Page:Catholic Magazine And Review, Volume 3 and Volume 4, 1833.djvu/84

 top, winding round it, and as many on. the opposite side. I went to the top, and had an extensive view of the river and surrounding country. The city of Patna being so embosomed in trees, though close by, was not distinguishable.—Our next march lay through the station of Dinapoor; which is, like Berhampoor, a barrack square for European troops and officers' quarters. We passed through Dinapoor, and encamped three miles beyond it, at the place where we were to cross the river. This we did the next morning, it being Christmas day, and in the rain. We halted on the opposite bank to get our baggage over. The river at this season is full of sand-banks, and the current not so strong, as at the height of the rains, We were now in the most fertile district of India, and the whole way there was not a spot uncultivated, save the numerous mangoe groves. We passed through Chuprat the civil station of the district, but the road was outside of the town and station. We were deluged with rain here for three days, a most unusual thing at this season, when only a few showers are expected.—As we advanced to our final district, jungle and wild, uncultivated country shewed that we could expect not much better from the station, and so it proved. We reached this place. Goruckhpoor, on the 8th of January, and glad l was to, have reached my journey's end, being sick of marching and tents. The last march was for ten miles through a thick forest, which extends close to the cantonment on two sides. This place looks as if it had been recently cleared from jungle and wood; and I can fancy it something like the back settlements in the new world. It is very low, and in the rains must be swampy. It is sandy, and clouds of dust are raised by the slightest wind, and by men and animals going along the road. There is not a stone in the whole place. The soil however appears fertile, as the gardens in the cantonment seem to thrive with fruit trees and vegetables, which are good and abundant. I have seen all the society here, and have got into a house, but shall defer a description of both for another opportunity."

A letter lately received from the same intelligent officer, conveys the following information relative to Religion in India; it is dated from Goruckhpoor, April 28th, 1832.

"In India we hear nothing of controversial publications. All our Methodist missionaries are only anxious to retain their own places, by sending home to England and to Calcutta reports of a most exaggerated kind, Of the good they work among the poor deluded Hindoos, and of the number of their conversions. We have a couple of Church missionaries here, and very well off they are. They have a nice little church, partly built by their Society, and partly by contributions from the government and residents of the