2 Remarks on Agriculture 



son. These vallies, at the distance of fifty miles 

 from the Ganges, are scarcely higher than the surface 

 of its waters ; when therefore that river is swollen by 

 the periodical rains, the waters of the vallies are not 

 only prevented from running off, but are so much 

 increased as to be navigable for vessels of very consi- 

 derable burden. 



The soildf the elevated portions of land is in ge- 

 neral a stiff clay, in some places black, and somewhat 

 porous, in others white and tenacious. The soil of 

 some of the vallies resembles that of the elevated 

 parts, and that of others is rich and loamy, with 

 ubstratu m, at a greater or lesser depth, of the same 

 kind of clay which forms the higher grounds. These 

 low lands are for the most part covered with long 

 grass of different sorts, and afford pasture to a great 

 number of buffaloes and to large herds of other 

 cattle. 



The northern parts of the district are more level 

 than the southern ones, have a loamy soil, and are 

 well cultivated. Some tracts of clay land are, how- 

 ever, to be found, and it is probable that clay is the 

 substratum of the whole. 



The higher lands in the southern parts of the dis- 

 trict are principally inhabited by MusulmatiSy and the 

 vallies by Hindus. The mode of cultivation and the 

 productions of the elevated parts, differ widely from 

 those of the vallies, so that those who have been ac- 

 customed to one of these sorts of land only, can sel- 

 dom manage the other to advantage. 



On the higher clay lands very little besides rice 

 is produced, and, except in very small spots which 



