26 Dr. Govan on the Natural History and Physical 



Spiders have woven their webs 



In the halls of the Ccesars. 

 The owl stands sentinel 



Upon the watch-towers of Afrasiab. 



A tradition prevails among the people that many of the 

 ladies of the court became affected with the goitre from re- 

 siding here, a malady sufficiently common in different parts 

 of the Himalaya!), but which I have not often seen here, al- 

 though sallow unhealthy complexions and enlarged spleen, 

 the usual sequelae of intermittents, are common enough. 



A great contrast exists between the districts of the Dooab, 

 of the Jumna, and Ganges, where they adjoin to the hilly 

 belt, and those farther to the south-west, lying towards the 

 river district of the Indus. 



The Saharunpoor district, in the upper part of the Dooab, 

 (country between two rivers,) was reckoned one of the most 

 fertile and productive belonging to the Mogul empire. The 

 depth of rich soil, — the proximity of the water to the surface, 

 — the numerous streams by which it is intersected from the 

 hills, perhaps the effects resulting from the striking of the 

 prevailing westerly or south-west winds upon the line of the 

 hills, all conspire to give it its peculiar characters, as well as 

 the extent of Kadir lands, or lands flooded during the rains, 

 almost all the rivers having an extent proportioned to their 

 size of this Kadir land in their vicinity, and a high bank, 

 marking the extent of their annual inundations, often at a 

 very great distance from the diminished stream of the cold 

 and dry seasons. 



Vast extents of lofty grass jungle, abounding in wild ani- 

 mals, often occupy these occasionally flooded tracts. 



The nights in the Kadir land are often excessively cold to 

 the feelings, and a much heavier dew is deposited than in the 

 higher lands. The endemic disease of the country is bilious 

 remittent, terminating in obstinate ague, if not fatal at first. 

 The countries on the right bank of the Jumna, on the con- 

 trary, and proceeding towards the Indus, seem more favour- 

 able to animal and less so to luxuriant vegetable life. 



Water is found at great depths ; from 50 it is said to 250 

 feet, or even 300, I have heard, and is often brackish. Most 

 of the streams only flow during the rains, and are frequently 

 lost in the sands. 



