BIHAR AND ORISSA DISTRICT GAZETTEERS.

(Price Rs. 4 as. 8.]

BIHAR AND ORISSA DISTRICT GAZETTEERN

PATNA

BY L.8.8. OMALLE Y, ics.

REVISED EDITION, BY

J. F. W JAMES, tes.

AGENTS FOR THE SALE OF BOOKS PUBLISHED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT, GOVERNMENT PRINTING, BIHAR AND ORISSA,

IN INDIA.

(1) Messes. Toaoxer Seine & Co., Caloutta.

(2) Mussrs. W. Newman & Co., Calcutta. ~

(3) Messrs. K. 8. Lanini & Co., College Street, Caloutta.

(4) Masses, R. Campray & Co., 6 and 8-2, Hastings Street, Caloutta.

(5) Mzsses, THourson & Co., Madras.

(6) Masse. D, B. TARALOREVALA SONS & Co., 108, Meadow Street, Fort, Post Box No. 18, Bombay.

(7) Messrs, M. C. Srroar & Sons, 75, Harrison Road, Calcutta.

(8) PRopRieToR oF THE NEWAL Kisvore Pruss, Lucknow.

(9) Messes. M. N. Borman & Co., Bankipore.

(10) Basco Ram Dayar Acarwata, 184, Katra Road, Allahabad.

(11) Sranpagp Lirerature.Co., Lrp., 18-1,-Old Court House Straet, Calcutta.

(12) Manacer oF THE INDIAN SoHooL Supriy Deret, 809, Bow Bagar Street, Calcutta.

(18) Messrs. Burrerwonts & Co., Lap., 6’ Hastings Street, Calcutta,

(14) Messrs. Ram Krisuna & SONS, Atatkali Street, Lahore.

(15) ‘Ta Oxrorp Boox anv STATIONERY COMPANY, Delhi.

IN ENGLAND.

(1) Messrs. A. Constante & Co., Lrp., 10, Orange Street, Leicester Square, london, W.

(2) Messrs. Keean, Pau, TRrenon,,TRuUBNER wu Co., 68-74, Carter Lane, Loudon, E. C., (Oriental Department) and 25, Museum Street, London, W. ©.

(3) Me. B. QuanitcH, 11, Grafton Street, New Bond Street, London, W. C.

(4) Messrs. P. 5S. Kina & Son, 2 and 4, Great Smith Street, Westminster, London, 8. W.

(5) Mr. B. Brackwett, 50451, Broad Street, Oxford.

(6) Messrs. DEIGHTON BEL & Co., Lrp., Trinity Street, Cambridge.

(7) Messrs. Henry 8. Kina & Co., 65, Cornhill, London, E. C.

(8) Messrs. GrinpLay & Co., 54, Parliament Street, London, 8. W.

(9) Messrs. W. Tuacxen & Co., 2, Creed Lane, Ludgate Hill, London, BE. C.

(10) Messrs. Luzao & Co., 46, Great Russell Street, London, W. C.

(11) Messrs. OLIVER anD Bayo, Tweeddala Court, Edinburgh.

(12) Masens. E. cha bdiater La-..116, Grafton Street, Dublin.

(18) T. Fisher Unwin, ltp., 1, Adelphi ari London, W. 0.

(14) Messrs. Hast anc Wrat, Lop., Victoria Btreet, London, 8. W. 1.

BOOKS TO WHIGH REFERENCE IS MADE IN THIS WORK.

Narrative of the transactions in Bengal from the year 1760 to the year 1764, by Henry Vansittart, London, 1766.

‘A voyage fo the Mast dies, by Mr. Grose, London, 1772.

Narrative of the Mutiny of the Officers of the Army in Bengal, by Henry Strachey, London, 1773.

A voyage from England to India in the year MDCCHLIV, and an historical narrative of the operations of the squadron and army in India in the years 1755, 1756 and 1757, by Edward Ives, London, 1773.

A History of the Military Transactions of the British Nation in Indostan, by Robert Orme, Iiondon, 1775.

Life of Robert Lord Chve, by Carracioli, London, 1776.

The Sair-ul-Mutakharin, by Saiyid Ghulam Husain Khan, translated by M. Raymond, Calcutta, 1786.

Travels in India during the vears 1780—1783, by William Hodges, R.A., London, 1793.

Voyages and Travels to India etc., by George Viscount Valentia, London, 1811.

Fifth Report from the Select Committee on the affairs of the East India Company, London, 1812.

Analysis of the Bengal Regulations, by J. H. Harington, Calcutta, 1814.

Behar Amateur Lithographic Scrap Book, by Sir Charles D’Oyly, Patna, 1828.

Narrative of a journey through the Upper Provinces of Tndia, by Reginald Heber, D.D.. T.ondon, 1828.

History, Antiquities, Topography, and Statistics of Eastern India, by Dr. F. Buchanan, edited by Montgomery. Martin, Vol. I, London, 1838.

History of the rise and progress of the Bengal Army, by Captain Arthur Broome, Calcutta, 1850.

e

Selections from the unpublished records of the Government of India (1748—1767), by the Rev. J. Long, Calcutta, 1869.

Travels of Fah Hian and Sun Ynn, translated by S. Beal, London, 1869.

The History of Tndia as told by its own historians, by Sir H. M. Kiliot. London, 1873.

