BENGAL

Bengal, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 831 832 833 834 835 836 837 838 839 840 841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860 861 862 863 864 865 866 867 868 869 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 879 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 887 888 889 890 891 892 893 894 895 896 897 898 899 900 901 902 903 904 905 906 907 908 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918 919 920 921 922 923 924 925 926 927 928 929 930 931 932 933 934 935 936 937 938 939 940 941 942 943 944 945 946 947 948 949 950 951 952 953 954 955 956 957 958 959 960 961 962 963 964 965 966 967 968 969 970 971 972 973 974 975 976 977 978 979 980 981 982 983 984 985 986 987 988 989 990 991 992 993 994 995 996 997 998 999 1000 lised in consequence of the treaty of Westphalia. E. Long. 7. 45. N. Lat. 48. 14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 9 Bengal. A choly accident happened at Luckipour, when a strong gale of wind, conspiring with a high spring-tide, at a season when the periodical flood was within a foot and a half of its highest pitch, the waters are said to have risen six feet above their ordinary level. Thus the inhabitants of a particular district were swept away with their houses and cattle; and to aggravate the distress, it happened in a part of the country where it was scarce possible to find a tree for a drowning man to escape to. For some days before the middle of August the inundation is at a stand, and then begins to abate by a cessation of rains in the mountains, though great quantities still continue to fall on the low country. The inundation does not, however, in its decrease, always keep pace with that of the river, by reason of the height of the banks; but after the beginning of October, when the rain has nearly ceased, the remainder goes off quickly by evaporation, leaving the ground exceedingly fertilized. and if it be a lee shore, the anchor should be thrown out to prevent driving upon it. In these cases the mast is always supposed to be struck; and, provided this be done, and the cargo judiciously disposed of, there is little danger of any of the boats commonly made use of being overset. The boats used in the inland navigation of Bengal are called banderoes, and are formed somewhat like a kind of pleasure barge. Some have cabins 14 feet broad and proportionally long, drawing from four to five feet water. Their motion is very slow, not exceeding the rate of eight miles a-day when moved by their oars; so that their progress down the river must depend principally on the motion of the current. From the beginning of November to the middle or latter end of May, the usual rate of going down the stream is about 40 miles in twelve hours, and during the rest of the year from 30 to 70 miles. The current is strongest while the waters of the inundation are draining off, which happens in part of August and September. In many of the shallow rivers, however, the current is exceedingly slow during the dry months; inasmuch that the track-robe is frequently used in going downwards. In towing against the stream, the steep side of the river is generally preferred on account of the depth of water, though the current runs much stronger there than on the opposite side. On these occasions it is necessary to provide a very long track-robe, as well for avoiding the falling pieces of the steep bank on the one side, as the shallow water on the other, when it becomes necessary to change sides through the badness of the tracking ground. The anchor should always be kept ready for dropping in case the track-robe breaks. The usual rate of towing against the stream is from 17 to 20 miles a-day; and to make even this progress, the windings of the river require the boats to be dragged against the current at the rate of four miles and a half per hour for 12 hours. When the waters are high, a greater progress will be made, notwithstanding the superior strength of the current; because the filling of the river-bed gives many opportunities of cutting off angles and turnings, and sometimes even large windings, by going through creeks. Bengal produces the vegetables and animals common to other countries in the torrid zone. Its great produce of grain is rice, which is commonly exported from thence into other countries. By various accidents, however, the crop of rice sometimes fails, and a famine is produced; and of this there have been many instances in Bengal as well as in other parts of Hindostan. One of the most deplorable of this kind happened in the year 1770. The nabob and several other men of the country distributed rice gratis to the poor until their stocks began to fail, when those donations were of consequence withdrawn. Vast multitudes then came down to Calcutta, the capital English settlement in the province, in hopes of meeting with relief at the place. The granaries of the Company, however, being quite empty, none could be afforded; so that when the famine had prevailed a fortnight, many thousands fell down in the streets and fields; whole bodies, mangled by the dogs and vultures, corrupting in the air, seemed to threaten a plague as the