It is situated in the second climate. Its length from Gaḍhi to Rhotás is 120 Kos; its breadth from Tirhut to the northern mountains, 110 kos. On its eastern boundary is Bengal; to the west lie Allahabad and Oudh. On the north and south it is bounded by hills of considerable elevation. Its chief rivers are the Ganges and the Son. Whatever of wood or leather and the like falls into the Son, becomes petrified. The head springs of these three rivers, the Son, the Narbada and the Johila, bubble up from a single reed-bed* in the neighbourhood of Gaḍha. The Son is pleasant to the taste, wholesome and cool; flowing in a northerly direction, it joins the Ganges near Maner.* The Ghandak flows from the north and unites with the Ganges near Hájipúr. Such as drink of it suffer from a swelling in the throat,* which gradually increases, especially in young children, to the size of a cocoanut.
The Sálgirám* is a small black stone which the Hindús account among divine objects and pay it great veneration. If round and small and unctuous, they hold it in the highest regard and according to the variety of its form, different names and properties are ascribed to it. The generality have a single perforation, others more and some are without any. They contain gold ore. Some say that a worm is bred within which eats its way through; others maintain that it works its way in from the outside. The Hindus have written a considerable work on the qualities of this stone. According to the Brahminical creed, every idol that is broken loses its claim to veneration, but with these, it is not so. They are found in the Son for a distance of 40 kos between its northenmost extremity and the south of the hills.
The Karamnásá flowing from the south unites with the Ganges near Chausá. Its waters are regarded with aversion.* The Punpun flows also from the south and joins the Ganges near Patna. The smaller rivers of this Súbah cannot be recorded. The summer months are intensely hot, while the winter is temperate. Warm garments are not worn for more than two months. The rains continue during six months and throughout the year the country is green and fertile. No severe winds blow nor clouds of dust prevail. Agriculture flourishes in a high degree, especially the cultivation of rice which, for its quality and quantity is rarely to be equalled. Kisári* is the name of a pulse, resembling peas, eaten by the poor, but is unwholesome. Sugarcane is abundant and of excellent quality. Betel-leaf, especially the kind called Makhi,* is delicate and beautiful in colour, thin in texture, fragrant and pleasant to the taste. Fruits and flowers are in great plenty. At Maner, a flower grows named Majkand,* somewhat like the flower of the Dhátúra, very fragrant and found nowhere else. Milk is rich in quality and cheap. The custom of dividing the crops is not here prevalent. The husbandman pays his rents in person and on the first occasion presents himself in his best attire. The houses for the most part are roofed with tiles. Good elephants are procurable in plenty and boats likewise. Horses and camels are scarce. Parrots abound and a fine species of goat of the Barbary breed which they castrate: from their extreme fatness they are unable to walk and are carried on litters. The fighting cocks are famous. Game is abundant. Gilded glass is manufactured here.
In the Sarkár of Behár, near the village of Rájgar is a quarry of stone resembling marble, of which ornaments are made. Good paper is here manufactured.* Gayá the place of Hindu pilgrimage, is in this province: it is also called Brahma Gayá being dedicated to Brahma. Precious stones from foreign ports are brought here and a constant traffic carried on.
In the Sarkár of Monghyr (Mungír) a strong stone wall has been built extending from the Ganges to the hills,* which they consider as demarcating the boundary of Bengal.
In the Sarkár of Hájipúr the fruits Kaṭhal* and Baṛhal grow in abundance. The former attain such a size that a man can with difficulty carry one.
In the Sarkár of Champáran the seed of the vetch Másh* is cast on unploughed soil where it grows without labour or tilling. Long pepper grows wild in its forests.
Tirhut has from immemorial time, been a seat of Hindu learning. Its climate is excellent. Milk curds keep for a year without alteration. If those who sell milk adulterate it with water, some mysterious accident befals them. The buffaloes are so savage that they will attack a tiger. There are many lakes and in one of them the water never decreases, and its depth is unfathomable. Groves of orange trees extend to a distance of thirty kós, delighting the eye. In the rainy season gazelle and deer and tiger frequent together the cultivated spots and are hunted by the inhabitants. Many of these with broken limbs are loosed in an enclosure, and they take them at their leisure.
Rohtás is a stronghold on the summit of a lofty mountain, difficult of access. It has a circumference of 14 kós and the land is cultivated. It contains many springs, and wherever the soil is excavated to the depth of three or four yards, water is visible. In the rainy season many lakes are formed, and more than two hundred waterfalls gladden the eye and ear. The climate is remarkably healthy.
This Súbah contains seven Sarkárs subdivided into 199 Pargannahs. The gross revenue is 22 krors, 19 lakhs, 19,404½ dáms. (Rs. 55,47,985-1-3.) Of these Parganahs, 138, pay revenue in cash from crops charged at special rates.* The extent of measured paying the general bíghah rate is 24 lakhs, 44,120 bíghas, yielding a revenue of 17* krors, 26 lakhs, 81,774 dáms (Rs. 43,17044) in cash. The remaining 61 Parganahs are rated at 4 krors, 22 lakhs, 37,630½ dáms. (Rs. 12,30940-12-5), out of which 22 lakhs, 72,147 dáms are Suyúrghál,* (Rs. 56,803-8-10). The province furnishes 11,415 Cavalry, 449,350 Infantry and 100 boats.