Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

DETAILS OF THE LAST CENSUS-TRIBES AND LANGUAGE-(Continued.)

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

STATISTICAL STATEMENTS

I. Area and Population of the several Provinces of Bengal
II. Abstract of the area and population of each district in Bengal arranged
according to provinces and Commissioner's divisions
III. General statement of the result of the Census of Bengal arranged with
reference to age and sex

[ocr errors]

118

119

123

[ocr errors]

IV. General statement of the result of the Census of Bengal arranged with
reference to religion and occupation

127

[ocr errors]

VI.

V. Statement showing the population of each of the provinces of Bengal
arranged according to race, class, or nationality...
Statement showing occupations of the adult males included in the census
of each of the provinces of Bengal ...

132

[ocr errors]

132

CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE

Inquiries instituted by order of the Secretary of State and their result
Condition of people better in eastern than in western districts...
Special inquiries into the fever tract

133

133

[ocr errors]

134

Condition of the people in the various divisions of Bengal

134

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Statistical Summary.

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE COUNTRY, AREA, CLIMATE, AND CHIEF STAPLES.

Area and boundaries.

THE territory under the administration of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal comprises Bengal Proper, Behar, Assam, Orissa, and Chota or Chutia Nagpore. Its extreme limits extend from 19° 18' to 28° 15' north latitude, and between 82° and 97° east longitude.

The entire province thus constituting the Bengal Government is bounded on the north by Nepal, Sikkim, and Bhutan, and towards Assam the Duffla, Akha, Meeree, and Mishmee hils, inhabited by the tribes bearing those names, who occupy the lower ranges of the eastern Himalaya. On the east the boundary is less defined; the Assam frontier is bordered by the hilly country of the Abors, Singphos, Kamptees and Nagas. The friendly state of Munipore next adjoins, and between it and the hill tracts of Chittagong, abutting the districts of Cachar and Sylhet, the hills are occupied by the Lushai and Kookie tribes, who have for many years past proved most troublesome and intractable neighbours, but with whom, as a result of the Lushai expedition, we have now established closer relations. The Arracan hills and the Naaf river complete the boundary on this side, separating Bengal from Burmah. The south is washed by the sea and embraces the head of the Bay, which derives its name from the province. At a point near to Ganjam, on the sea-coast, the boundary line divides Bengal from Madras, and proceeding northwards, verges on the Central Provinces, the independent state of Rewah, and the North-Western Provinces.

The total area of the provinces is 251,768 square miles, as given in recently corrected and readjusted returns, though some portions are still unsurveyed and only approximately determined. The Regulation and Non-Regulation districts comprise 213,507 square miles, and the Tributary States and since reclaimed territories make up the remainder.

[ocr errors]

Miles.

The returns of cultivated and uncultivated areas and of (road and water) communications are not sufficiently accurate to be embodied in the present report. The extent of railways completed in 1872 amounted

112

East Indian Railway
1,131
Eastern Bengal Railway
Calcutta and South-Eastern Railway 28
Nulhatee and Azingunge Railway 27
to 1,298 miles, as shown on the margin.

*

Broadly speaking, the chief characteristics of these provinces are the plain of the Ganges proceeding from the north-west, and the valley of the Brahmaputra from the north-east, meeting in the great delta of Bengal. On the west rise the high lands of Chota Nagpore and Orissa; on the east the Chittagong, Tipperah, Garo, Khasi, and other hills; on the north the Darjeeling district is our sole possession in the Bengal Himalayas.

Bengal Proper is the great alluvial and deltaic plain between the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal, with some minor hilly tracts on either

Bengal Proper. side. Behar is the upper Gangetic plain west of Rajmehal, and lying

Behar.

between Bengal and the North-Western Provinces. To Behar also is attached

a narrow range of hills. Orissa comprises a long, flat, diluvial strip between the hills and the sea, forming one settled district, and a large hilly

Orissa.

tract in the rear occupied by the Tributary Mehals. Chota or Chutia

Chota Nagpore.

and north of Orissa.

Assam.

Rivers,

Nagpore is the elevated and hilly country west of Bengal and Behar Assam is the long valley of the Brahmaputra, to which several hill districts are now attached.

The Ganges enters Lower Bengal from the North-Western Provinces near Ghazeepore; shortly after it receives the Gogra on the north bank, the Soane on the south, and the Gunduck again on the north, at Hajeepore-all rivers of considerable volume-and maintains a course generally easterly, but diversified with windings. The Coosee joins it below Bhaugulpore, after which the river turns the corner of the Rajmehal hills and assumes a nearly southerly direction with its greatest body of water, till the Bhagiruttee flows away on the west side to form the Hooghly, the most navigable of the many mouths, while the main stream continues south-east to Goalundo; there the Jumoona, the principal branch of the Brahmaputra, is met, and the amalgamated column empties itself by many channels into the Bay of Bengal.

The Brahmaputra, formed by the union of several great streams, enters Assam at its north-east extremity. It flows towards the southwest, through the length of the Assam valley, after which it clings to the contour of the Garo Hills, and then proceeds due southwards to its junction with the Ganges near Goalundo.

From these rivers the Gangetic delta is formed, and consists more immediately of the districts included in the Presidency division, with Moorshedabad, and Furreed pore and Backergunge of the Dacca division. Between the cultivated districts and the sea is a tract bearing the general name of the Soonderbuns, which hitherto, owing to inroads of the sea, the jungle, and wild beasts, with the unhealthiness of the climate, have baffled the enterprise of modern man.

Other rivers there are, though not of such length or magnitude. The Soorma's course is somewhat similar to that of the Brahmaputra on a smaller scale, rising as it does in the north-east of the Cachar Hills

« ПредишнаНапред »