1874.] E. V. Westmacott — On Bengal Geo^rapJii/. 57 



R. Brown, Esq., M. D., F. E. C. S,, Political Agent, Manipur, proposed 

 bj" Dr. J. M. Foster, seconded by Mr. H. Blocbmann. 



C. H. Wood, Esq., Government Quinologist, proposed by Dr. G. King, 

 seconded by Capt. Waterhouse. 



Commander A. D. Taylor, late Indian Navy, proposed by Col. H. L. 

 Thuillier, C. S. I., seconded by Capt, Waterhouse. 



J. H. Haworth, Esq., proposed by S. H. Eobinson, Esq,, seconded by 

 Dr. Waldie. 



The following letter from Mr. E. V. Westmacott was read — 



Calcutta, January 26th, 1874. 



My deae Me. Blochmann, — ' I have been reading with much interest 

 your paper on Bengal Geography, Will you allow me to offer a few remarks 

 upon it ? 



' I think if you compare the Biydz us salatin with Dr. Buchanan's note 

 on the Muhammadan Kings of Bengal, in his report on Dinajpur, you will 

 agree with me in believing both to have been taken from the same authority, 

 and that, Buchanan says, was a manuscript he found at Poroowa, [Panduah] 

 close to Mr. Udney's residence, and likely to have been used by his protegee 

 who wrote the Biyaz us salatin. I have spoken with people who have seen 

 this manuscript, and believe it to have been a cotemporaneous record of 

 burials, kept up at Poroowa, with historical notes, ever since the days of 

 the saint QutbShah (A. D. 1440). I have tried to get a sight of this MS. 

 with a view to publication, but the mutawallis tell me it was taken away 

 by one of the Collectors of Purniah. 



' The country Barendra I identify with the name ' Borind,' no longer 

 applied to the whole country once called Barendra, but to the high ground 

 on the frontiers of Dinajpur, Rajshahl, and Maldah. The name is com- 

 monly used. 



' Ekdala* I have not yet identified. I cannot accept Mr. Edward 

 Thomas' suggestion of Jogodol, of which the last o is pronounced not like 

 o in doll, but o in dole. There is a place called Chaudala east of Poroowa. I 

 do not know Dodala ; from the spelling I should expect to find the a in ddl 

 long, as it is pronounced in Chaudala. From the description of Ekdala, as 

 situated in an inundated country, \ think it may have disappeared in some 

 change in the course of one of the rivers, perhaps of the Mahananda, which 

 flows a very little way to the westward of Poroowa. 



* The native name of Sylhet is Sreehotto to this day. 



' The word Koch is always pronounced with a nasal sound in Dinajpur, 

 but this is not the case in the form Koshyo. 



* For Mr. Westmacott's identification of Ekdalah vide April's Proceedings of this 

 year. The Editor. 