Annals of Rural Bengal, by W. W. Hunter, 1883.

Buddhist Records of the Western World (Hiuen Tsiang), by §. Beal, London, 1884.

luhar Peasant Life, by G. A. Grierson, Calcutta, 1885.

Tiistory of the Indian Mutiny, bv 'T. R. F. Holmes, London, 1891.

Discovery of the exact.site of Asoka’s classic capital, by L. A. Waddell, Caleutta’, 1892.

Early English Administration of Bihar, by J. RB. Hand, Calcutta, 1894.

The Journal of Mra. Fenton, Londen, 1901.

Report on the Census of Bengal, by E. A. Gait, I.C.8., Calcutta, 1902.

Report on the excavations at Pataliputra, by L. A. Waddell, Calcutta, 1903.

Riyazus Salatin, by Ghulam Husain Salim, translated by Maulavi Abdus Salam, Calcutta, 1904.

Bengal: in 1756-57, by 8. C. Hill (Indian Records Series), ‘London, 1905.

Letters of Warren Hastings to his wife, by Sydney C. Grier, London, 1905.

Kisrly History of India, by Vincent A. Smith, Oxford, 1908.

Final Report on the survey and settlement operations in Patna district, Patna, 1914.

farly Annals of the English in Bengal, by C. R. Wilson, Calcutta, 1895—1917.

The First English Factory in Patna, by. E. A. Horne, Patna, 1917.

Selections from the correspondence of the Revenue Chief of Bihar, Patna§19" 9,

a) iF

Pataliputra, by Manoranjan Ghosh, Patna; 1919. Report on the Census of Bihar and Orissa, 1921, by P. C.

Tallents, 1.0.8. ABBREVIATIONS.

J.A.8.B.—Journal of the ‘Asiatic Society of Bengal. 7.B.0.R.S.—Journal of the Bihar and Orissa Research Society.

PREFACE ee Aa wen). EDITION

I pestre to acknowledge my obligation to Mr. J. G. Cumming, 1.¢.s., tepioorly Collector of Patna, for materials which have been used in compiling this volume. [I am also indebted to Mr. . R. Bright, I.c.s., ¢.8.1., Opium Agent, Bihar, and Mr. W. B Thomson, Le. s., Collector of Patna, for the ready assistance they have given me.

L. 8. 8. O'M.

PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION.

Tus is the second of the revised District Gazetteers of the Bihar and Orissa series. A great part of the present edition reproduces Mr. O’Malley’s work; but much rewriting and revision has been rendered necessary by changes and developments since 1907. A complete record-of-rights has been prepared for the district; the cultivation and manufacture of opium, formerly so important, has been abolished; and Patna itself has become the capital of a Province. The Archeological Department of the Government of Tndia has been busy in the district during these years; and Jocal archeological and) historical research has been encouraged by the Bihar ‘and Orissa Research Society, with the result that it has been necessary to revise or amplify much of what was written in the original Gazetteer regarding Rajgir, Nalanda, and Pataliputra. As the publication of the separate statistical appendix has been discontinued, some statistical matter has been inclnded in the Gazetteer itself, which Mr. O’Malley relegated to the B volume of the original edition.

T desire to acknowledge my obligations to the local officials of Government and the District Board, and to all who have given assistance in the preparatian of this book, of whom some are mentioned in the book itself. Those who have contributed or revised complete chapters or articles are Lt.-Col. H. R. Dutton, 1.m.s. (chapter V); Mr. G. E. Fawcus (chapter XV); Mr. V. H. Jackson, (the article on Rajgir, and much in chapters II and XVI): and Mr. J. A. Page (Nalanda). T should also thank Mr. H. LL. Henderson, Fellow of New College, Oxford, and the distinguished author who writes under the pseudonym of Sydney C. Grier, for assistance rendered.

JL. W. J.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER 1,

PHYSICAL ASPECTS, PAGES. GENERAL - DESCRIPTION Bu:tndaries—Natural configuration—Scenery— Ilint sysremM-—River system - Ganges—ison—Puinopin--Morhar and Dardhi --Phalgu—-Maithuo—Panchana—Snkri—Grotoay — Borany —Fauva-—Game birds—Fish—Crimatz—Temperature and humidity —Winds—Raiufall ... . -_ oy =: 1—12

CHAPTER. TI. HISTORY.

Tue Hinpv Kivos av> THE Maveyan Emprng—-The prehistoric period — Rarly history—-Rise of Buddhism-Rise of Jainism—Foundation of Vitaliputra—Mauryan dynasty--Megasthenes’ account—Spread of Jainism—Bindusira and Asoka--Guera EMPIgn AND THE Pata kKinas—Fall of Pataliputra—Invasion of the Tibetans—The Pala kings—Tnz MunaMMADAN ConQurst—Foundation of Patna—Daad Khan’s rebellioon—Tugz RULE OF THE Sy HAHDARS—Muhammadan Governors—European settlements—-Moritha ond Afghin raide— tebellion of Sirijuddaula—Rise of the Hasua and Tikdri families— THR EARLY PERIOD OF BgrTish ASCENDANCY-—EKyre Coote’s march— as Knox: # invasion-~Hia second invasion-—Siege of Patna and

at Ve Mic Kasi -> Birpur--Conclusion of the campaigna—The y ad ¢Patna,1764—TRE- Patna masaacre-—Recapture of Patna— stabtle 0 of Wihar, 1165-\769—- RenY—Military arrangementa—Admin-

SL_The Revenue Chic Wwilhtamine of 1770—The Patna Revenue

5 sattlemeisturbances of 1781— Subsequent

a B karrart aaa axgngustns Brooke—Fourmation of

a Disrerer SENCK bia ¢ Bihar [Le Pernianent Sottlement—

Mutiny—Patne the capita! © ‘TTLEME’T—‘the Indian

oo oe oyal visits—

Archwology CHAPER Bate a. 1444

ys"

Hu TABLE OF CONTENTS,

CHAPTER V. PUBLIC HEALTH.

