PATNA. 
91 
one feet thick at the bottom, the walls are already giving way ; a 
circumstance of very little consequence, as, when filled, it does not 
contain a sufficiency for one day's consumption of the neighbouring 
province. It cost I ,^0,000 rupees ; money completely thrown away, 
as it has never been used, and now never can be. This is by no means 
a rice country, although what is produced is excellent : the farther 
you go north in Hindostan proper, the better is the country. The 
chief produce is opium, which is now become a most important 
article, not only on account of the profit which the monopoly brings 
to the East India Company, but also from the great demand for this 
intoxicating drug in China. The importation is not permitted by 
the Chinese Government ; but the attachment of the people to it is 
so great, that they are obliged to connive at its being smuggled into 
the country. The demand is increasing, which is fortunate, as 
hitherto the Chinese have considered the British trade, which only 
brought them bullion, an article they did not want, as of less im- 
portance than the Russian, which gave them in exchange for their 
tea, furs, which they required for convenience as well as luxury. 
They are now dependent on India for what is becoming a necessary 
article. The non-importation would probably excite a rebellion. 
Hence also is procured a great quantity of saltpetre, and a consi- 
derable proportion of the cottons sent to England to be there print- 
ed. The country is perfectly flat, and the drives uninteresting. 
March 3. — Rai Ram Sing, Vakeel from the Jeypore Rajah to 
Calcutta, and who was only here by permission on account of his 
health, paid me a visit, and tendered a nazar* of rupees, which I 
touched, but declined. 
* An offering, without which an inferior never approaches a superior in India. 
VOL. I. N 
