IN DINAJPUR. 17 



repeatedly loosened, and the earth drawn to the roots, 

 till they have acquired a sufficient growth : they are 

 then cut and dried for use. 



The egg plant,* and several species of capsicum, 

 are planted at the same time, and in exactly the same 

 manner, as tobacco. The fruit of the egg plant is 

 much used all over India, as an article of food, as is 

 the capsicum to give a pungent taste to several Indian 

 dishes. I have not observed that these plants are 

 planted in this district at any time except the com- 

 mencement of the cold season, and there is reason to 

 suppose that they would not succeed if they were ; 

 though in the southern parts of Bengal, they pros- 

 per very well when planted at the commencement of 

 the rainy season. Several other plants are cultivated 

 as articles of food, some to a greater and others to a 

 less extent. The cucurbitaceous plants are often 

 sown in the fields, and the advantage of cultivating 

 them is considerable. The sorts most cultivated are 

 cucumbers of two sorts, the one sown in April and 

 yielding fruit through the rainy season, and the 

 other sown from November to February, and yield- 

 ing fruit till the rainy season sets in. Karaila,"}" 

 Terbuz,J Diidh Kushi,|| Jhinga,§ Taroi,^ Kankrol,** 

 Lau,tt KadduJJ and the Konhra, or Pumpkin.§§ 

 The three last of these are suffered to run over the 

 houses, and sometimes on a bamboo stage, and pro- 

 duce fruit sufficient for the expenditure of the cul- 

 tivator, besides furnishing a large quantity for the 

 markets. 



