﻿THROUGH BENGAL. 29 



current on the concave fide of the bank, while the 

 oppofite fhore is fnelving, and the water frequently 

 fo fliallow that boats cannot approach it. 



Along the banks of the IJfamutt.y river, and in a 

 few inftances in the courfe of the Baugrutty^ the {helv- 

 ing points which are formed at the angles between the 

 reaches, are overrun with thick jungles of long grafs, 

 which are the ufual haunts of tigers, wild buifaloes, 

 and other animals. But this is more commonly the 

 cafe along the banks of the former, where the country 

 is not only lefs cultivated, but where the more intri- 

 cate windings of that river afford greater flielter to 

 wild beafts.* 



The deepefl water in thefe. rivers Is ufually found 

 under the high banks, and at the angles between the 

 feveral reaches; but in the ftraight reaches, where the 

 banks are Hoping, and the river is of a moderate 

 breadth, the greateft depth will always be found in 

 the middle of the channel, I have frequently founded 

 upwards of 30 feet in the IJfamnUy ; but thefe great 

 depths of the ftream are of little avail, not being ge- 

 neral ; for in other parts where that river expands it- 

 felf over a broad and Tandy bed, or where the filher- 

 men drive bamboos, and draw their nets acrofs the 

 channel, obftrufting the current, and caufing a con- 

 fiderable accumulation of fand, the water frequently 

 fhoals to 2 feet, or lefs. The fame caufes operate to 

 render the Jellinghy and Baugriitty unnavigable in the 

 dry feafon, but in a ftill greater degree, owing to the 

 greater width of their channels. 



Having now defcribed generally the nature of the 

 fmall rivers and branches of the Ganges, I fhall offer 



a few 



* In thefe fpots, hares, paitcidges, and other ga^e, abound ; but it is 

 difficult or dangerous to attempt to ftart them without elephants; not is it 

 nccelFary to do fo, if the objetl of the fportfman 15 merely to kill game for 

 i:is table; for in the vicinity of the plantations, and along the fkirtsof the 

 jiingks, he will frequently ficd enough to fatiify him. without the danger 

 of encountering a tiger. 