Vital statistics—Infant mortality—-Common diseases—Plague—Water- borne diseases —Eye diseases —Vaccination—Sanitation—Medical insti- tutions ae on Sle bey ve 75—80

CHAPTER VI. AGRICULTURE,

GENERAL Covptviows—Natural divisions— Dara lands—The upland tract —The lowland traci—Bibar subdivision—Soils—Rainfall— Irrigation —Avea under cultivation—BHhadoi crops—Maize— Marud — Bhadoi rice —Jnneré und kodo--Aghani crops—Rice—Sugearcane-—Rabi crops— Gram and pulses— Barley and wheat—-Oilseeds—Potatoes— Other vegetalles and fruits —Opinm—Cattle—Veterinary assistanceWork of the Agricultural Department—lnscct peats—Groundnuts and Puse wheat vee He on tee eo vee BL 94

CHAPTER, VII. IRRIGATION,

Inwigarep AREA--Government canals - Canal administration— Private canals —Abars—Wells—Embankments—-Lifting arrangements—-Latha —Bullock-rans—Karin— Chanr—Control of private irrigation works— Cost-—-Produce rents and irriga ‘ion ie - ce 95-102

CHAPTER, V1IT.

NATURAL CALAMITIES,

Pamtves-—Famine of 1866—Famine.of 1874—Famine of 1897 —Tracta liahle ty to famine~-FLoopg—Flvod ok 190]—Flood of 1910 ‘em

CHAPTERS pp ome

RENTS, WAG Ffat—Zabei s. 7 landlord'y sia ae tai— Din

Propucr Rexts—Systems of prot Reyts— Hastoby in

@~—Mankhay wip wab Stan

bandi—Mafi— Cost of reapins -Waarg—p = A —ERY — e chauriba—Commutat’ —Casople —Labiariue joming Prices — measnres—Oceupane: : ae Glasses —K aniyia—. Material condition oe 110199

Co-operative credit Xx

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XII. LAND REVENUE ADMINISTRATION.

The assessment of 1766 and Johu Shore’s assessment—Law’s Mukarrari set- tlement—The Permanent Settlement—Revenue free tenures, 1789--The resumption setilements—Zaid fihrist—The present assessment—Cesses —Proprietors—The Ammawan family—The Guzri family—Tsxuge Hotprrs— Relations of landlord and tenant ... ses

CHAPTER XIII. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION.

The Legislative Conncil—District Administration—RevenvE—Excise— Staimpa—Income-tax —Reg'stration ADMINISTRATION OF JT STICEH—

129—141

Criminal Justice— Public Works—Police—Jails Aan +1 42—145

CHAPTER XIV. LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT. District and Local Boards--Municipalities—Patna City—Bairh—Bibir—

Dinapore— Khagaal—Patna Administration Committee 0+ 146-152

CHAPTER XV, EDUCATION.

Progress of education—Literato population--European education—Indian education— Patna College—Bihir National College-—New College— Nolanda Coll-ge—Patua Training College—Law Colleve—High schools — Middle schoola—Primary schools Bibir School of Engineering— Bihar Weaving school—Temple Medical School—Training schools—- Madragaa—Eduvation of girla—sSeeondary schools for girls—Primary schools for girls—Special schools for girls—Mahammadan education

Inspecting staff —Hostels—Libraries and literary societies L583 —164

CHAPTER XVI. THE CAPITAL OF BIHAR/ AND ORISSA

Population—ParaLipuTRA—Megasthence’ account—Excavations at Balan- dibigh, etc.— Excavations at Kumrahar— BupDHIst Supvivais—Decay of Pataliputra—Modern Patna—Tne River yrorr or Patna---'lhe gola—-The old cantonment area—Comumissioner’s bungalow— Captain Stuart’s bungalow—Tke Civil Surgeon’s house—The Collectorate— Company Bagh—Muradbigh—.; ouse of the Maharaja of Darbhanga —Afzalpur— Patna College—Bihar Schoo) of Engineering—Rani Ghat —Tikari house—Pettiah house—Colonelganj—The old English Factory —The river front of the City— The Fort-—The Danish Factory—Pir Damaria’s Mosqne—Tue Crry Stkeer—St. Joseph’s church and couvent—Enropean cumeteries—Patns Oricnial Library—Tomb of Pir Buhor Shah—Tbho Stone Mosque—Duchess of Teck Hospital-— Bhawani Pur’s math—Gulzar Bagh—House of Khiali Ram—Pachhim Darwaza--Mirz&é Masum’s mosque—Tomb of Maniruddanla—Patna cemetery—Padri ki haveli—Mosque of Allauddin Shih—Mosque of Fakhruddaula—Shaista Khan’s mosqyue—Ambar mosque—Sikh temple--Sher Shah’s mosque—Purab Darwiza—Banxirors—Chajja Bigh-— Imperial Bank—Collector’s house—Srimati Radhika Institute ~- Maidin—Barkerganj—Bhikhuanahdvi—Shrine of Mengala Gauri-— Dargah of Shah Arzini—Tux Soutn-Wesrren SusvRres-—Lohanipar— Agam Kuan—Bogampur—Tomi of Haibat Jang—Tue New Capirat —Government House—The Secretariat—Council Chamber— High Court

