Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/373

 ? আন a IV. ] BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. — 337 from the school, dnd as full of passages adorned with true poetry and descriptive power.” 1301 before dealing with his composition, we propose here to give an account of his life. In the autobiography affixed to his poem he says that he was a native of Damunya in the district ot Burdwan. He held some lands under one Gopinath Nandi who owned considerable estates in Pergunnah Selimabad. Unfortunately for the people, a Muhamadan governor named Mamud Sherif was entrusted with the administration of the Pergunnah. Under his rule the traders groaned. He made false measurements of lands ; a kura was measured as fifteen fathas; and rents were assessed on waste lands. ‘The poor man’s prayer was not heeded. The money-lenders be- came exacting. Each Rupee was short by 2} annas. No purchasers were to be found for cattle or stock. The landlord Gopinath Nandi was made prisoner and the poor people became stunned with fear and grief. Lest they should abscond, constables were appointed to keep watch over every cottage. In deep distress the poor people sold their spades and every utensil they possessed. Things worth a Rupee were sold at ten annas. The poet, helped by Crimanta Khan, an inhabitant of Chandibati, and being counselled by Muniva Khan as to the course he should follow, left Damunya with his brother Ramananda. He reached Bhetna where Ruparay helped him with some money and where afterwards Jadu Nandi of the Teli caste opened his hospitable doors to the small family of our poet. There he spent three days. Then, sailing down the stream of Godaihe reached Teywettya and, passing 43 His life.