A Statistical Account of Bengal, Volume 1

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Trübner & Company, 1875
 

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Page 65 - Brescia, who lived at the end of the fifteenth and beginning of the sixteenth century, and died 1510, at Bergamo, at a very advanced age.
Page 101 - Chandhu family, who at one time owned considerable estates in this part of the country, cleared the jungle, built the temple, and allotted 194 acres of land for its maintenance. A man of the name of Chandibar was the first priest appointed to manage the affairs of the temple. His descendants have now taken the title of Haldar, and are at present the proprietors of the building.
Page 267 - These tenures are given in consideration of the grantee clearing away the jungle, and bringing the land into a productive state.
Page 103 - South from this to the sea-shore, extended a thick jungle, with a pathway leading into the interior, where was a large tank for the supply of the people with fresh water. Tigers lurked in the jungle, and not unfrequently carried off the pilgrims. Along the sea-side, for more than a mile, extended rows of booths, shops, and small temporary temples, with the travelling gods of the religious mendicants, who received the adoration and contributions of the pious. Besides the numerous shops for the supply...
Page 108 - Sydmsundar or Krishna. The origin of this idol is as follows : — About three centuries ago, a Hindu devotee named Rudra proceeded to Gaur, and informed the Hindu Prime Minister of the Muhammadan Governor of the place, that God had ordered him to remove a particular stone which was above the doorway of the palace. This stone had the singular quality of sweating ; and the Hindu Minister having pointed out to his master the tears which it shed, advised that so inauspicious a block should be sent away...
Page 104 - The Mela lasts several days, but three days are the limit of the religious festival. The first ceremony is the propitiation of the ocean, by casting into it various offerings, with short ejaculatory prayers ; the oblations are commonly cocoa-nuts, fruits, or flowers; the most appropriate gift is that of the five gems...
Page 104 - Dhola Samudra, and also at the confluence. The jewels are, in general, of the smaller size, not worth more than a rupee or two. There was a time when the offerings were of a less innocent description, and children were cast into the sea. This horrible and unnatural practice was wholly unsanctioned by anything in the Hindu ritual; and its suppression, by the Government of Bengal, had the cordial concurrence of the Brahmans. The act was not, like the oblation of fruits or jewels, intended to obtain...
Page 106 - Island lighthouse was commenced in 1808. Although now almost uninhabited, Sdgar Island is said to have been once well peopled. An article, entitled - Calcutta in the Olden Time,' Calcutta Review, No. xxxvi., states that, - two years before the foundation of Calcutta, it contained a population of 200,000 souls, which in one night, in 1688, was swept away by an inundation.' Such assertions must be received with caution. KHARI. — The principal village of the small Fiscal Division of the same name,...
Page 310 - ... and only dispose of the remaining fraction. This is the reason why it is impossible to give even a rough estimate of the quantity annually produced. About Hanover the nuts are gathered towards the end of October or the beginning of November. This is done either by picking up by hand those which have fallen to the ground, or by spreading out large sheets under the trees and beating the branches with poles, so as to cause the nuts...
Page 105 - Sitdkund, filled with fresh water, of which the pilgrim was allowed to sip a small quantity, on paying a fee to the manager of the temple. This reservoir was probably filled from the tank, and kept full by the contrivances of the mendicants, who persuaded the people that it was a perpetual miracle, being constantly full for the use of the temple. On the second and third days of the assemblage, bathing in the sea, adoration of Gangd, and the worship of Kapilmuni, continue as on the first ; after which...

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