—Museum—Patna City Improvement Truat ... wis 1166-197

Athmalgola ; Azimabad pargona ... Baikathpur ies Bak) tiyarpur

Ballia pargana

Banka Ghat - Bankipore subdiviaion Bargion Pee Rarh eae Bhagwanganj aie Bharatpura

Bihar, pargana, sarkir Rihar, subdivision, town Bibta ... _ Biswak ,,, is Dharhara ” Digha ... eer Dinapore tae Fatuha ee Gaydaspur on Ghosrawan eS Giriak

Hilsd

Islampur

I. List of railway stations

TABLE OF CONTENTS,

CHAPTER VII.

GAZETTEER.

Page Pace

vos §=198 Kheagaul 214 ww. «198 Kurji ... ise we «214 we =198 Malda pargana vee we Q14 198 Maner ... tee ss 816

199 Masaurha pargana . 217

199 Mokaimeh . 217

199 Nalanda 2U7

199 Narhat pargana wt 223

199 Okri pargana te sve 223

vn. 200 Patna city amebeterainn vee 228 oe 201 Pawapori vee vee 223 ww. 201 Phulwari pargana .. we 224 202 Pilich pargana wea 224

we § 206 Ponara aes ot: 225 we = 207 Pinpin eee tee we §=225 a 207 tajgir .. . we 225 we) 207 5) Samai pargana are ve 232 seh! 1207, Sanant pargana vee coe 232 a 208 Sanda pargana ve ve 282 ey 209 Shabjahanpur ‘ vay 232 vee 209 Sildo.. us oe 833 va 210 Telarha ... tee aa 233 272 Tetriwan es a 235

ve | 218 APPENDICES.

II. Post and Telegraph offices a II. Frincipal roads and bungalows..,

Patna district Patna and Patna city

Rajgir

MAPS,

In pocket of cover. Pages 165, 173, 189. Puge 226,

GAZETTEER

OF THE

PATNA DISTRICT

CHAPTER I.

PHYSICAL ASPECTS.

Pana, the sinallest of the districts of Bihar, but by no Genrran means the least interesting or important, is bounded on the PECRIPtoN.

north by the river Ganges, on the south by Gaya district, on the east by Monghyr, and onthe west. by the river Son, which separates it from Shahabad, It is eighty-two miles in length from east to west, and from twenty-eight to forty- two miles in breadth. ‘The area of the district is 2,114 square miles; and its population, according to the census of 1921, is 1,574,287 souls. The district takes ily name from its principal town, the capital of the province of Bihar and Orissa, which stands on the site of the ancient caytid of Magadha, (25° 87’N and 85° 10'T)..

With the exception of a small area. of hill and jungle Natural in the south-east, Patna district consists of un alluvial tract, oun

sloping gently to the Ganges on the north, and intersected by several rivers and artificial irrigation channels, Along the southern bank of the Ganges there is a strip of high ground about four smiles broud, which diverts eastward the rivers flowing north from the Gaya district; and in consequence of this obstacle to the natural drainage, the low-lying country on the south of Patna City, Barb, and Mokameh is under water in the rainy season, In the south-east the district is

1

10)

Scenery.

HILL SYSTEM,

2 PATNA.

for thirty miles divided from the district of Gaya by the Rajgir Hills, which run in a south-westerly direction from Giriak.

With the exception ef the Rajgir Hills and a solitary hill rising from the open plain near Bihar town, the general aspect of the district is that of an unbroken level diversified — only by groves of mango and palm trees. The greater part ef this tract is singularly fertile, being watered by the streams which descend from the Hazaribagh plateau to join the Ganges; and no jungle is left except in the Rajgir hills and in the flooded country towards the mouth of the Son. : The north and west of the district, with its shady roads and fre- quent mango groves, is a pleasant country, though it contains no striking scenery. On the east of the district is the grear plain, bare of trees, whichis known as the tal. The description of this country which was given thirteen centuries ago by Hiuen Tsiang applies to it now; the village houses are huddled together on-large mounds which become islands during the monsoon rains, when the whole tal is one great luke, and boats are used for communication between village and village. In the dry season this region suffers from lack of shade; and in May or early June, when the crops have been cnt, and the burning wind blows unchecked across the dusty plain, jt is as unpleasant a country for the traveller as can be found in this» parti of India. There is no such monotony in the irrigated area in the south of the district; but here, except during the driest scason, communications are greatly obstructed by private canals and their distribu- taries, with steep sloping sides and soft and treacherous beds. In the extreme south-east of the district, the country ig of a very different description. Here the rugged line of the Rajgir Hills stretches away to the south-west, a long range breaking into many detached spurs and peaks, clothed with thick low jungle and interspersed with musses of rock.

