168 ON ORISSA PROPER 



hills, whose breadth on the north is as trifling- as ten or fifteen miles, 'and 



never exceeds forty or fifty; and 3rd. The hill country. The first and 



thud are known to the natives as the Eastern and Western Rajwara or 



Zeniindara, that is, the country Occupied by the ancient feudal Chieftains, 



Khandaits, Zemindars or Poligars of Orissa; and the second, as the Mo- 



gulbundi or Khaliseh, being that from which the indigenous sovereigns and 



the Mogul conquerors of the country, derived the chief part of their land 



revenue, and which at present pays a rent to the British Government of 



Sicca Rupees 1,284,370; whilst the tribute yielded by the other extensive 



portions is fixed in perpetuity at the low sum of Sicca Rupees 1,20,411.*" 



It will be convenient to describe the soil, productions and geological 

 formation of the country in the order above noticed. 



The first region has much of the character of the Sunderbans, in its swamps 

 and marshes, innumerable winding streams swarming with alligators, its 

 dense jungles and noxious atmosphere, but wants entirely that grandeur of 

 forest scenery, which diversities and gives a romantic character to many 

 parts of the latter. The broadest part of it is divided amongst the Rajas of 

 Kanka and Kujang, and the Khandaits of Herrispur, Merichpur, Bishen- 

 pur, Golra and others of less note. The Killah or Zemindari estate of 



^1 likewise comes in for a share. Ncrthward of Kanka the quantity of 



Jungle diminishes up to the neighbourhood of Balasore, but the whole 

 space is intersected by numberless nullahs which deposit, and creeks which 

 retain, a quantity of fine mud, forming morasses and quicksands highly 

 dangerous to the unwary or uninformed traveller. The surface of the whole 

 is covered with coarse reedy grass, and brushwood, valuable as fuel to the 

 salt manufacturers. One meets also with much of the Jhao or Tamarix ta- 

 llica interspersed with quantities of a stunted dwarf Palm, called Hintal 



* The Jetnma of Khurda, which belongs to the Rajwara, but is at present under the immediate 

 management of the English Revenue Officers, in consequence of the dispossession of the Raja is pot 

 included in this statement of Land Revenue, 



