OCTOBER 1764. 
27 
The River, opposite this Creek is full three Miles broad, having several Sand 
Islands in y e middle ; from hence it runs with a due South Course near 15 miles, & 
is commonly narrow. The Ganges from this place downward is not near so much 
frequented as the parts above; by reason that most Boats that are bound to Dacca, 7 
Luckypour, or Chittigong. proceed down the Creek near Jaffiergunge. 
We have now surveyed about 22 miles from the place we began at last, & have 
passed upwards of 50 Villages, but all of them inconsiderable. ’Tis impossible to 
describe the face of the Countrey at this Season, because it is mostly under Water; 
however the Banks of the River are high, & in many places sown with Cotton, but 
there did not appear to be more Padda, than what the Inhabitants might very well 
consume. 
The 4th. in y e afternoon a small Breeze of Wind from the North East, which is 
the first from that Quarter that I have perceived this Season. 
The 7th. in y e morning perceiving the Weather to look threatning, the Wind 
also increasing from the Eastward, & it being near the time of the Monsoon’s 
breaking, 1 2 * I judged it proper to lay the Boats in a secure Place, & for that purpose 
went into Diwaly Creek, which is situated opposite to Jaffiergunge Creek, & has now 8 
four or five Cubits of Water in it. Eay there this Night, but the Weather cleared up 
again before Morning. 
From the 7th. to y e 13th. variable Weather, but mostly fresh Breezes of Wind 
with some Squalls & Rain from the South East Quarter. 
The 8th. finished the Survey of the long Southern Reach, at the turning of 
which we perceive a large Island, & the River afterwards proceeding with a SEBE 
Course towards Hageagunge. 
The 12th. finished the Survey of the large Island abovementioned Binetty 
Island) & the Banks of the River opposite to it. 
Binetty Island is about five miles long & near two over, & lies in a NWBN 
& SEBS direction; it has 11 small Villages on it, but scarce a single Tree. Being 
low it is mostly sown with Padda, of which I judge there is at least 3^ square 
Miles. The Channel of the River that runs by the North side of it, is the shortest 
& most commonly used by the Boats, it is about a Mile over & has a very rapid 9 
Stream. The South Channel is about half a Mile over, & has several Sand Banks 
in it. 
The Banks of the River opposite to this Island are mostly sown with Padda, 
& have a great number of Villages on them. 
The 1 2th. at Ramcandapour near Binetty Island found the Magnetic Variation 
i°-o' West 1 ?. 
The 13th. the Weather began to settle, & from this time to the 26th. we had 
exceedingly fine Weather, the Winds from the Southern Quarter in small Breezes, the 
Atmosphere remarkably clear in general, the Morning of the 21st. only being foggy. 
1 Now-a-days the expression ‘ break of the monsoon’ is generally used to mean the beginning of the SW monsoon 
in May or June. 
2 The channel of the river here has altered greatly since the time this was written owing to the incursion of the 
Brahmaputra, though the general direction is the same. The reach is still studded with large islands. 
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