Page:Report of a Tour Through the Bengal Provinces of Patna, Gaya, Mongir and Bhagalpur; The Santal Parganas, Manbhum, Singhbhum and Birbhum; Bankura, Raniganj, Bardwan and Hughli in 1872-73.djvu/72

48 OLD LINES OF ROAD.

The old road from Gaya runs along the east bank of the Nairanjana river from Gaya northwards, passing close to Islâmpur and Telâda, through Hilsa. From Telâda, however, a road must once have gone direct to Patna, as Hwen Thsang travelled by it from Patna. Of this road, however, at present few traces exist; and it certainly is not now a great or even a much-frequented road, but it is still used by numerous pilgrims. From Gaya to Telâda, however, the old road is still not only extensively used, but is the best natural road that could have been laid out between the two places.

The present great road from Gaya to Bânkipur necessarily follows a different line; the shifting of the head-quarters of the district from Patna to Bânkipur made it a necessity to select a new line; but with Patna for the capital, the old great road, though not very pleasant for the portion between Patna and Telâda, was no worse than any other that could have been chosen, while beyond Telâda, following closely as it does the high banks of the Nairanjana or Phalgu river, is the line marked out by Nature herself.

The branch from Telâda, which went past Hilsa (written “Milse Buzurg” in the Indian Atlas sheet), is now the main route for travellers from Fatuha, and is also naturally a good fair-weather road. It is difficult to determine whether the cities of Fatuha and Hilsa were the cause of the existence of this road, or whether the road being in existence caused the rise of Fatuha and Hilsa. I am inclined rather to think that the natural difficulties of the road direct from Patna to Telâda, which in ancient times would have had to cross the Son, which then flowed between the two places, caused the existence, for commercial purposes, of the comparatively easy road from Telâda to Fatuha, just below the embouchure of the ancient Son. This road, therefore, apparently owes its existence to a physical necessity, and it accordingly appears more reasonable to attribute the rise of Hilsa and Fatuha, or at least of Hilsa, to the road. Hilsa is situated just at the point where the road from Telâda to the junction of the old Son and Ganges crosses the main arm of the Nairanjana river, and thus necessarily became a place of some importance, as testified by its traditions and the ancient remains existing there.

The importance of tracing the old great lines of roads may he illustrated in this district. Admitting the great