as far as Seesee, its junction with the Dihong, the course of the Koondul and other streams, and lofty ranges of mountains, including the snowy mountains behind the Suddya Peak, and the snowy range to the south-east, at least one hundred and fifty miles remote. By information received from the merchants of Bhot and Lhassa, the city of Lhassa lies to the south of a large river, which is not the case in the map of Du Halde, who places it thirty miles to the north, on the banks of the Kaltyu. According to Stewart, however, (Annual Register 1788) Lhassa is on the banks of the San-po. This position is not wholly incompatible with Burnet's account, although not derivable from it. He says, he saw from the rock of Teshoo Lomboo, the Erechomboo, or Brahmapootra, washing its northern base, running to the east, in a wide bed and many channels. From his own apartment looking south, he had the road to Lhassa on his left, or to the west; and it is possible, therefore, that the river may cross the road, and thus run south of Lhassa. We wish, however, we had some latitudes and longitudes on which we could depend. We should then be better able to judge how far the Dihong is likely to be connected with the San-po, or how far Du Halde's map is reconcileable with other standards. We may presume the following verifications are allowable with Turner: ! The latitudes and longitudes, therefore, are much the same, and encourage us to put some trust in the latter, which are Du Halde's or D'Anville's. The San-po is lost in the latter, in lat. 26° 20′, N., and long. 113° 20 E. from Ferro-or 95° 30. Hamilton says about 96°, but his map and Rennel's give 95° 20′. The Omchu disappears in 27° N., and long. 93° 50′; but, as we observed on a former occasion, the oblique direction it follows to the S. E. renders it probable that it joins the San-po. Now, we understand that the former survey of the Dihong terminated in lat. 28° 2′, and long. 95° 22′, and the present being extended two days further in a westerly direction chiefly, may have ascended to about 28° 6', and long. 95° 3. In either case, however, we must be very close upon the San-po, if not actually in it; and the latter must be the case, if Du Halde's positions are not mach further wrong than in the example we have given from Turner. The course of the Omchu and San-po, from the west and north, respectively, will explain the accounts given by the Natives of the western and northern reaches of the Dihong.-Bengal Hurkaru. PROGRESS OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL IN HIS TOUR THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF INDIA, SIR, To the Editor of the Oriental Herald. Upper Provinces of India. I HAVE no doubt but curiosity is on the stretch to know the movements of the Governor-General of India, and the public grounds of the expense (somewhere about a lac of rupees per mensem) of his trip to the Upper Provinces. The former I can gratify, but the latter have not as yet transpired: though it is but natural to suppose some good to the state is contemplated. On the 6th of November 1826, his Lordship and suite left Allahabad, escorted by the body-guard and 2d extra regiment of Native infantry. His Lordship leaves his tents at day-break, and the infantry follow him, coming to their ground at 10 and 11 a. M. Fortunately the weather is pretty cool, or it would be hot work for the old Qui I's. On the 16th the Governor-General reached Cawnpore, where rather a ludicrous circumstance occurred. At the durbar held by his Lordship, at which Lady Amherst, the ladies of the suite, and some others were present, the Punnah Rajah mistook them for the ladies of his Lordship's seraglio, and asked which was the favourite? However, he afterwards made amends, for, on being informed that her Ladyship was the chosen favourite, he presented her with a handful of diamonds. This, you will say, was getting out of the difficulty with eclat. The King of Oude came over to Cawnpore to pay his Lordship a visit, and was received with all the state that could be mustered; all the troops being drawn out to receive him. Unfortunately it was a rainy day, and they got a complete soaking. In this state they had to remain from seven in the morning until past ten, without breakfast. I fancy it did not occur to his Lordship or suite that a tent might have been pitched to give the officers refreshment. Not being a military man, like the Marquis of Hastings, his unfortunate escort, to use a vulgar expression, 'get more kicks than halfpence.' However, they expected to have come in for a share of the good things at Lucknow, but again the unfortunate circumstance of Lord Amherst not being a military man operated against them; and with the exception of the commanding officer of the 2d extra and his lady, they were left out of the breakfast party, which his Majesty gave on the morning of his Lordship's arrival, and by this means were deprived of the good things distributed, and allowed to be retained on that occasion. To make up for this, they were invited to the dinner given by his Majesty, and each received a gold and silver necklace of Gotah, value one rupee! which they were liberally allowed to keep. You may perhaps remember when the Marquis of Hastings went to Lucknow, and the difference of the state of things upon that occasion; but, tempora mutantur, with regard to the small fry. Not so with the higher powers, however, if we may judge by what we saw z what we did not see, of course we cannot know. We are now, thank God, once more on the move, and shall be happy enough when we turn our backs upon his Lordship's procession. The soldiers of his Lordship's escort, both officers and men, have lengthened in the face since leaving Lucknow, for they rationally expected to have been treated by his Majesty in the same manner as when they formed part of the Marquis of Hastings's