II.-Gyah Journal. 16th October 1811.-I left Mungger1 and went to Baha. 17th October.-I went to Suryagarha.3 19th October.-I went to Bolguzor in Gyah. About 1 miles from the custom house at Suryagarha, came to the Gundri nullah which at this season is very wide and deep, although almost stagnant. Immediately below the ferry it sends a small branch to the west, which is also called the Gundri. I proceeded along its southern bank most of the way that I had formerly come. About 3 miles beyond the great Gundri I crossed a small torrent called the Hoel, which is inconsiderable but rapid. It forms the western boundary of Perganah Suryagarha, and its banks seem to have been fortified. Rather more than five miles farther, through a rice country and very bad roads indeed, I came to the Kiyol, which now contains a great stream, but not knee deep and very dirty. The channel may be half filled and 400 yards wide. From thence to the riverside at Bolguzor is rather more than three miles. The country is well wooded and tolerably occupied, but at this season looks very ill, the villages being uncommonly slovenly and the fields being mostly either newploughed or too soft yet for that operation, but when the winter crops spring it will probably look well. The huts mostly mud. 5 I had been led to expect that the roads from Mungger to Suryagarha were almost impassable, and, (1) Monghir, R. and B.A.; Monghyr. (2) Suragegurra, R.; Surajegurra, B.A.; Surajgarh. (3) Balgudar, R.; Balguda, B.A.; Balgudar. (4) On 25th March, 1811; see Bhagaipur Journal. from Suryagarha to Dariyapur that they were good, and accordingly made arrangements to obviate difficulties, but this care was vain, as I found that the very reverse of the account given was the case. Bolguzor is a large village chiefly inhabited by Dusads and Doms. It is situated at a little distance from the river which passes Gyah; but here it is not called the Fulge, its name changes to Hulwan.' It is navigable seven or eight coses up, and at Bolguzor is never fordable, although it does not seem to be above 100 yards wide. It has little current and is very dirty. 19th October. Having crossed the Phulgo, I passed through a very fully occupied and populous country to Dariyapur. The country finely wooded, and many new plantations forming. The villages are very slovenly and not shaded, but many of the huts are good and their yards surrounded by mud walls. I passed through Protappur, Jyetpur, Indupur, Boraiya, Horija, Damna, Marah', and Hadda, all large villages with shops. The fourth and seventh are Invalid Thanas. The women do not conceal themselves so much as in Bhagalpur. They are as dirty. 25th October.-I was detained until this day at Dariyapur by the backwardness of the people to give information. I believe that they were in part withheld by the Muharir of the Thana, who it is said advised them to be very cautious. The Daroga, a decent man, appeared to do all that he could. Threats, it is said, were used against one of the zemindars who first came forward. I saw only the people of Giaspur. Those of Milki the Chuhusari, and those of Selimabad, kept at a distance. In the morning I went about five coses to Makra", an invalid station. Dariyapur is a large village with many shops and a very large inn. It is poorly built, the houses huddled together. There is one regular street, but very narrow. The country very beautiful, well planted and cultivated. Passed several large villages, all containing shops. No gardens, very slovenly huts mostly built of clay but very rough. The ruinous walls in many parts have raised little eminences on which the villages stand, new clay being chosen for rebuilding the walls. Many gourds etc., partly on the roofs, partly on arbours. A few Ricinuses occasionally as a shade for the yard, road narrow, much neglected. At Mekra the invalids complain much. They say that after having been at the expense of clearing the Bita, of which each had five or six bighas, the whole has been taken from them and Tal given in its stead. The Tal produces about 2 mans and lets at 3 annas. Mekra, that is, the invalids' station is a large village with a wide street. A bungalow has as usual been built at it by Colonel Hutchinson. It consists of one very large room, rather ruinous. A fine camping ground in front for a small detachment. At the other two stages in this district where I have been, there was no place fit for a dozen tents. 26th October.-I went about four coses to Bar1 through a similar country. The road in most part very narrow, about eight feet [wide] and not much beaten. Many pilgrims, very few other passengers. 1st November.-Remained at Bar until this day. Bar is a very large place, the Kazi says that it contains 5,000 houses (Varis). The streets very narrow. The brick houses of the worst Hindustani fashion, and the thatched roofs and mud walls inconceivably rude. Several Muhammadan families in respectable circumstances and good manners reside at it. They seem to prefer towns, as they have all landed estates but seldom visit these. (1) Bar, R. and B.A.; Barh. In the morning went about five coses to Bukhtiyarpur. The road part of the way led by the side of a nalah, a branch of the Ganges, which becomes dry in spring. The river there seems to be gaining although the people complained that a whole Tapah had been carried away. A good many large villages with shops, thatch in particular exceedingly rude. Bukhtiyarpur a small village with some shops, as usual in this country. 2nd November.-I went about 8 miles to Vaikanthpur, through a country much the same as that seen for some days past. Vaikanthpur is a large serayi. The village has once been large, but all except the Brahmans have left the place. The reason assigned by the zemindar is that they were very much subject to be seized as porters. The zemindar, who pays 8000 Rs. a year, is a decent peasant, exceedingly civil. 3rd November. I went rather more than eight miles and halted a little west from Jaffier Khan's garden About two miles from Vaikanthpur I came to an old garden of Setab Rai's, now grown quite wild. It is surrounded by a square wall of brick with a kind of turret at the corner. It is not of any considerable size. About two miles farther came to Futwa, for this country a large town. Most of the houses clay, a great many much neater than [at] Bar. It is close built, but the streets very narrow. In the town I crossed the river Punpun, of considerable size. There had been a wooden bridge with very massy piers of bricks, but some of them have given way and the Company defrays the expense of an excellent ferry. In the time of Major Rennell Futwah would appear to have been on the west side of the Punpun. A part is still so, but by far the largest part is now on the east side. The great Punpun of that geographer is now quite dry, but a small bridge marks where a small stream passes in the rainy season. From the size of the two bridges, both old, what Rennell calls (1) Bakhtiarpur. (2) Bycontpour, R.; Bykontpour, B.A.; Baikatpur, (4) Pompon, R. and B.A.; Punpun N. |