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360 NORTH-IVESTERN PROVINCES AND OUDH. BENARES, is at once the ecclesiastical metropolis of Hinduism and the most populous town in the North-Western Provinces. The trans-Gogra region, comprising the Districts of BASTI and GORAKHPUR, presents a somewhat wilder, submontane appearance, especially in its northern portion. Even here, however, cultivation widely prevails, and the general aspect is that of a well-tilled and very verdant plain. For a particular physical description of OUDH, see the article upon that Province. Rivers.—The principal rivers are the GANGES (Ganga), the JUMNA (Jamuná), the GOGRA (Ghagra), the GUMTI (Gomatí), and the RAMGANGA. The Ganges rises in Garhwal, and flows with a south-easterly course in these Provinces to its junction with the Gogra in the extreme east of Ballia, where it enters the plains of Bengal. All the drainage of these Provinces falls, directly or indirectly, into it. Its principal tributaries are the following:— Malin, Burh Gangá (in Meerut), Maháwa, Sot or Yar-i-wafadár, Burh Gangá (in Farukhábád), Káli, Rámgangá, Kaliána, Isan, Pandu, Junina, Tons (in Allahábád), Jirgo, Barna, Gúmtí, Gangi, Basu, Sarju, Gogra. The Ganges Canal is drawn off from the river near Hardwar, and the Lower Ganges Canal at Narora in Bulandshahr District. The principal towns on its banks are Bijnaur, Garhmuktesar, Anúpshahr, Farukhabad, Kanauj, Bilhaur, Shiurájpur, Bithur, Cawnpur, Sálimpur, Gunir, Dalmau, Kara, Allahábád, Mirzapur, Chunár, Benares, Ghazipur, Baxar, and Ballia. the construction of railways, the trade carried in the boats that navigate the Ganges consists only of heavy and bulky articles, timber and bamboos forming the most important items in the upper part of its course, and stone, grain, and cotton in the lower part. The Jumna also rises in Garhwal, and flows almost parallel with the Ganges to Etawah; from here it begins gradually to approach the Ganges till it falls into it three miles east of Allahabad. Its principal tributaries are the Maskarra, Katha, Hindan, Satr, Karwan, Utangan, Chanbal (in Etáwah), Sind, Nan, Sengar, Nun, Rind, SasurKhaderi, Betwá, and Ken. It passes the towns of Kutána, Baghpat, Delhi, Shergarh, Mắt, Muttra, Mahaban, Farah, Agra, Firozáoad, Batesar, Eta wah, Kalpí, Hamirpur, and Allahabad. The Junna, after issuing from the hills, has a longer course in these Provinces than the Ganges; but it is not so large or so important a river, above Agra dwindling to quite a small stream in the hot weather. The trade borne on it now is inconsiderable. The Gogra vies with the Ganges itself in volume, while it surpasses it in velocity. It rises in the Himalayas, and after receiving the wateis of the Suheli, Sarju, Chauká, Dahawar, Muchora, and Rápti, empties itself into the Ganges at Chapra. The Gúmtí rises in Pilibhit