FLORA OF THE SUNDRIBUNS. 
336^ 
Through the Kultolla Nadi and the Piali Nadi it is connected with the 
Calcutta canals. 
The Mat la is formed close to Canning Town by the junction of 
the Bidhyadari, the Khuratya, and the Rampura khals. From its 
point of origin it flows 60 miles to the sea. It is the largest and 
deepest of the Sundribun streams, being an arm of the sea rather than 
a river, navigable throughout its course by ocean-going vessels. 
With the Calcutta canals the Mdtla is connected by the Piali Nadi 
and the Bidhyadari ; with the rivers and channels to the east it is 
connected by the Rampura Khal and by the Bidda with its many 
affluents and effluents. 
The Guasdhd^ which originates in the net-work of minor channels 
that lie between the upper reaches of the Raimangal and the Matla, 
is the next important stream to the east. It has a course of about 45 
miles before reaching the sea ; with the Matla it is directly con* 
nected by the Netadupdni. 
The Raimangal ^ which separates the district of the 24-Perganahs 
from that of Khulna and at the same time divides the Protected 
Forests from the Reserved Forests, has a course of 50 miles from 
Sahebkhali to the sea. It is connected with the Rampura Khal by the 
BAr^kalagachya ; with the Guasdba by the Terd Banka and the Hari 
Bhdnga ; with the Jabuna, the next considerable river to the east, by 
several streams of which the principal are the Barak ulia, the Kalindi 
Nadi and the Atthara Banka. 
These western Sundribun rivers are not in any instance immediate 
distributaries of the Ganges ; they more resemble long arms of the 
sea than rivers ; they are subject to tidal influence throughout their 
course, and their waters are consequently more saline than those of 
the rivers in the central and eastern Sundribuns. The effect of all 
this is distinctly reflected in the character of the vegetation. 
Passing eastward from the Raimangal the next main-river is the 
Jabuna which begins at Kishenganj and after a course of 200 miles 
joins the Raimangal shortly before the latter reaches the sea! The 
Isamatii soon changing its name to the Molingchu, is the next con- 
siderable stream. It begins near Halderkhali and after a course of 
50 miles through the Satkhira forest, which constitutes the western 
half of the central Sundribuns, joins the Barapunga near the sea-face. 
The Molingchu and the Jabuna are directly connected by the Fringi, 
the Aburi, and various other khals. 
The Arpangassia^ formed by the junction, near Burigoalni, of the 
Kalpatta and the Kobaduc rivers, flows southward for about 40 miles 
between the Satkhira forest and the forests of the Khulna Reserves. 