consequence of the famine. A hundred people were daily employed on the Company's account, with doolys, sledges, and bearers, From the time that the monsoon changes in October to the middle of March, the rivers are in a state of tranquillity; when the north-west winds begin, and may be expected once in three or four days till the commencement of the rainy season. These are the most formidable enemies of the inland navigation carried on by the large rivers. They are sudden and violent squalls, attended with rain; and though their duration is commonly but short, sometimes produce fatal effects, whole fleets of trading boats having been sunk by them almost instantaneously. They are more frequent in the eastern than in the western part of Bengal, and happen oftener towards the close of the day than at any other time; but as they are indicated some time before they approach by the rising and singular appearance of the clouds, the traveller has commonly time enough to seek for a place of shelter. It is in the great rivers alone that they are so formidable, and that about the end of May or beginning of June, when the rivers are much increased in width. After the commencement of the rainy season, which varies in different parts from the middle to the end of June, tempestuous weather occasionally happens. At this season, places of shelter are more common than at any other time, by the filling up of the creeks and inlets as the river increases; and on the other hand, the bad weather, when it happens, is of longer continuance than during the season of the north-westers. The rivers being now spread to the distance of several miles, large waves are raised on them, particularly when blowing in a direction contrary to the rapid parts of the stream, which for obvious reasons ought to be avoided. This navigation is performed in safety during the interval between the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the north-westers; an ordinary degree of attention being then only requisite to pilot the boat clear of shallows and stumps of trees. The season of the north-westers requires the greatest care and attention. Should one of these squalls approach, and no creek or inlet offer for shelter, the steep bank of the rivers should be always sought as a place for shelter, if it is not in a crumbling state*, whether it be to the windward or leeward, rather than the other. If this cannot be done, the flat side must be taken up with; Bengal. bearers, to throw them into the river. At this time the fish could not be eaten, the river being so full of carcasses; and many of those who ventured to feed upon them died suddenly. Hogs, ducks, and geese, also fed mostly on carcase; so that the only meat that could be procured was mutton; and this, from the dryness of the season, was so small, that a quarter of it would scarcely weigh a pound and a half. 10 Surprising cloud of insects. In the month of August a most alarming phenomenon appeared, of a large black cloud at a distance in the air, which sometimes obscured the sun, and seemed to extend a great way over and above Calcutta. The hotter the day proved the lower this cloud seemed to descend, and for three days it occasioned great speculation. The bramins pretended, that this phenomenon, which was a cloud of insects, should make its appearance three times; and if ever they descended to the earth, the country would be destroyed by some untimely misfortune. They said, that above 150 years before there had been such another bad time, when the earth was parched for want of water; and this cloud of insects made its appearance, though it came much lower the second time than it had done before. On the third day, the weather being very hot and cloudy, they descended so low that they could be plainly seen. They seemed to be about the size of a horse-flinger, with a long red body, large head and eyes, keeping close together like a swarm of bees, and to appearance, flying quite on a line. None, however, were caught, as the people were so much frightened by the prognostications of the bramins. Whilst it rained they continued in one position for near a quarter of an hour; then they rose five or six feet at once, and in a little time descended as much, until a strong north-west wind blew for two days successively. During its continuance they ascended and descended, but more precipitately than before; and next morning the air was quite clear. For some days before the cloud made its appearance, the toads, frogs, and insects, which during the rains made a continual noise through the night, disappeared, and were neither heard nor seen, except in the river. 11 Cause of the famine. This dreadful famine was occasioned by a preternatural drought. In this country they have two harvests; one in April, called the little harvest, which consists of the smaller grain; the second called the grand harvest, is only of rice. But by a drought which happened in 1769, the great harvest of that year failed, as did also the little one of 1770, which produced the dreadful consequences already mentioned. 