Monday, 11th.—­The country is become much lower since leaving Furreedpore, and is inundated during the height of the rains.  The peculiar vegetation of jheels predominant; that of the jungle continues much the same.  Plhugoor continues plentiful.  No palmyras.  Mangoes plentiful, but small.  Passed a deserted Roman Catholic Chapel, and Priest’s house.  White-winged long-nailed water-hens becoming plentiful.

Tuesday, 12th.—­The country abounds more in jheels:  in many places nothing is visible but water, in which huge plains of floating grasses occur.  The villages are very numerous, and occupy in fact almost every spot of ground not subject ordinarily to inundation.  Damasonium Indicum, Nymphaea pubescens occur in profusion.  The grass which exists in such vast quantities is, I believe, Oplismenus stagninus.  The water of these jheels is clear, black when deep, which it often is to a great extent.

Wednesday, 13th.—­Reached Dacca about 2 P.M.:  it is a large and populous place.  The numerous grass of the jheels is sown there:  it is the red bearded dhan or paddy grass:  of this vast quantities are cut for fodder, for, the whole face of the country being overflowed, it follows that the cattle are throughout the rains kept in stalls.

Thursday, 14th.—­Left about noon, and proceeded down the Dacca river about 5 miles, then diverged into a narrow creek running nearly south.  Along this were observed fine specimens of tamarind trees.  Stravadium in abundance.  Sonninia scandens, and Mango, both in abundance.  Passed at 5 P.M.  Neerangunge, a large native town, and below it Luckepoor.  A vast expanse of water appeared near this, viz., the Megna.  A good deal of native shipping occurs, consisting of brigs:  great quantities of rice being exported from both places.  Pelicans I observed here to roost in trees.

[View in the jheels:  p154.jpg]

Friday, 15th.—­In the midst of jheels:  the whole face of the country is covered with water several feet deep.  Vast quantities of Oplismenus stagninus still occur.

Saturday, 16th.—­Still in jheels.  The same features continue.  The country is still very populous, all the more elevated spots having villages.  Oplismenus stagninus still prevails in vast quantities.

Sunday, 17th.—­Jheels in every direction:—­nothing indeed seen but water, with occasional grassy or reedy, and elevated spots occupied by villages:—­here and there a round-headed tree springing apparently out of the water.  Hills visible to the east.  Cormorants, Ciconia nudiceps, paddy-birds, the common white ones with black feet, are abundant, and associate in flocks:  there is one very nearly allied to this, which is solitary, having black feet with yellow toes.  The boats of this district are very simple, something like a Bengal dingy reversed, but they are sharp in the bows and ought to be fast; their only mode of progression is to be pushed along by means of poles.  There appears to be a great number of Mussulmans, who would here seem to form the majority of the population.  Strong winds from the south interrupt our progress.