﻿8 ON THE COURSE OF THE GANGES 



this ridge is a ftiff clay, intermixed with conker. It 

 is probable, indeed, ^hat the high ground on which 

 the ancient city of Gour formerly Hood, is a conti- 

 nuation of the fame ridge, interrupted only by the 

 cptirfe of the Mahanuddee River. 



Along the S. W. bank of the Ganges, from Ouda- 

 nullah to Horrifonker, and perhaps confiderably fur- 

 ther to the eaftward, not a place occurs that can be 

 faid to be permanently fixed. Bogwangola, which is 

 a confidcrable mart for grain, and from which the 

 city of Moorfliudabad is principally fupplied, exhibits 

 more the appearance of a temporary fair, or encamp- 

 ment, than that of a town. It has, more than once, 

 been removed, in confequence of the encroachment, 

 and fubfequent retiring of the river; upon whofe 

 banks, for the convenience of water carriage, and 

 boat building, it has been always found expedient to 

 keep it. 



The Ganges, as I have hinted above, differs from 

 the fmaller rivers, in this particular, that its windings 

 are never fo intricate; for let the encroachment, 

 which is the principal caufe of the infleOion in its 

 courfe, be carried on during any number of years, it 

 •will ultimately be flopped by the ifland v/hich grows 

 up oppolite to the fide encroached on, and which, 

 fooner or later, will form a junftion with the main 

 land. The upper point of the ifland which divides 

 the flream, does, by retarding its velocity, and 

 obliging it to depofit the particles of earth and fand 

 with which it is impregnated, quickly gather frefh 

 matter, and Ihoot upwards; while the nearell fhelving 

 point above it, either continues llationary, or ad- 

 vances to meet it. Thus the intermediate channel is 

 gradually ftraitened, and lefs water flows through it; 

 at the fame time that the increafmg fhallownefs of the 

 paffage impedes the current, and caufcs a ftill greater 

 precipitation of fand. 



Th£ 



