Country open, low, and quite flat, admirable for rice cultivation.

Crinoid giganteum, Excaecaria, Agallocha, no Rhizophores, Ipomaea floribus maximis, hypocrateriform, albis, foliis cordatis.  Soneratia apetala less common, but becomes more so as we approach Rangoon, it is an elegant tree with pendulous branchlets.  Heritiera is very common and conspicuous when in flower, it is then of a yellow brown tint; Acrostichum aureum, Calamus, and Lomaria scandens occur.

CHAPTER IX.

Journal towards Assam and to Bootan—­contains notes on distribution of Plants.

Left Calcutta a second time on the 31st August 1837, arrived at Serampore on the 1st September, and spent the day with the Voights.

September 3rd.—­Continue on the Hooghly:  paddy cultivation prevails and Crotalaria juncea; this last is sown broadcast in low places, but not quite so low as paddy.  Bengallees are but slovenly husbandmen; grass, etc. collected by them in small cocks, and covered with a small thatch, which answers its purpose as well as a narrow brimmed hat would answer that of an umbrella.  Broken earthenware not unfrequently visible in the banks, in some places at the depth of 3-4 feet.  Unsettled weather, with gusts of strong wind from the S. and SSE.  Thermometer 78 degrees 82’.  The usual Calcutta birds continue, jackdaw-like crow, Falco pondicherainus, two common mainas, Ardea indica, and the white one.

Came on the Ganges about noon; on passing Chobda had the horror of seeing the bodies of burning Hindoos, the friends who are present at these funeral rites turning them about with sticks, so as to give each side its share of fire.  The women bathe in their ordinary dresses:  these though ample are of fine cotton fabric, so that when wet more of the shape is disclosed than is deemed desirable in Europe, but exposure of person has no repugnant effect on Asiatics.

The Matabangah is a small, very tortuous, stream, not exceeding 70 yards in breadth:  the banks are low, either wooded to the edge or covered with grass, such as Cynodon.  Excellent pasturage prevails, as indicated by the number of cows.

Monday 4th.—­Wind SE.  There are not many villages in the vicinity of the river; passed yesterday Kranighat, where there is a toll, from which officers on duty are exempt; but as no precautions seem to be taken to keep the river clear, no toll whatever should be taken:  although the latter is high, the receipts must be very small.  Passed Arskally about noon, the banks are composed occasionally of pure sand, and the country becomes more open, with very little jungle, much indigo cultivation occurs.  Thermometer 78 degrees 85’.

Tuesday, 5th.—­Wind SW.  The country continues the same as before.  At 2 P.M., we reached Krishnapoor.