Wednesday, 6th.—­8 A.M.  We left the Matabangah river and entered a less tortuous nullah.  The country continues the same.  Much indigo cultivation still occurs.  We saw yesterday evening a large herd of cows swim across the Matabangah; they were led by a bull, who kept turning round every now and then to see whether his convoy was near him.  Today I saw a rustic returning from his labours, with his plough thrown easily across his shoulders; to a strong Englishman the feat of walking home with such a plough, cattle, and all would not be very difficult.  Indigo is cut about a foot from the ground, then tied in bundles.  Water for steeping it in is raised from the rivers by something like chair-buckets, only the buckets are represented by flat pieces of wood, the whole is turned on an axle by the tread of men; the water is carried upon an inclined narrow plane; the machine answers its purpose very well, and the natives work it with great dexterity.  At 5 P.M., we came on a stream 100 yards wide, down which we proceeded.

Thursday, 7th.—­The country continues much the same.  Of birds the black and white peewit is not uncommon;—­cormorants, etc. also occur.  P.M.  Thermometer 90 degrees.

Friday, 8th.—­The country is more low and more sub-divided by rivers than before.  Abundance of indigo.  Pumps also used, as before observed, for raising water.  Passed Moodoo Kully at 5 P.M., and left its river for a small nullah.  Indigo abundant on all sides throughout the day’s journey.

Saturday, 9th.—­Continue in this nullah.  Country wooded.  Phaenix sylvestris very abundant:  Areca Catechu also becoming abundant.  A good deal of cultivation occurs, mottled chiefly with sugar-cane and vegetables.  The habits of the black and white kingfisher, Alcedo rudis, are different from those of the other Indian species:  it never perches, choosing rather the ground to rest upon:  it builds in banks:  takes its prey by striking it from a height of 20 feet or thereabouts, previously fluttering or hovering over it.  The size and figure of this bird when resting on the ground, resembles the two common Indian Terns.

Palms, contrary to what might be supposed from the nature of these plants, can put forth additional buds;—­this is exemplified in phaenix sylvestris, the stems of which are deeply and alternately notched by the natives for procuring toddy.  When this is carried to a great extent, the tree either dies or a new apex is formed laterally.  The old notches, as might be expected, at length, become much obliterated.  It is from the study of such palms that much light will be thrown on the growth of monocotyledonous stems.  The vegetation of jheels is now obviously commencing.  Pistia stratioles, Nymphaea, Potamogeton, Potamochloa, Oplismenus stagninus, and Villarsia occur.  Reached Furreedpore at 7 P.M.

Sunday, 10th.—­Came on the Paddo, an immense stream 1.5 miles wide, with a very strong current, about a mile to the East of Furreedpore.  Lagerstraemia Regina here occurs.