BHAUGULPORE. 85 
cfiUent account in. the fourth volume of the Asiatic Researches. 
Hodges has drawn the banyan tree at the entrance of the town, 
which is indeed a noble one; but he has introduced water into his 
view, which in nature does not exist. I am sorry to observe that I 
more and more perceive, that no dependence is to be placed on his 
accuracy. A very considerable majority of the inhabitants are 
Mahomedans, and a college of that religion still exists. It is in great 
d^cay, from the mismanagement of its funds. I was much pleased 
with the sight of two very singular round towers about a mile N. W. 
of the town. They much resemble those buildings in Ireland, 
which have hitherto puzzled the antiquaries of the sister kingdoms, 
excepting that they are more ornamented. It is singular that there 
is no tradition concerning them, nor are they held in any respect 
by the Hindoos of this country. The Rajah of Jyenagur considers 
them as holy,, and. has. erected a small building to shelter the great 
number of his subjects, who annually come to worship here. I have 
given an engraving of them, as I think them curious. The vege- 
table productions are here the same as I have observed the whole 
way from Calcutta. I never yet travelled so far, (about two hun- 
dred miles,) without finding a very great change in this respect ; 
yet hitherto, even the herbaceous plants that grow wild have been 
the same, chiefly Asclepias grandiflora and Solanum ferox. The 
Bixa orellana is in great abundance in the plantations of the different 
gentlemen. The Chinese fruits, Loquot and Lochi, were in great 
luxuriance, but not ripe. After dinnerT departed, though not till 
nine o'clock, as the distance to Monghyr was only thirty-five miles. 
Major Shaw reproved my bearers, in consequence of which I pro- 
ceeded better. At Madura I found that, owing to some mistake, 
