JANUARY 1765. 
37 
The Weather in general hot since y e 8th., Winds variable. 
The 12th. at Noon left Dacca, & proceeded down the Rivers towards Luckypour, 34 
in order to continue y e Survey from thence towards Dacca. 
The 14th. at Night arrived at y e old Mark near Doycalley Point, * 1 & prepared for 
surveying y e next Morning. 
From the 14th to y e 24th. employed in surveying the Western side of the Megna 
from the Point opposite Luckypour to Rajabarry 2 being upwards of 38 miles. The 
best Idea of the Course of y e River may be obtained by a view of the Map ; the 
Islands & Sands in it are almost innumerable. The Ganges & Megna near their 
conflux form a Peninsula, the Isthmus of which is not four miles over ; this Isthmus 
lies between the villages of Soylerhaut & Serampour (the latter of which lies on the 
Megna) about 20 miles above y e Point of y e Conflux. 
The Countrey between. Doycalley & Rajabarry is full of Betel Trees, but has little 
cultivated Land, & is but thinly inhabited towards y e River side, this must be owing 35 
to the number of Tygers which have their haunts thereabouts. 3 
Five or six Miles below Rajabarry is the Mouth of Chiddypour or Luricule Creek ; 
this Creek affords a short & safe Passage from the Megna to the Ganges going by 
way of Luricule & Rajanagore, & entering y e Ganges either at Gonganagore or Chy- 
cundy. The distance overland from Chiddypour to Chycundy is not 11 miles, so 
near do these Rivers approach each other, though they afterwards run upwards of 
40 miles before they unite. It must be observed that Luricule Creek runs from the 
Ganges to y e Megna, & that the flood Tide from the Megna has not strength enough 
to keep back y e current of Chycundy Creek, which always runs to the East- 
ward. 
The Village of Rajabarry is situated on y e Western side of the Megna in Lat. 
23°-2i' N distant from Dacca 22 miles & from Luckypour 34. An old Pagoda stands 
about | of a mile to the Southwest of it. 4 The Village has formerly been large, but 
is now reduced to a small Bazar only. An extensive cluster of Islands divides y e 36 
River into a number of Channels opposite Rajabarry, & forms several commodious 
Harbours for Boats. 
From the 12th. to y e 24th. January the Winds & Weather variable, the former 
mostly from the Northward, though but in light Breezes. The Mornings in general 
when Dacca was taken by body of rebellious ‘ Fakirs ’ in 1763. His conduct on that occasion drew down the wrath of 
I'Ord Clive, when Beycester was a member of Council, in 1766 (Dong, Selections, No. 839, p. 429 ; see also Bengal, Past 
and Present, Vol. V, p, 2)9). Two Beycesters are mentioned among the lists of those who were in Calcutta in 
1756, of whom one, Ralph, escaped in the ships with Governor Drake before the tragedy of the Black Hole. 
1 Opposite Bakshmipur. 
2 Rajabari, now quite a small village, on the left bank of the Meghua below Naraingauj and just above the conflux 
of the Ganges & Meghna. 
3 Great changes have taken place in this area since Rennell’s time. A vast series of ‘ chars ’ or sandbanks now ex- 
tends southwards, and a large river, the Nayabhangani, has broken through the isthmus. Serampur has disappeared 
into the bed of the Meghna, and Mr. Ascoli remarks that “ there are no ‘ Tygers ’ now.” 
* This is the Rajabari math , a monumental tower built, it is said, over the funeral pyre of the mother of 
Chand Rayya and ICedar Rayya, independent princes of the locality, about 200 years before this. It is built of brick 
about 30 feet square at base and 80 feet in height, and still forms a conspicuous landmark. (Bist of Ancient Mon. Beug. . 
p. 218). A view of the ‘ math’ is given in the Journ. As. Soc. Beug., Vol. XBIH, PI. XI. 
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