340 G A N G £ T i C H I N D O O S T A N. 



being very large, is of great importance to the eai\ern parts of 

 Bengal. It unites with the river Dacca, and by its alliilance 

 gives to the country a mort prodigious internal navigation. As 

 to. the main channel, it runs about a hundred miles farther, 

 forms many large iilands, and falls into the fea, after receiving 

 another branch, called the river Megna^ and has the lionor of 

 concluding its courfe with its own name. 



City OF Dacca, Thf: city of Dacca is on its own river, not remote from the 

 Ganges^ and \\as once the capital oi Bengal^ and Ifill retains a great 

 fliare of trade and manufadfure. The weaving bufinefs, the 

 great trade of India, is carried here to a perfedtion unknown 

 in other parts. We have here a relident. The muflins are of a 

 moil: exquifite finenefs ; thofe which were made for the Mogul 

 and his Zenanab, or Seraglio, fays Mrs. Kinderjley, were ten 

 times the price of any which were allowed to be made for Eu- 

 ropean or other merchants. Embroidery and needle- work are 

 carried on here to high perfe6tion, which none but the fupple 

 fingers of an Indian could attain to. Filligree-work is here ini- 

 mitable, and for the fame natural caufe ; immenfe coft is be- 

 ftowed on the Hookers, or the fuperb fmoking furniture of the 

 ladies of the Zenanah, as well as thofe of the great men of 

 Hindoojlan. The carpets of their apartments are very elegant. 

 I cannot recollecSt where, but I have read of fome very fine 

 ones made of hemp, equal in appearance to filk. 



The various great rivers which form fo many intricated 

 windings about Daccan, and through the Megna to the mouth 

 of the Ga?iges, are- greatly infefted with frefli-water pirates, 



•MuGGs. called Muggs. At Dacca is an eftablifliment of boats, for the 



defence 



