom visiting the habitations of men. The Ganges, after wandering about 800 miles through these mountainous regions, ifsues forth a deity to the superstitious, yet gladdened, inhabitant of Hindoostan. From Hurdwar (or Hurdoar), in latitude 30°, where it gushes through an opening in the mountains, it flows with a smooth navigable stream through delightful plains, during the remainder of its course to the sea (which is about 1350 miles), diffusing plenty immediately by means of its living productions; and secondarily by enriching the

These are among the highest of the mountains of the old hemisphere. I was not able to determine their height; but it may in some measure be guessed, by the circumstance of their rising considerably above the horizon, when viewed from the plains of Bengal, at the distance of 150 miles.

+ The fabulous account of the origin of the Ganges (as communicated by my learned and ingenious friend, Sir CHARLES BOUGHTON ROUSE), is, that it flows out of the foot of BESCHAN (the same with Vistnou, the PRESERVING DEITY), from whence, say the Bramins, it has its name Padda; that word signifying foot in the Shanscrit language: and that in its course to the plains of Hindoostan, it pafses through an immense rock shaped like a cow's head.

The allegory is highly exprefsive of the veneration which the Hindoos have for this famous stream; and no lefs so of their gratitude to the Author of Nature for bestowing it: for it describes the blefsing as flowing purely from his bounty and goodness.

The rock before mentioned has, I believe, never been visited by any European; and is even allowed by most of the natives to bear no resemblance to the object from whence it is denominated. However, as the effects of superstition do often long survive the illusions that gave it birth, the rock or cavern still preserves its original name. [This note was written before it was known that M. Tiefentaller had visited it.]

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