Ganges and Burrampooter Rivers. 105 
anlongft grafs and other vegetables : nor does it ever lofe this 
tinge, which is a proof of the predominancy of the rain water 
over that of the river ; as the flow rate of motion of the inun- 
dation (which does not exceed half a mile per hour) is of the 
remarkable flatnefs of the country. 
There are particular tradls of land, which, from the nature 
of their culture, and fpedes of productions, require lefs moif- 
ture than others.; and yet, by the lownefs of their fituation, 
would remain' too long inundated, were they not guarded by 
dikes or dams, - ' from; fo' copious an inundation as would other- 
wife happen from the great elevation of the furface of the river 
above them, Thefe dikes are kept up at an enormous expence ; 
and yet do not always fucceed, for want of tenacity in the foil 
of which they are compofed. 
During the fwoln fate of the river, the tide totally lofes its 
effedt of counteracting the ftream ; and in a great meafure that 
of ebbing and flowing, except very near the' lea. It is not un- 
common for a ftrong wind, that blows up the river for any con- 
tinuance, to fwell the waters two feet above the ordinary level 
at that feafon : and fuch accidents have occafioned the lofs of 
whole crops of rice*. A very tragical event happened at 
Luckipour f in 1763, by a ftrong gale of wind con fpiring with 
a high fpring tide, at a feafon when the periodical flood was 
within a foot and half of its higheft p tch. It is faid that the 
waters rofe fix feet above the ordinary level. Certain it is, that 
* The rice I fpeak of is of a particular kind ; for the growth of its flalk, 
keeps pace with the increafe of the flood at ordinaiy times, but is deftroyed by a 
too fudden rife of the water. The harveft is often reaped in boats. There is alfo 
a kind of grafs which overtops the flood in the fame manner, and at a fmali 
diftance has the appearance of a field of the richeft verdure. 
f This place is fltuated about fifty miles from the fea. 
Vox.. LXXI. P the 
t 
