Ganges and Burrampooter Rivers . 105 
'amongft 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'^r hour) is of the 
remarkable flatnefs of the country. 
There are particular trails of land, which, from the nature 
of their culture, and fpecies 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 ftate of the river, the tide totally iofes its 
effect of counteracting the ftream ; and in a great meafure that 
of ebbing and flowing, except very near the fea. 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 occasioned the lofs of 
whole crops of rice*. A very tragical event happened at 
Luckipour f in 1763, by a ftrong gale of wind confpiring with 
a high fpring tide, at a feafon when the periodical flood was 
within a foot and half of its higheft pitch. 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 ordinary times, but is deftroyed by a 
too fudden rife of the water. The harvefl: is often reaped in boats. There is alfo 
a kind of grafs which overtops the flood in the fame manner, and at a fmall 
difiance has the appearance of a field of the richefi verdure. 
t This place is fituated about fifty miles from the fea. 
Vol. lxxi. p 
the 
