95 
1874.] J. Wise —Notes on Sunargaon, Eastern Bengal. 
cold season are then practicable, and the small native boats are punted 
throughout the jungle between the artificial mounds. In the cold season, 
these holes contain the most offensive water, laden with decaying vege¬ 
table matter. On the banks the largest alligators are seen basking con¬ 
tentedly. The trees are chiefly mangoes, the remains of former prosperity. 
One decayed stump at Sa’dipur is still shown as the identical tree of which 
the unfortunate Shah Shuja’ ate while he halted at Sunargaon. This variety 
is still called “ Shuja’-pasand.” Throughout the jungle wild guava, belj 
almond, and her trees are found. It is told by the residents with pride—as 
if the fact reflected honour on Sunargaon—that one “ khirni” tree (Mimu- 
sops Kauki) grows there, while in Dhaka only two specimens exist. The 
“ gulab jaman” that grows here is reputed to be of unusual delicacy. 
Sunargaon pan is celebrated. It is known as “ kafuri,” from the aroma it 
gives off when chewed, and is sold at the price of two biras (96 leaves) a 
rupee, while the next quality, u sacln,” sells at sixy^’sd, and the “ sadah” 
at four to fi vq paisa. The “mung dal” is also highly esteemed, and it sur¬ 
passes in quality that grown in any other part of Eastern Bengal. 
“ Sarhi bliaja,” or fried cream, is not prepared in any other place of 
this district, although it is, I believe, a common article of diet in Patna. 
The method of preparing it is only known to the manufacturers. A celebra¬ 
ted kind of dahi , or curd, is also made here. It is known as that of “ Hari 
Das Khani.” It sells for four times the price of the country clalii. 
The manufacture of the fine muslins, for which Sunargaon was famous 
in former days, is now all but extinct. English thread is solely used by 
the weavers, and the famous “ phuti kapas” is never cultivated. In the 
Baqirganj district, I believe, a little is still grown, but it is only used in 
making Brahmanical threads, for which English cotton is inadmissible. 
The only muslin now manufactured by the Hindu and Muhammadan 
weavers at Sunargaon is “ malmal.” Jamadani, or embroidered cloth, is 
no longer worked at Sunargaon, although it is at Dhamrai, Uttar Shahpur, 
and Qadam-Rasul, in the neighbourhood. The art of weaving the still 
finer muslins, such as “ tan-zib,” “ sliabnam,” and “ ab-rawan,” is unknown 
at the present day. 
The decay of the cotton manufactures of Sunargaon dated from the 
end of last century, when the Company ceased to purchase muslins. Before 
this change, as much as a lakh of rupees was annually distributed from tire 
factory of Sunargaon to the weavers, and it is estimated that there were 
then 1,400 families of Hindu and Muhammadan weavers in and around 
Dallalpur. In the whole of Sunargaon it is said that not more than fifty 
looms are now at work. 
Another cause of the falling; off in the manufacture of the finest 
muslins was the stoppage of the annual investment, called “ malbus i kha^.” 