12 Vegetable produce. Among the vegetables produced in Bengal, Mr Ives mentions the areca-tree, the woody part of which is as tough as whalebone. Here is also a beautiful tree called chulta, the flower of which is at first a hard green ball on footstalks about four inches in length. This opens, and the calyx is composed of five round thick and succulent leaves; the corolla consists of the like number of fine beautiful white petals. After one day the corolla falls off and the ball closes again, and is sold in the markets. There is a succession of these for several months. The mango tree grows here also in plenty. Its fruit is preferred to all others in the country excepting very fine pine-apples; the gentlemen eat little else in the hot months when these fruits are in season. If no wine is drunk with them they are apt to produce boils, which are troublesome but healthful. In the walks of Bengal they have a tall tree called the tatoon, said to have been first brought into England by Captain Birch. The leaves are of a deep shining green, the lower part rather paler where it is ribbed, and undulated round the edges. The fruit is of the size, shape, and colour of an olive, with a moderately thin husk, and a kernel like that of the date; five or six grow on the same pedicle. Near Calcutta is a large spreading tree called the ruffa, which makes a fine appearance when in full bloom. The natives say, that this and another near the Dutch settlement are the only two in Bengal. They pretend likewise that they can never find the seed; but Mr Ives informs us, that this is to be met with in plenty, though in a bad condition, the ants and other vermin being so fond of them, that not a single pod is ever to be met with that is not touched by one or other of these species of insects. This tree bears flowers of bright crimson, and all the shades from thence down to a bright yellow. They are in such plenty as almost to cover the tree, but have little or no smell. The fruit is a pod of the shape and size of a large garden-bean, containing four or five fleshy seeds, which easily fall into two when dry. They are brown on the outside, white within, and nearly square, but convex on the sides. 13 Among the animals to be met with in Bengal Mr Ives makes mention of a kind of birds named argill or hurgill (see ARDEA, sp. 6.). They are very large, and in the evenings would majestically stalk along like as many naked Indians, for which our author at first mistook them. On discovering that they were birds he resolved to shoot one of them; which, however, was very difficult to be done. The Indians showed evident marks of dissatisfaction at the attempt; and informed him that it was impossible to succeed, because these birds were possessed by the souls of bramins. At last, however, he succeeded; and informs that the bird he shot extended 14 feet 10 inches between the tips of the wings; from the tip of the bill to the extremity of the claw was seven feet and a half: the legs were naked, as was also one half of the thighs; the naked parts being three feet in length. The feathers of the wings and back were of an iron colour, and very strong; those of the belly were very long, and on the breast was a great deal of down all of a dirty white. The bill was 16 inches round at the base, nearly of a triangular shape, and of different colours. In the claw was a land tortoise 10 inches long; and a large black male cat was found entire in its stomach. 14 Bengal is reckoned the richest and most populous province in the empire of Hindostan. Besides its own inland consumption, which is certainly very considerable, its exports are immense. One part of its merchandise is carried into the inland country. Thibet takes off a quantity of its cottons, besides some iron and cloths of European manufacture. The inhabitants of those mountains fetch them from Patan themselves, and give musk and rhubarb in exchange. But the trade of Thibet is nothing in comparison of that which Bengal carries on with Agra, Delhi, and the provinces adjacent to those superb capitals, in salt, sugar, opium, silk, silk-stuffs, and an infinite quantity of cottons, and particularly muslins. These articles, Bengal. articles, taken together, amounted formerly to more than 1,750,000l. a-year. So considerable a sum was not conveyed to the banks of the Ganges; but it was the means of retaining one nearly equal, which must have issued from thence to pay the duties, or for other purposes. Since the viceroy of the Mogul have made themselves nearly independent, and send him no revenues but such as they choose to allow him, the luxury of the court is greatly abated, and the trade we have been speaking of is no longer so considerable. 