April, 1848. BHAGULPORE. 91 



neighbouring hills, which were, in a rough state, let into 

 the walls of the buildings. These agates perfectly resemble 

 the Soane pebbles, and they assist in the identification of 

 these flanking hills with those of the latter river. 



Again, near the hills, the features of interest are very 

 numerous. The neighbouring mountains of Curruckpore, 

 which are a portion of the Rajmahal and Paras-nath range, 

 are peopled by tribes representing the earliest races of India, 

 prior to the invasion of young Rama, prince of Oude, who, 

 according to the legend, spread Brahminism with his con- 

 quests, and won the hand of King Jannuk's daughter, Seeta, 

 by bending her father's bow. These people are called Coles, 

 a middle-sized, strong, very dark, and black-haired race, 

 with thick lips : they have no vocation but collecting iron 

 from the soil, which occurs abundantly in nodules. They 

 eat flesh, whether that of animals killed by themselves, or 

 of those which have died a natural death, and mix with 

 Hindoos, but not with Mussulmen. There are other tribes, 

 vestiges of the Tamulian race, differing somewhat in their 

 rites from these, and approaching, in their habits, more to 

 Hindoos ; but all are timorous and retiring. 



The hill-rangers, or Bhagulpore-rangers, are all natives 

 of the Rajmahal hills, and form a local corps maintained by 

 the Company for the protection of the district. For many 

 years these people were engaged in predatory excursions, 

 which, owing to the nature of the country, were checked 

 with great difficulty. The plan was therefore conceived, 

 by an active magistrate in the district, of embodying a 

 portion into a military force, for the protection of the 

 country from invasions of their own tribes ; and this 

 scheme has answered perfectly. 



To me the most interesting object in Bhagulpore was 

 the Horticultural Gardens, whose origin and flourishing 



