454 SUHVEY OF THE GANGES. 



as a kind of poll-tax was levied on those who came to the fair, and 

 very heavy duties on cattle and merchandise ; but this arbitrary system 

 is now abolished, and all easts and descriptions of people have free in*- 

 gress and egress, without impost or molestation.. 



To subsist such hosts of people, would, one might suppose, almost 

 create a famine ; but the B:2s;^r exhibited no appearance of scarcity, and 

 fiour sold in our camp at the rate of twenty-faur or twenty-five sers for 

 the rupee. The ephemeral visitors, in general, bring their own provisions ; 

 and some thousands of carts are employed in conveying grain to the fair. 

 These supplies are drawn chiefly from the Dudb ; and, to judge by the ap- 

 pearance of the crops in that quarter, subsistence might have beea 

 yielded to twice the number ; for the whole country was a perfect picture 

 of affluence and plenty. 



Besides the articles above mentioned, we were much surprised to see 

 some Venetian and Dutch coins, and some toys of European manufadlure, 

 exposed for sale in the market ; by what route the latter found their way 

 to India, it is difficult to say, but most probably by Surat. 



The horses and cattle are dispersed,. indiscriminately, all over the fair, 

 which is held in the bed of the river, at this season nearly dry. After the 

 first of April, the influx of people is so great, that few vacant spots are 

 to be found in the vicinity of the market ; and encroachments are made on. 

 the neiglibouring mountain : huts and temporary habitations are observed tQ 

 rise in every direction; and, from a barren deserted bed of sand,the whole 

 surface is seen in motion. It is curious to observe the different cast of 

 countenance, of the various tribes who are here assembled ; and the con- 

 trast of chara61er would furnish an excellent subjedl for the pencil of ati 

 Hogarth. The most conspicuous personages are the Fakirs ^ of whom 



