1873.] 
221 
H. Blochmann —Geography and History of Bengal. 
and passed on to Bardwan, Medinipur, Bhadrak (wrongly marked on the 
right bank of the Baitarani), and Katak. The other branch went from 
Suti along the right hank of the Podda to Fathabad, from where it passed on 
to Dhaka. These two branches are marked as principal roads (shahi rastali). 
(2) A road from Bardwan to Baccaresoor (Baklesar in Birbhum, famous 
for its hot springs, within the Maratha Intrenchment of Nagor), and from 
there to Qasimbazar and the banks of the Ganges, and across the river to 
‘ Hasiaarhati.’ This is Hajrahatti, on the left bank of the Podda, now also a 
ferry place, near the entrance of the Burul Biver, below Bampur Boalia, 
and seems to be the Qazihatti (Beng. Kajierhatti), which Abulfazl 
mentions in the Ain. From Hasiaarhati the road passed to a place called 
Harwa, and from there to Ceerpoor Mirts, i. e. Sherpur Murchah, on the 
Karat ay a, and passing over Tessiadin (Chandijan, north of Sherpur, ?) to 
Gorregaut (G’liorag’hat) and Bareitliela (Baritala) on the Brahmaputra, 
which will be mentioned below as a frontier town. (3) A road from 
Bardwan over Salimabad, Hugli, Jessore, Bosnah, Fathabad, across the river 
to Sjatterapoer,* Casisella, and Idrakpur, opposite the confluence of the 
Lak’hia and the Dalasari, near Ballal Sen’s palace. (1) A road from 
Dhaka, across the Dalasari to Piaarpoer and Bedlia, which latter place is 
marked at the point where the Dalasari leaves the Jamuna, and from there 
to Sasiadpoor (Shahzadpur, in Pabnah), and Handiael (Harial). 
The Western Frontier. 
In the north-west, the frontier of Bengal extended hut little beyond the 
Kosi Biver ; but under some of the early Muhammadan governors and the 
independent kings, the Bengal empire included all upper Bihar north of the 
Ganges as far as Saran. Of Ilyas Shah, for example, it is asserted that he 
was the founder of Hajipur, opposite Patna, on the Ghandak, although 
Firuz Shah, on his return from Bengal, appointed for the first time Imperial 
collectors in Tirhut. Sikandar Shah’s coins, again, have been found far 
west of the Kusi. 
Southern Bihar only belonged to Bengal from the time of the conquest 
by Bakhtyar Khilji to about 730 A. H. (A. D. 1330), when Muhammad 
Tughluq annexed it to Dihli. From 800 again (A. D. 1397), the whole 
of Bihar belonged to the kingdom of Jaunpur. Under Buhlul again, Darya 
Khan Lohani was governor of Bihar ; and under Ibrahim, Darya’s son Baha¬ 
dur Khan assumed independence in Bihar under the title of Shah Muliani- 
where in Bengal, is the old bed of the river, which now follows the shorter route 
along the chord of the loop. This change, therefore, took place after 1660. 
Thus also Nadiya lies now on the right bank of the river ; but west of the town, 
there is still the old channel, which goes by the name of Ganga Bharat. 
# Kennel gives Satrapur; but modern maps give no such name. 