The Rajgir Hilla are the only hills in the district. They form part of a long range extending from Bodh-Gaya north-eastwards for a distance of forty miles until they terminate abruptly at Giriak, where their base is washed ‘by the Panckana river. At Handia hill, on the boundary of the district, they rise to a height of 1,472 feet; but elsewhere they seldom attain an altitude of more than a thousand feet,

PHYSICAL ASPECTS. 3

Their sides are regged and precipitous, and are mostly covered with thick low brashwood, broken only by irreeular pathways strewn with rocks.

Starting from Giriak, two parallel ranges of hills stretch away to the south-west, enclosing # narrow ravine through which a rivalet called the Bawan Ganga rushes down in cusendes and rapids to join the Panchana. To the south of the village of Rajgir the two ranges broaden out and enclose « valley, in which the ancient city of Rajagriha wag built. The northern range here rises into a peak of inconsiderable height known as Ratnagiri, from which two spurs diverge at right angles, one descending southwards across the defile leading to Girink, while the other strikes off to the north- west and) joins the Vipnlagiri peak. To the west of the latter peak is a Narrow ravine, through which the Saraswati atream forces its way into the low cormbry at the foot of the hills. The range then pursues 2 south-westerly direction for three miles till it attaing a considerable clevation at the Baibhar hill, where the southern ranee again approaches it, The south-eastern corner of the Rajsir valley is marked by the Udayagiri peak which throws out a spur to the north to meet that coming southwards from Vipulagiri. To the west the hill sinks into 2 defile, bevond which is a high hill called Sonaviri, opposite the Baibhar bill, At this point the two ranges again resume their south-westerly course, and again enclose a narrow ravine oversrown with jungle.

Resides these hills there is a small isolated hill, called Pirpahari. Pirpahari, rising abruptly from the plain on the north-cast of Bihar town. The southern slope is gradual, covered with boulders, which form a natural staircase; but the northern side consists of a precipitous clif with numerous rocks scattered along it

The Ganges forms the northern houndary of the district, Riva while the Son forms its boundary on the west. The other S*ST#M. rivers intersect the district from south-west to north-east.

They all flow northwards from the Gaya district, and take a sharp tum towards the east soon after crossing the boundary ; with the exception of the Punpun, none of them join the Ganges within this district, heing driven eastwards by the high land on its southern bank. None of them are of any great size, and the greater part of the water brought

Ganges,

4 PATNA,

down is diverted into irrigation channels and reservoirs, and distributed among the fields, so that their main channels are mere dried-up beds for the greater part of the year: in fact, only the Punpun, Morhar and Panchana contain any volume of water. This is particularly the case in the south-east of the district, where the streams and rivers are used up in a network of pains or artificial channels, expending themselves before reaching the Ganges or mingling in the fal in the Barh subdivision. The whole of the country to the south of Barh is very low, but the strip of high land along the Ganges prevents anv of these streams from entering the main river. They meander about in a confusing manner, known by different names till the necessities of irigation and the dryness of the season leave nothing but tortuous sandy beds to mark the direction of their courses, Tiheir beds are sandy, and the banks.in generalJow and sloping, so that, when they come down in floed during the rainy season, the adjacent country is inundated, but part of the water finds an exit by the Maithun or Kuluhar river,

The Ganges most sacred of rivers to the Hindu, forms the northern boundary of the district from the confluence of its waters with the Son on the west up to the village of Dumra or the cast, its total length in Patna being ninety-three miles. The river at Patna is about six hundred yards wide in the cold season, and the stream is then sluggish until it is joined by the Gandak; but from June to September under the com- bined effect of the melting Himalayan snows and the mon- soon rains it becomes a mighty stream several miles wide, It is at this season that changes occur in the course of the tiver. The main stream comes down with great violence; and if it takes a course which impinges upon high land on either side, that land is in danger of being cut away. There has sometimes been ground for uneasiness in Bankipore and Patna city, though the southern bank is here generally pro- tected by revetments: and a journey past Patna by boat will show many broken columns which have collapsed under the pressure of the flooded river. While the main stream i3 impinging upon one bank, the stream on the other side 1a comparatively gentle, so that before the flood subsides it crdinarily deposits a certain amount of the detritum with which the water is heavily loaded. The heaviest portion of the detritum is deposited first; but much of the sand has

PHYSICAL ASPECTS. 5

already been deposited before the river reaches Patna district, sc that the chars and diaras thns created in this district quickly become covered with the highly fertile silt which is brought down by the river. When silt is deposited, these formations produce magnificent crops; and many of the diaras are very valuable Government estates. They are unfortunately the canse of many disputes, with frequent riotous struggles for possession, owing to the fact that Jand- marks are apt to be washed away in the annual flood, In extensive diara areas there is usually a part which is covered with a deposit consisting chiefly of send, on which a low scrub jungle appears which gives shelter to wild pig. The pig do much dainage in the cultivated portion of the land; so that the Dinapore Tent Club is x popular institution with diara cultivators. The best grounds for the Tent Club in this district of late years have-been the diaras of Bakhtiarpur, where the going is comparitively wood, and the neighbour- hood of Gangahara, which is favoured chiefly for its conveni- ence of access,

