Vol. VI, No. 10.] The Rivers of the Delta. 547 



[N.S.] 



is not a matter of surprise. 1 It is true that the flood of 1787 was 

 sudden and severe ; it spread its ravages even so far south as 

 Rennell's Baugebary (Bansgari) ; but it is equally certain that 

 the Brahmaputra acquiesced in its new course down the Jenai 

 slowly, almost imperceptibly. Even so late as 1840, the old 

 river to the north of Dacca was still known as the main stream 

 of the Brahmaputra. Changes in the lower deltaic plains do 

 not show themselves by sudden outbursts, but by a process 

 whereby the river shifts by cutting its own banks or by gra- 

 dually entering into and opening out the banks of some smaller 

 stream. The period of 30 years is not surprising. At the same 

 time the swing of a river within the area of its oscillation 

 appears to be so confined (the example of the Ganges before 

 its junction with the Jamuna will be noticed later) that one 

 feels practically compelled to search for some external cause 

 to account for a change of such a nature as is seen in the 

 Rajnagar area; that the change is still in actual progress may 

 be accounted for by the magnitude of the change ; the pro- 

 gress of the changes will be recounted below. 



A more detailed analysis of the evidence would, I aver, 

 definitely prove that these two enormous changes, the formation 

 of two entirely new rivers, are due solely to the convulsion caused 

 by the change in the course of the River Teesta. It is here 

 that the battle of the rivers was renewed, and it is here that 

 the fight is being maintained even at the present date. The 

 Brahmaputra, disturbed by the irruption of the River Teesta, 

 was unable to hold its own against the Meghna at the point of 

 junction north of Dacca; driven into the Ganges, it has 

 renewed its attack with the aid of that river through the 

 Kirtinassa. 



It may be urged that I have neglected the changes that 

 have occurred at the present junction of the Ganges and 

 Brahmaputra Rivers. One hears of a Goalundo that now lies 

 some miles from the situation of the place that at present 

 bears that name ; during the period of flood one sees the place 

 actually changing before one's eyes beneath the swirl of 

 the current of the united streams; chars in mid-stream form 

 and disappear with a tantalizing fickleness; the location of the 

 deep water channel causes the marine surveyor many an 



anxious moment. 



was 



ass 



since writing the above, 1 nave tound amongst wio conespuuuouw "i 

 the Board of Revenue a letter written in March 1794, dealing with thana 

 boundaries. In this the Naya Xadi Rathkhola (the real name of the 

 Calliganga) or Kirtinassa is mentioned. There is no doubt as rejards the 

 identification, and the name Kirtinassa implies that the river had al- 

 ready attained a considerable size. This takes us within 7 years of the 

 big flood, though it is clear from the size of the original stream as lat 

 as 1840, that the change wa not by any means consummated by 1794. 



