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lab are the lines of Cossim Ally, still in good order, with a deep 

 fosse twenty yards wide, extending from the Ganges across a 

 swamp to the opposite hills. 



On the 11th of October, taking a final leave of the main stream 

 of the Ganges, we entered the Bhaughrelly, or Cossimbazar branch. 

 The country on the right banks appeared higher than that we had 

 lately passed, and was consequently more dry and comfortable for 

 the inhabitants; yet much of this is low, and the waters had just 

 subsided. Pelicans, cranes, and a variety of aquatic fowl frequent 

 the nullahs, which also abound with fish. The next day we passed 

 Jungepore, famous for its silk manufactory. The houses in this 

 town and all the neighbouring villages have roofs which in shape 

 resemble a hog's back. Much of the country, especially on the 

 right banks, was covered with woods and forests. In the afternoon 

 we arrived at Moorshedabad, the Mogul capital of the province of 

 Bengal; where, having procured bearers, we set off in our palan- 

 quins to see a celebrated piece of water, called Mootee-jil, or the 

 " Lake of Pearls." Taking the figure of a horse-shoe, it nearly 

 insulates a considerable space of ground, formerly a beautiful gar- 

 den, adorning a large palace, now in ruins, and removing for the 

 purpose of building an elegant house for the English resident at 

 the durbar. The Jumma musjid and public buildings at the ad- 

 joining city of Cossimbazar resemble those in other large orien- 

 tal cities. In the nabob's stable was a collection of curious 

 small horses, several not exceeding three feet in height; and 

 one, a most extraordinary dwarf, under that size, had the head, 

 chest, and body of a full-grown horse. We also visited the 



