BENGAL. 
7 
received a reinforcement to our numbers from Rungpore, we left Gala- 
matty plain, and half an hour after passed Saftabarry, crossing a wide 
nullah, or creek, over which was thrown an elevated bamboo bridge, 
constructed upon forked props. Bamboos resting in the fork, and co¬ 
vered with split bamboos woven into mats, composed the platform. It 
was strong enough for foot passengers, but unsafe, as I should suppose, 
for carriages, or cattle. On the opposite side of the river was an ex¬ 
tended high bank, which had the appearance of having been intended 
for a line of defence. It was situated about two hundred paces from 
the edge of the nullah. Its sides formed a square, and at the extremi¬ 
ties of the embankment, on the side facing the plain, there seemed to 
be the vestiges of two bastions. We continued our way, passing at 
noon by Ootney nullah, and afterwards came to Mungulhaut, a large 
manufacturing town, twelve miles from Calamatty, situated on the 
south side of the river Durlah, which divides the district of Gooch 
Bahar from that of Rungpore. The inhabitants of Mungulhaut seem 
to pay more attention to the comforts and commodiousness of living, 
than those of any other town I have seen in India. Their houses, com¬ 
posed of mats inserted between frames of bamboo, were neatly thatched, 
and each had a portion of land encircled with a bamboo palisade. 
The streets were spacious, and the principal one conducted us to the 
river side, whence we ferried across, and encamped at Ghiddildow, 
upon the northern bank. We saw many boats of large burthen upon 
the river, which, added to the striking neatness and regularity of the 
town, gave it an air of industry and traffic. Coarse cotton cloths I 
understand to be the staple commodity; and that they furnish the most 