15Maritime. The maritime trade of Bengal, managed by the natives of the country, has not suffered the same diminution, nor was it ever so extensive, as the other. It may be divided into two branches, of which Catek is in possession of the greater part. Catek is a district of some extent, a little below the most western mouth of the Ganges. Balafore, situated upon a navigable river, serves it for a port. The navigation of the Maldives, which the English and French have been obliged to abandon on account of the climate, is carried on entirely from this road. Here they load their vessels with rice, coarse cottons, and some silk stuffs, for these islands; and receive cowries in the exchange, which are used for money in Bengal, and sold to the Europeans. The inhabitants of Catek, and some other people of the Lower Ganges, maintain a considerable correspondence with the country of Aham. This kingdom, which is thought to have formerly made a part of Bengal, and is only divided from it by a river that falls into the Ganges, deserves to be better known, if what is asserted here be true, that gunpowder has been discovered there, and that it was communicated from Aham to Pegu, and from Pegu to China. Its gold, silver, iron, and lead mines, would have added to its fame, if they had been properly worked. In the midst of these riches, which were of very little service to this kingdom, salt was an article of which the inhabitants were so much in want, that they were reduced to the expedient of procuring it from a decoction of certain plants. In the beginning of the present century, some Bramins of Bengal carried their superstitions to Aham, where the people were guided solely by the dictates of natural religion. The priests persuaded them, that it would be more agreeable to Brama if they substituted the pure and wholesome salt of the sea to that which they used. The sovereign consented to this on condition that the exclusive trade should be in his hands; that it should only be brought by the people of Bengal; and that the boats laden with it should stop at the frontiers of his dominions. Thus have all these false religions been introduced by the influence and for the advantage of the priests who teach, and of the kings who admit them. Since this arrangement has taken place, 40 vessels from 500 to 600 tons burden each are annually sent from the Ganges to Aham laden with salt, which yields 200 per cent. profit. They receive in payment a small quantity of gold and silver, ivory, musk, eagle-wood, gum-lac, and a large quantity of silk. Excepting these two branches of maritime trade, which, for particular reasons, have been confined to the natives of the country, all the rest of the vessels sent from the Ganges to the different sea-ports of India belong to the Europeans, and are built at Pegu. See PEGU. A still more considerable branch of commerce, which the Europeans at Bengal carry on with the rest of India, is that of opium. Patna, situated on the Upper Ganges, is the most celebrated place in the world for the cultivation of opium. The fields are covered with it. Besides what is carried into the inland parts, there are annually 3000 or 4000 chests exported, each weighing 300 pounds. It sells upon the spot at the rate of between 24l. and 25l. a chest on an average. This opium is not purified like that of Syria and Persia, which we make use of in Europe; it is only a paste that has undergone no preparation, and has not a tenth part of the virtue of purified opium. The Dutch send rice and sugar from their settlements to the coast of Coromandel, for which they are paid in specie, unless they have the good fortune to meet with some foreign merchandise at a cheap rate. They send out one or two vessels laden with rice, cottons, and silk: the rice is sold in Ceylon, the cottons at Malabar, and the silk at Surat; from whence they bring back cotton, which is usually employed in the coarser manufactures of Bengal. Two or three ships laden with rice, gum-lac, and cotton stuffs, are sent to Bassora; and return with dried fruits, rose-water, and a quantity of gold. The rich merchandise carried to Arabia is paid for entirely in gold and silver. The trade of the Ganges with the other sea-ports of India brings 1,225,000l. annually into Bengal. Though this trade passes through the hands of the Europeans, and is carried on under their protection, it is not entirely on their own account. The Moguls, indeed, who are usually satisfied with the places they hold under the government, have seldom any concern in these expeditions; but the Armenians, who, since the revolutions in Persia, are settled upon the banks of the Ganges, to which they formerly only made voyages, readily throw their capital into this trade. The Indians employ still larger sums in it. The impossibility of enjoying their fortunes under an oppressive government does not deter the natives of this country from labouring incessantly to increase them. As they would run too great a risk by engaging openly in trade, they are obliged to have recourse to clandestine methods. As soon as an European arrives, the Gentoos, who know mankind better than is commonly supposed, study his character; and, if they find him frugal, active, and well informed, offer to act as his brokers and cashiers, and lend or procure him money upon bottomry, or at interest. This interest, which is usually nine per cent. at least, is higher when he is under a necessity of borrowing of the Cheyks. These Cheyks are a powerful family of Indians, who have, time immemorial, inhabited the banks of the Ganges. Their riches have long ago procured them the management of the bank belonging to the court, the farming of the public revenue, and the direction of the money, which they coin afresh every