﻿6 ON THE COURSE OF THE GANGES 



ifland owes its cxiftence to both rivers; but, as is evi- 

 dent from its appearance, has been thrown up in the 

 manner above defcribed, and was not originally a part 

 of the main land. It is g,j miles in length, and 2^acrofs 

 in the broadeft part, and contains about 20 fquare miles 

 of land, moftly cultivated, and highly produftive, 

 Avith fevcral villages. I v;as informed, that in the 

 higheft floods, the people are obliged to ereft tempo- 

 rary huts, on pillars of wood, or Itages; but that it 

 is feldorn they are reduced to that neceffity. To the 

 S, W. of Dera Khowafpour is another ifland of lefs 

 dimcnfions, and entirelv overrun with jow. The 

 palfage between is navigable, as a great part of the 

 waters of the Coo fa flow through it. 



The appearance of fome of thefe iflands is fingu- 

 larly rural and pleahng, if not altogether romantic; 

 for, although an extenfive flat can hardly come under 

 the latter denomination, yet it may partake of a de- 

 gree of wildnefs, that will pleafe the lovers of nature ; 

 at the fame time, that the peaceful appearance of the 

 flocks, fields, and habitations, will give delight to the 

 philanthropifl. If we prefent to our imaginations a 

 wide extended plain, with pens for cattle, and a few 

 humble huts, v/hofe tops are crowned with gourds, 

 and the intervening fpace highly cultivated; fuppofc 

 wheat, barley, and pulfe of all forts, to be growing 

 in abundance, the flowers of the latter prefenting to 

 the eye a variety of rich tints; let us conceive nume- 

 rous herds of cattle to be grazing, and a few fcattered 

 villages at a diltance; fuppofe the horizon to bound 

 the view, with no other remote objeds than a long 

 line of grafs jit??j/e, and a few trees, which, from their 

 great diflance on the main land, are barely difcerni- 

 ble ; and we fliall have a tolerable pi6lure of an ifland 

 in the Ganges. If we fancy, at the fame time, that 

 the lark is foaring, the air cool, and the fl-iy perfeftly 

 unclouded, we fliall have a ftill more lively idea of the 

 fl;ate of thcfc iflands during at leaft fix months of the 

 year, 



TtiE 