At present the confluence of the Ganges with the Son is near the village of Hardi Chapra, whence the river flows in a single stream to Digha. Here a side channel of the Son, the last remnant of its ancient eusterly course, enters the Ganges, The Patna-Gaya canal joins the Ganges by this side stream: but in some years there is not enough water to render it navigable, and the donble lock of the canal is liable to be left high and dry after the monsoon flood subsides. Digha is a commercial station of some importance, where a number of steamers may always be seen, the large stern- wheelers which come up from Goalundo, and the smaller steam- ers which start from here for Buxar and the Gogra. Immedi- ately below the moorings of the steamers the Kurji school ig prominent on the Patna side. Trom here to Bankipore the Patna bank is an almost continuous brickfield. The river flows at present (192%) close under Bankipore past Patna city; this most interesting portion of it is described in chapter XVI. From Patna city branches of the Gandak jon it from the north, swelling its stream, and forming great chars, for many miles, The Punpun joins the Ganges at Kwtha, At Barh the river turns to the north in a horse- shoe curve, and at present the town is away from the main stream,

Son.

Punpur.

6 PATNA.

The Son, the Erannoboas of Megasthenes, forms the boundary between Patna and Shahabad. At Parao, a few milea south of its confluence with the Ganges, it is crossed by the bridge of the East Indian Railway. Since the anicut was built at Dehri, there has ordinarily been little water in the river except during the rains; but however low the water may be, it ig dangerous to cross except at the known fords, since its bed abounds in quicksands, The Son drains a very lurge hill area; and after heavy rain in the Central Provinces it is apt to came down in sudden and violent flood; but its floods are of short duration. The name which is given to this river by the ancient Greek writers on India is appar- ently a corruption of the Sanskrit Hiranyabahu, or golden- armed, derived, like the name Son, from the golden, colour of the sand which it brings down in flood. It formerly flowed far to the east? and the Punpun now flows in its ancient bed. Afterbeing joined» by the Morhar, it pursued 2 north-easterly direction as far as Chilbil, thenee turned east, running south of the present site of Patna city, finally joining the Ganges at Fatuha. There is a long tract of low sround in this last direction, destitute of trees, which is known as the dead Son, clearly marking the ancient bed of the river, The courses of the Ganges and the Son were thus fearly parallel for many miles: and in the narrow tract lying be- tween the two rivers was situated the famous city of Patali- putra. The Son gradually worked westward, until its lower course closely approximated to the present alignment of the Patna-Gaya canal as far as Phulwari; and it is probable* that the Son burst across the narrow neck of land which divided it from the Ganges at that place before the year 750 a.D, The confluence with the Ganges was afterwards at Sherpur ; and even in 1772 it was at Maner. At the beginning of the nineteenth century Maner was three miles south of the union of the two rivers; and now the Son joins the Ganges six miles north of Maner.

The Punpun enters Patna district near Shahzadpur, and flows* in a north-easterly direction until it approaches Naubatpur.. Here it turns sharply to the east, and joins the Ganges at Fatuha, after flowing for fifty-four miles in the | district. The Punpun is joined by the Morhar and Dardha, about nine miles from its junction with the Ganges; but

* Reports of the Archeological Survey ef India, Vol. VIII.

PHYSICAL ASPECTS. 7

shortly before its confluence with that river some of its waters diverge along a channel, called the Dhoa, which runs nearly parallel to the Ganges. This river retains water through- out the year, but except in the rains is useless for purposes of navigation owing to the number of irrigation channels which it supplies with water in this district ag well as in Gaya. where a large dam intercepts the stream. So much of the water is thus diverted that, except in times of high flood, only a small portion reaches the Ganges, At the point of junction the river attains a width of about a hundred yards enclosed within high steep banks, ‘he Punpun is a sacred river, and it is the duty of every pilgrim to Gaya to shave hi: head on its banks and bathe in its waters on his way to the holy city.

To the east of the Punpun aresthe Morhar and Dardha, Morhar and two branches of the same-river, which bifurcates in the Dardha. Gaya district. Both streams follow a north-easterly direc- tion, and join the Punpun near the same spot; and both are nearly dry during the greater portion of the year, as the cultivators build dams across them, and the water is dispersed among the fields or stored in artificial rescrvoirs.

The Phalgu enters the district a short distance to the phatgu,

south of Telarha, but soon loses its identity, as its waters are almost entirely expended in irrigation channels. Near Telarha it bifurcates, one branch, known as the Sona, striking due north, and the other, the Kattar, taking a north-casterly direction, Both branches eventually fall into the Maithun river, but are practically dry after the end of the rainy season.

The Maithun or Mithwain, which is formed by the Maithun. confluence of, the Dhoa and .Sona, flows parallel to the Ganges throughout the entire length of the Barh subdivision.

Near Chero it is joined by the Jamuna river, and at 'Tirmo- hani by the Dhanain; and thence the united stream flows, under the name of the Kuluhar, into the Monghyr district.

In the Bibar subdivision the Panchana is formed by the Pauchana. conflucnce of five streams debouching from the Gaya. district, which unite near Giriak and thence flow northwards to Bihar town. Here five small streams branched off to the west, intersecting the town in different places, but all have long since dried up. <A great sand bank has formed in the bed

Sekri,

GEroLoey.