escort. I have not given you an account of the fights between elephants, tigers, buffaloes, &c., for they were total failures, not even calculated to gratify the curiosity of second childhood. I fear this unfortunate trip will lower us sadly in the estimation of the Natives; but Mr. Canning must answer for the gambols of his lamb.' The good folks in England will hardly believe it, yet it is nevertheless true, that so little is the military character upheld by the present state-procession through our Eastern dominions, that the Governor-General's band have to tramp on foot, or find their way how they can on the march; whilst the menial servants of his Lordship's household are furnished with elephants to carry them. SPECTATOR. Since writing this letter, I have learned that Lady Amherst has held a durbar for the presentation of Native ladies, I could not have believed it, had it not been from good authority; but what will not cupidity hazard? It is said that she fainted under the weight of presents; of course there could have been no Mr. Stirling present to have taken an account of them; therefore they were all fair gain ;-loot, I was going to say, but I hate to coincide with general opinion. I should like to know who presented the Native ladies, and how many lefthanded wives were presented, and who was interpretess on the occasion. I shall endeavour to find out some of these particulars. Shame seems to have taken leave of persons in high situations. PUBLIC ASSEMBLAGE AT BENARES, We are much obliged to the correspondent who has favoured us with the following account of a public assemblage at Benares, of the character of those respecting which we lately intimated our wish to be favoured with communications. The mela here described, we remember to have witnessed with much gratification. A more picturesque concourse than that which is beheld on this occasion, cannot well be conceived: when the river is covered with boats, and the ghats crowded with spectators, and the fantastic architecture of the temples and buildings animated by moving groups, and the most brilliant variety of colour and costume. "Boorwa Mungul.-On the first Tuesday after the Holee, the worship of Doorga is prescribed in the Kashee Khund; partly in consequence of which, and partly from the desire to protract every holiday amusement as much as possible, a large mela assembles on this day, in the neighbourhood of Doorga Koond; although there is no bathing in the Tulao, the attendance is generally greater than on the real festival of Doorga in Asin. The garden walls, from Bheloopoor to the tank, constructed with balcony terraces of stone, are seen covered with well-dressed spectators, while those who can sport a swaree prefer moving in the crowd, on richly caparisoned horses and elephants. There is no regular procession, but parties of strolling actors, dressed up as Jogees, with earth rubbed over their faces, and bunches of peacock's feathers in their hands, disguised as Nach women, as Chumarins, Sootrasuhees, and Musulman fuqeers, ply to and fro, dancing and singing; sometimes different groups oppose one another in the recitation of verses, and the public acclamation awards the victory. The poor are naturally prone to laud the blessings of wealth; no wonder, therefore, that such ballads, as the following of Nuzeer, are popular among an Indian crowd: "Kouree nu the-to khate the basee pukoureean, Kouree hooee-to chhoonne lugee lumbee choureean; Without a penny-be content to scrape up dirty crumbs, Oh! pennies are 'mong worldly things the most esteemed of any, When the evening approaches, the crowd adjourns to the banks of the river, which now begins to afford one of the prettiest spectacles of which the fêtes of Kashee can boast. The whole river is covered with boats of all descriptions, fitted out with platforms and canopies, and lighted with variegated lamps, torches, and blue lights. The rich merchants, and such as can afford it, hire parties of Nach girls, or male buffoons, and dancing boys. Those who cannot pay for a Nach, gather their boats around one upon which it is going forward, and subscribe their mite, when the dancer or singer turns towards them. At about nine o'clock, the Rajah's large pinnace floats down from Ramnagur, and takes its place off the middle of the town; the Rajah himself, however, generally prefers rowing about incognito, in his sonamookhee, smoking his hookah, and listening to some favourite warbler in the service of a more fortunate master. Year after year did he thus follow, with longing eyes, the celebrated Hingun, whose history is rather romantic, but cannot well be told here. The most conspicuous object, or that which most strikes an European spectator, is the Rajah's state bed, with its musquito curtains, exalted on the roof of his pinnace. I do not believe he ever uses it, for the show lasts, without intermission, until noon of the day following; of course, there are pastry-cook, or putwaee boats, in abundance, where all hot, all hot,' is the order of the night. The only account which I can obtain of the origin of this water fête is, that when Meer Roostum Ulee held the Soubah of Benares, he lived on the banks of the river, (on the Meer Pooshta, built by himself,) and the Rajah Bulwunt Singh took to celebrating the Holee on the river, perhaps out of compliment, that he might enjoy the view from his window; but the name of the day augurs greater antiquity of institution. There is nothing religious connected with its observance.-Government Gazette. THE ESCAPED CAPTIVES. AWAY, away! swift as the wind, When rushing in the tempest's wrath; Our base oppressor's on our path Right on, right on! now o'er this rock, Yet onward! onward through yon shade, Gleam like night's lightnings fearfully, Yet forward, forward! ocean's roar Is heard loud mingling with the blast: The bark of hope, but oh! our last;- |