a raj or native state of Hindustan, in the province of Bengal, situated between the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh degrees of north latitude. It comprehends an area of 1364 square miles, and is bounded on the N. by Bhootan, on the E. by the district of Goalpara, on the S. and S.W. by the British district of Rungpore, and on the W. by that of Dinajpore. There is a gradual slope of the surface from N.W. to S.E., as indicated by the flow of the rivers in that direction. Of these the principal are the Durlah and the Neelcomer, with its tributaries the Manchee and Toresha. Towards the S.W. the country is in a highly improved state and very fertile, producing abundant crops of rice, wheat, barley, indigo, cotton, tobacco, and the opium poppy. The betel-nut, the semmel, and the banyan tree, thrive well, and attain to great luxuriance. In approaching the northern frontier, the country partakes of the character of the tract extending along the base of the mountains of Bhootan, being in many places ill cultivated or totally waste. It is, moreover, extremely unhealthy, the land being low and marshy, interspersed with deep woods, and everywhere almost choked with a coarse vegetation of rank grass, reeds, and fern.

It was about the year 1018 that the sultan Mahmoud penetrated into the country of which Cooch Bahar formed a part. It was also frequently plundered by the Afghan governors of Bengal, but it always recovered its independence. In the year 1578 a Mogul army overran the country, and laid the rajah under contributions. About seventeen years afterwards, the prince voluntarily became a vassal of the Emperor Achar. During the reign of Aurungzebe, the rajah of Cooch Bahar not only threw off his allegiance, but actually wrested from the imperial yoke several districts. This insult was speedily avenged by the emperor, who, sending his lieutenant, Meer Jumla, in 1661, into the country, took the capital, and changed its name to Alumgeernagar; and at the same time the bigotry of the Mussulmans was so intense that they destroyed the Hindu temples, broke in pieces a celebrated image of Vishnu, and converted the son of the rajah. In 1738 Cooch Bahar was invaded and plundered by Sayid Ahmed, military governor of Rungpore. The rajah was compelled to take refuge in the mountains; and another portion of the country was annexed to Bengal. In 1772 it was invaded by the chief of Bhootan, who laid claim to it, and, meeting with little resistance from the natives, rapidly gained possession of the country. The aid of the British being solicited by the expelled rajah, two battalions of native infantry were sent to the aid of the inhabitants; and the invaders were not only driven back, but the Bhootan chief, alarmed for his own safety by the advance of the Company's troops into his own dominions, was soon compelled to sue for peace. Cooch Bahar is one of the states under the protection of the East India Company, its rajah paying an annual tribute equal to a moiety of his revenues. The town of Cooch Bahar, situate on the river Toresha, 45 miles north of the town of Rungpore, is in Lat. 26° 16', Long. 89° 29'.