8 PATNA.

of the river below Bihar, which forces its water into the irrigation channels on the east; and the result is that, except in times of flood, only a feeble stream trickles along its sandy bed. After leaving Bihar, it pursues a north-easterly direc- tion and then deflects to the east, eventually joining the Sakri or Mohana.

The last river of any importance ig the Sakri, which enters the district to the south-east of Bihar town. This river flows to the north through the Bihar subdivision and then takes a sharp turn to the east through the south-east of the Barh subdivision, from which it enters the Monghyr district. Like the Panchana, it fails to attain any great: volume, owing to the demands made upon it for the purpose of irrigation, nearly all its water being carried away by two large channels constructed on its left bank twelve miles south- east of Bihar, These two pains have widened und become large streams, with the result that the preater part of the supply of this river, which extends as far as Lakhisarai in the Monghyr district, has now been diverted, The lower portion of the Sakri below the offtake of these channels is also silting up rapidly as a» continually decreasing supply of water passes dowr it.

The greater purt of the district is composed of Gangetic alluvium, 4¢,, of silt brought down for ages past by the Ganges. During the rainy season, the Ganges and its tribu- taries increase enormously iin volume, carrying down vast quantities of silt or mnd, with the result that thev overflow into the adjacent country. When the water subsides again, the rivers in their retreat leave some of the silt, which they have brought with them, spread over the once flooded land as a thin soil deposit. This process hus been repeated during thousands of years, and the land has thus been gradually growing and the surface of the land gradually raised. The excavations which have been made at Patna indicate that there has been a deposit of about twenty feet in the course of a thousand years.

In the south-east of the district the Rajgir Hills present an entirely different geological formalion. These hills, which are more or less isolated in the alluvial plain, belong probably to the Purana group of metamorphic schists and slates

PHYSICAL ASPECTS. 5

with a layer of massive quartzite, The beds strike TENI,— WAW.,, correspondiuy to the general trend of the ill ranges; they have been much folded by carth movements, and lie at diet angles dipping NNW, and SSE. To the north-west of the main range the more thinly-bedded rocks are inter- handed with several trap-dykes, and still further in that direction, near Ghunsura, there are a low isolated little knolls ot arehican crystalline granitic rock, presenting an intrusive habit nmong the schists. It is probable that the Purana group of schists and quartzite is of Lijawar age.

In the alluvial country which forms the greater portion Boraxy.

of the Patua district, rice, wheat, pulses, sugarcane, and a erent variety of other crops are extensively grown; and the arva undcr cultivation is bare or dutted over with clumps of bumboos and mango orchardsyocdin the level fields near the Ganges the usual weeds“of such localities are found, such as ammannia, utricularia, lysrophita and sesbania. Near the villages in this tract of country, there ure considerable groves of palmyra (berassug flabellifer) and date palm (phonix sylvestris), mango orchards, and numerous more isolated examples of tamarindus, odina, sapindus and moringa, ‘Associated with these, one frequently finds in village shrub- berics glycosmis, clerodeudron, solanum, jatropha, trema, streblus and similar semi-spontancous and more or less nso- ful species. Further from the rrver the country is more diversified, and sometimes a dry scfub jungle is met with, of which the principal species are glochidion and other cuphorbiaccous shrubs, butea and other leeuminous trees, besides various examples of ficus, sclleichera, wendlandia, emelina, wrightia, adina, and siephegyne. The grasses clothing the dricr parts are generally of a coarse character, such as andropogon contortus, aciculatas, anuulatus, foveo- latus and pertusus, uristida adscenscionis, tragus racemosus and tseilema laxum. Other species typical of the district are various anthistrin and penniseta, cragrostris cynosuroides, saccharam spontaneum, arundinclla, brasiliensis and sabai prass (ischoomum angustifolium)., Throughout this tract the mango (mangifera indica), pinal (fiens religiosa) and banyan (fieus indica), are common, the other principal trees being the bel Gevle marmelos), mim (mein avadirachta), stris (mimosa aitisu), sist (dalbergia sissoo), jack fruit trea (artocarpus intecrifolia) and red cotton tree (bowbax matabaricum),

3

Fauna.

Game birds,

10 PATNA.

The carnivora of the district comprise leopard, Lyana, and some smaller animals, such as jackal, fox and wild cut. ‘Wolves were formerly common; and in 1870, 229 deaths from wolfbite were reported, but they have now practically dis- appeared. The ungulata are represented by nilyai (boselaphus tragocamelua), black back (antilope cervicapra) and wild pig.

Leopards are common in the southern hills extending south-westwards from Giriak, but confine their depredations to cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, and small ponies, Flycnas are common in the same range. The black bear (ursus labiatus) is also found -wm the Rajeir hills, He swhsists mainly on jungle fruits; but he comes ont into the level country at night to raid the maize and sugarcane crops, and to climb the toddy palms to drink the tart that is fermenting in the Pasis’ pots, or in the early bot./weather, when the mahua flowers are falling, to feast on the freshly fallen flowers under the trecs, ‘Wild pig abound in this neighbourhood, and also on the chars and diaras of the Son and the Ganges. Nilgai are common in the large chars and diaras; and in the country near the Son they are found im the mango groves and amony the high crops. The nilgai is not greatly sought after by European sportamen, and many Hindus have scruples regarding its. slaughter, No such scruples protect the black buck (antilope eervicapra), which was formerly common, but is now only to be found, very rare and» very shy, in the extreme west of the district, north of the railway line. Hares are numerous in the drier parts; jackals are comunon throughout the district; and porcupines and foxes are occasionally seen.

