72 
FEBRUARY 1766. 
them out of upwards of twenty. 1 The Fall is said to be 4 foot & the breadth of the 
Cascade 100 yards. 
On the East side of the Teesta nearly opposite Nabobgunge is the remains of a 
small Fort 2 built by M. Courtin when he retreated from Dacca in 1757. M. Courtin 
46 contrived to have it just without the Limits of the Bengali Countrey, in order to 
have the Protection of the Baar Rajah. 
From the side of the Teesta we proceeded directly to the Eastward, sometimes 
crossing the Limits of the two Provinces. Seven miles East from the Teesta came to 
Sibegunge/ a large Village belonging to Baar & situated on the same River + as 
Rungpour, it being a Branch of the Teesta. Santashgunge a Killa belonging to Baar 
lies 3 miles N. from this Place. The Countrey here is very thinly cultivated. Four 
miles from Sibegunge we came on the Northern Skirts of Singaseer Wood. 6 This 
Wood extends many Miles to the SE, & belongs partly to Rungpour & partly to 
Baar. The Daddoi Nulla runs on the North side of it. 
Nine Miles East from Sibegunge came to Chowar-Raja-Haat, a Village situate on 
a small spot of Land belonging to Baar, tho’ lying in the heart of Rungpour. The 
47 Teesta or Sannyajan Nulla runs by this Village in its way to Calpauny Olyapour &c. 
It is very small & fordable. The Countrey to the Northward near Chowar-Raja-Haat 
appears very woody. It belongs to Patgong, 6 a Purganna of Rungpour. The Durla 
River runs within 4 miles NE of this Place. 
From Chowar-Raja-Haat proceeded to Kochabarry, a Haat 8 miles ESE from 
the last Place. From thence the limits of Rungpour runs to the SSE & SE. Here 
we learnt by means of a Baar Soubedar " that the Sanashy Facquirs had made War 
in Baar & that they were at this Time in possession of Bullerampour s the Capital of 
the Province. This Place is said to be 15 Coss to the NE. 
1 M. Courtin mentions this episode in the letter to his wife quoted at p. 67 above (S C. Hill, “Three Frenchmen in 
Bengal, p. 146). “ the second day after my departure (from Fort Bourgogne) “ was marked by a very annoying 
accident, namely the loss of one of my largest boats, on which was my library and a quantity of my effects. These 
were quickly drawn out of the water, but were none the less ruined for the company and for me. From that moment 
commence my misfortunes. the sixth day — I had passed three in the salvage of the effects on my boat — I received a 
pattamar (messenger), who informed me that the English and the troops of Jafar Ali Khan were at Purneah, from which 
they had chased Huzir Ali Khan and wholly destroyed his faction. ’ ’ M. Courtin does not mention the loss of a second 
boat at tliis place. The Armenian was killed a few days later (see note , p. 74 below) 
this was ‘ Fort Bourgogne, ’ the account of the building of which has already been given (ante, p 67). M. Courtin 
says that it was about two leagues from the river, but Reunell in his map places it within two British miles of the 
bank. 
* Saibgunge on Rennell’s map. i The Ghaghat. 
1 his forest is mentioned by Buchanan Hamilton under the name of ‘ Singheswor Jhar ’ “ a considerable forest, 
which extends far into Vihar proper, where indeed the greater part is situated ’’ (Martin, History, Vol. Ill, p. 438). 
6 Patgram, now a pargana of Jalpaiguri District. 7 Subhadar, a native Captain. 
1 Balrampur is a trading village in Kucli Behar situated on the Kaljani, a tributary of the Sankos, and is about 11 
miles SE from Kuch Behar town. Balrampur was the residence of the Nazir Deo, or hereditary Commander-in-Chief , who 
belonged to the same family as the reigning prince I11 1766 the affairs of the state were in great confusion. The 
infant Raja, who was under the protection of the Bhutias, was assassinated at the instigation of Ramanand Gosain, and 
a conflict arose between the Nazir Deo, Khagendra Narayan, and the Bhutias, concerning the succession, whi h resulted 
in the defeat of the Nazir Deo, who was driven out of the country and appealed to the English for assistance. The 
Bhutias were finally driven out of the country in 1773 (Hunter, Stat. Acc Bengal, Vol. X, p. 412 seq.). The history 
makes no mention of the Sunyasis, who had probably taken advantage of the disturbances to overrun the country. 
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