78 
JUNE. JULY 1766. 
smell ; the House itself is very hot & disagreeable for want of a proper Circulation of 
Air, besides the Bramins make a Cook Room of it, there being a little Hole left in 
61 y e top of the Wall for placing the Pots. 
The Water of the Well is very cool & moderately clear. ’Twas hard for me to 
distinguish whether the oily Substance on its Surface rose with the Water, or was 
the consequence of so many People’s bathing in it. L 
The City of Islamabad is 49b miles from the Fenny, and in Latitude 22°-20 / 
North. It is a large stragling Place, built like the rest of the Bengali Towns, the 
Houses mean, & the streets laid out without die least design. It is surrounded by 
little Hills to the West & North & by the River to the East. 2 I had a view of a 
range of very high Mountains named the Muggs which are said to be the boundary 
of the Province to the East & SE; 3 * * the Eenny being the Northern Boundary towards 
Tipera. The Mugg Mountains appear to be from 50 to 70 miles distant & run in 
62 several Chains from the NNE to SSW. There are several Ranges of small Hills 
between Islamabad & the Mugg Mountains, the nearer of which seems to be within 
20 miles. I am informed that the River 7 is navigable for near 50 miles up, but that 
the Fenny has no communication with it. The Chittigong Province extends to the 
Southward as far as 2i°-28 / N. where Cruzcolly 6 is the Boundary between that 
& Aracan. 
On my return from Islamabad towards Dacca, I was seized with a Fever & 
Ague the 27th. & continued very ill till near the middle of July. I recrossed the 
Fenny the 1st. July, & the 5th. arrived at Luckypour where I continued for the 
recovery of my Health till the middle of the Month. 
63 By the apparent Situation of the Islands of Sunedeep, Hattiah, Babnee 6 &c. it 
seems probable that they must afford Shelter for Ships during both Monsoons, but 
especially during the S W or Southwardly Monsoon when the Passages must be of easy 
Access. If the Water is so deep as reported between Sunedeep, Babnee, &the Main, a 
competent knowledge of the Place might be a means of saving those Ships which are 
drove to the Eastward of Balasore Road, 1 & may not be able to enter Chittigong 
River for want of a Pilot, depth of Water, or other Accident. There is likewise an 
Advantage attending the making of this Coast, which that between Balasore Road & 
the Megna is entirely destitute of ; I mean Land Marks. Seetacoon Hill is said to be 
an excellent Mark for the Chittigong River ; besides the Flagstaffs, Hills & Houses of 
Chittigong must afford sure Marks for the Coast. 
1 This may have been a thin film of petroleum. 
2 The modern European quarter of Chittagong is built on these hills, most of the houses occupying separate 
knolls. 
The Lusliai Hills, inhabited by non-Hindu aboriginal tribes. The lower ranges are now comprised in the district 
of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, inhabited for the most part by Maghs or Arakanese. 
* The Karnaphuli, navigable by shallow draught steamers as far as Rangamati, about 50 miles above Chitta- 
gong. 
6 Cruz-cool R. on Renn ell’s map. Opposite Maiskhal I. and just north of Cox’s Bazar. 
8 Bominy I. of Rennell’s map. 
7 0,1 the Orissa coast, where before the days of steam ships were accustomed to anchor till wind and tide served for 
the passage up the Hugh (Bengal Atlas No. XIX). 
[ D8] 