year, in order to receive annually the benefit arising from the mint. By uniting so many advantages, they are enabled to lend the government 1,750,000l. 2,625,000l. or even 4,375,000l. at a time. When the Bengal. the government finds it impossible to refund the money, they are allowed to indemnify themselves by oppressing the people. The Europeans who frequent the Ganges have not been sufficiently alarmed at this despotism, which ought to have prevented them from submitting to a dependence upon the Cheyks. They have fallen into the snare, by borrowing considerable sums of these avaricious financiers, apparently at nine, but in reality at thirteen, per cent. if we take into the account the difference between the money that is lent them and that in which they are obliged to make their payments. The engagements entered into by the French and Dutch companies have been kept within some bounds; but those of the English company have been unlimited. In 1755, they were indebted to the Cheyks about 1,225,000l. The Portuguese, who first frequented this rich country, had the wisdom to establish themselves at Chatigan, a port situated upon the frontier of Arracan, not far from the most eastern part of the Ganges. The Dutch, who, without incurring the resentment of an enemy at that time so formidable, were desirous of sharing in their good fortune, were engaged in searching for a port which, without obstructing their plan, would expose them the least to hostilities. In 1603, their attention was directed to Balafore; and all the companies, rather through imitation than in consequence of any well-concerted schemes, followed their example. Experience taught them the propriety of fixing as near as possible to the markets from whence they had their merchandise; and they sailed up that branch of the Ganges which, separating itself from the main river at Mourcha above Cossimbuzar, falls into the sea near Balafore under the name of the river Hughly. The government of the country permitted them to erect warehouses wherever there was plenty of manufactures, and to fortify themselves upon this river. The first town that is met with in passing up the river is Calcutta, the principal settlement of the English company. See CALCUTTA. Six leagues higher is situated Frederic Nagore, founded by the Danes in 1756, in order to supply the place of an ancient settlement where they could not maintain their ground. This new establishment has not yet acquired any importance, and there is all the reason imaginable to believe that it will never become considerable. Two leagues and a half higher lies Chandernagore, a settlement belonging to the French. See CHANDERNAGORE. At the distance of a mile from Chandernagore is Chinfura, better known by the name of Dougli, being situated near the suburbs of that anciently renowned city. The Dutch have no other possessions there, but merely their fort; the territory round it depending on the government of the country, which hath frequently made it feel its power by its extortions. Another inconvenience attending this settlement is a sand bank that prevents ships from coming up to it: they proceed no farther than Tulta, which is 20 miles below Calcutta; and this of course occasions an additional expense to the government. The Portuguese had formerly made Bandel, which is eighty leagues from the mouth of the Ganges, and a quarter of a league above the Hughly, the principal seat of their commerce. Their flag is still displayed, and there are a few unhappy wretches remaining there, who have forgotten their country after having been forgotten by it. This factory has no other employment than that of supplying the Moors and the Dutch with mistresses. The exports from Bengal to Europe consist of musk, gum lac, nicaragua wood, pepper, cowries, and some other articles of less importance brought thither from other places. Those that are the immediate produce of the country are borax, saltpetre, silk stuffs, mullins, and several different sorts of cottons. It would be a tedious and useless task to enumerate all the places where ticken and cottons, fit for table-linen or intended to be worn plain, painted, or printed, are manufactured. It will be sufficient to refer to Dacca, which may be looked upon as the general mart of Bengal, where the greatest variety of finest cottons are to be met with, and in the greatest abundance. See DACCA. The sum total of the purchases made in Bengal by the European nations, amounted a few years ago to no more than 870,000l. One third of this sum was paid in iron, lead, copper, woollens, and Dutch spices: the remainder was discharged in money. Since the English have made themselves masters of this rich country, its exports have been increased, and its imports diminished, because the conquerors have carried away a greater quantity of merchandise, and pay for it out of the revenues they receive from the country. There is reason to believe, that this revolution in the trade of Bengal has not arrived at its crisis, and that sooner or later it will be attended with more important consequences and effects. For the history of Bengal, and its conquest by the British, see the article INDOSTAN.