April, 1848. MONGHYli. 87 



remainder of the voyage. These winds are very prevalent 

 throughout the month of March, and they rendered the 

 passage in my sluggish boat sufficiently tedious. In other 

 respects I had but little bad weather to complain of : 

 onlv one shower of rain occurred, and but few storms of 

 thunder and lightning. The stream is very strong, and its 

 action on the sand-banks conspicuous. All night I used 

 to hear the falling cliffs precipitated with a dull heavy 

 splash into the water, — a pretty spectacle in the day-time, 

 when the whirling current is seen to carry a cloud of 

 white dust, like smoke, along its course. 



The Curruckpore hills, the northern boundary of the 

 gneiss and granite range of Paras-nath, are seen first in 

 the distance, and then throwing out low loosely timbered 

 spurs towards the river ; but no rock or hill comes close to 

 the banks till near Monghyr, where two islets of rock rise 

 out of the bed of the river. They are of stratified quartz, 

 dipping, at a high angle, to the south-east ; and, as far as 

 I could observe, quite barren, each crowned with a little 

 temple. The swarm of boats from below Patna to this 

 place was quite incredible. 



April 1 . — Arrived at Monghyr, by far the prettiest town 

 I had seen on the river, backed by a long range of wooded 

 hills, — detached outliers of which rise in the very town. 

 The banks are steep, and they appear more so owing to the 

 fortifications, which are extensive. A number of large, white, 

 two-storied houses, some very imposing, and perched on 

 rounded or conical hills, give a European aspect to the place. 



Monghyr is celebrated for its iron manufactures, 

 especially of muskets, in which respect it is the Birming- 

 ham of Bengal. Generally speaking, these weapons are 

 poor, though stamped with the first English names. A 

 native workman will, however, if time and sufficient reward 