The game birds in the hills consist of pcea-fowl, jungle fowl, grey partridge, black partridge, and bush quail, In the plains grey quail, rain quail, and buttom quail make their appearance every year. Green pigeon are common; ond rock pigcons also visit the plains during harvest time. Red and yellow billed geese, red-headed pochard and white- eyed pochard, pintail and gadwall arc found on the Son and Ganges, and on the larger jhils, by the middle of November. Besides theso, the shoveller and Bralimani duck and different varieties of teal and combduck visit the district. With them come the white and the black ibis; curlew; whimbrel; jack snipe; smaller snipe of six varieties, locally known as batara, ghotra, bagodhia, surma, saryhai, and Uhurku; golden plovers,

FHUYSICAL ASPECTS.. qi

and waders, Other cold-weather birds are the eranes known locally as kurkura (anthroprdus virgo), and kulung (grus comuitinis), and various storks, the most noteworthy among them being a gigantic stork called lohaserang (xenorphynohus asiaticis),

The Ganges and Son contain a great number of edible Fish.

fish, such as buari, lengra, natri, bachwa and rohia; hilsa: (eulpea iisha) are also found in the former and mahsir in the fatter river. Fishing practically beeins in October with the subsidence of the floods, and the busy season is from November to March, the largest hauls being made in December, January and February. Tish of all kinds and all sizes are eanghi, but the most valuable belong to the carp family, such us roku and hatla; row are caneht up to the weight of forty pounds. Hilsa are caught ag fariup. the river as Patna, as they ascend from the %seaj andthe hauls, though not so great as lower down the river, are occasionally very cool. Crustaceous fish are eonimon, and prawns (jhingra) are caught in large numbers. Porpoises abonnd in the Ganges, and tortoises are also numerous. Both the snub- nosed crocodile or magar and the fish;cating alligator called gharial are found in the same river:

The eold weather commenecs early in November and comes to ap end in the middle of March. The hot weather then sets in aud lasts Gl about the middle of June, Sean after this, the rainy season commences and continues till the end of Sepiember; but as the beginning of this scason occurs when a storm from the Bay of Bengal passes over Bihar, the commencement of the monsoon may be as carly as the last week cf May or as late as the first or second week of July.

‘The climate in the cold weather 1s pleasant. The days are bright and warm, and the sun is not too hot: as soon as it hus set, the temperature falls, and ihe heat of the day gives place to a sharp bracing cold. The lowest temperature known at this season of the year is 86°4° recorded in 1878. In the hot weather the temperature has been known to rise as high ag 111° (recorded in 1894). The heat is greater than that of Tirhut, though not so intense as in Gaya; but, on the other land, it is not so dry as in the latter district, and is consequently more relaxing. ‘At this tuue of the year the heat

Crimarr,

Temperatata

and humidity,

Winds,

Rainfall.

12 PATNA,

is aggravated by hot parching winds and clouds of dust: Tn the rains the heat is moist and enervatipg, and the nights are oppressive.

Mean temperature varies from 66° in January to 88° in May, the average maximum tcmperature rising to 101° in April. Owing to the hot and dry westerly winds which prevail in March and April, humidity is much lower at this seadon than at any other times of the year and averages only fifty per cent, of saturation, With the approach of the mon- goon scason, the air slowly becomes more charged with moisture, and humidity remaing steady at about 86 per cent. throughont July and August. In September, when periods of fine weather alternate with the cloud and rain of the monsoon, humidity is lower; and with breaks of inereasing length it gradually. fallesto, about 65 per cent. in November, There is then a slight inercase, partly owing to the unsettled weather caused by the cold-season disturbances.

From October until May the prevailing direction of wind is from the west, but a marked change takes place with the commencement of the monsoon ,which is generally caused by the first cyclonie storm which enters from the Bay of Bengal. The flow of the moist winds from the Bay is north- wards over the castern districts of Bengal proper, but after- wards they trend to the west, owing to the barrier interposed by the Himalayan range; so that after the passage of the cyclonic storms, casterly winds set in and continue with but little interruption until the middle of September, when westcrly winds again become common.

From November to April fine dry weather prevails with an almost entire absence of cloud and rainfall, and only a fraction of an inch of rain falls monthly. In May over an inch of rain falls on the average; and im normal years the monsoon lreaks in June; but as has been already stated, the time of the commencement of the monsoon rains varics greatly. The heaviest rainfall occurs in July and August, in cach of which months over twelve inches of rain may be expected, From the middle of September the monsoon current begins te fall off in strength; and if the westerly winds are stronger than usual, the storms coming inland from the Bay of Bengal recede eastwards, and rainfall is consequently deficient. The following table shows the normal rainfall, as calculated ty the Meteorological Department, ai fhe various recording stations.

PHYSIGAL ASPECTS. 13

The number of years over which these averages have been worked ont varies with the stations; in Patna it is over seventy, for Barh, Bihar, and Dinapore over fifty, while for the Smaller stations it is about forty years,

g go) 4 Month, & Ey & a a ad A 3 4 January ae | Oa] oss] os} asc] oct] o7%] o81!