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512 PABNA. in a south-easterly direction into the large rivers. The three largest of these lakes are the Bara bil, with an area of 12 square miles ; Sonápátilá bil, 6 miles; and the Ghughudah bil, 4 square miles in area. These small lakes abound with fish and wild duck. The low lands along their margins are extensively cultivated, and rich crops of rice are grown thereon. These jhils frequently represent old river beds, within which the main stream of the Ganges and Brahmaputra has formerly flowed. There are no embankments in the District, and artificial canals are not wanted. The large game of the District consists of tigers, leopards, and wild hog, which are plentiful; and buffaloes and deer in small numbers. The most common game birds are geese, duck, teal, widgeon, snipe, quail, golden, silver, and grey plover, pigeons, doves, and ortolans. History. -- Pabná District is a comparatively modern creation of British rule, and possesses no real history of its own. It was first formed in 1832, at a time when the needs of an active administration were beginning to demand recognition. Originally it had formed part of the great District of Rájsháhí, which was the most extensive zamindári in all Bengal when the Company obtained possession of the Province in the last century. But the hereditary Rájás of Rajshahi, whose representative still lives in the family palace at Náttor, soon fell into default in the collection of the land revenue from their unwieldy estate, and portion after portion was brought to the hammer for arrears. Thus it happened that fresh families of landowners sprang up. And when it became necessary, for the speedier administration of criminal and civil justice, that new courts should be opened in corners remote from the original civil station, it was found comparatively easy to erect such new courts into the head-quarters of independent revenue divisions. In this way, Pabná and Bográ, and also many portions of adjoining Districts, were severed from Rájsháhí. The complete separation, however, was not effected all at once. A Joint Magistrate and Deputy Collector was first stationed at Pabná town in 1832, but this officer remained in some matters subordinate to the Collector of Rajshahí. Many of the Pabná landowners long retained the privilege, as it was deemed, of paying their revenue into the parent treasury; and hence arose the anomalies of conflicting jurisdictions, which have not entirely disappeared at the present day. It was not until 1859 that the covenanted official in charge of Pabná received the full title of Magistrate and Collector. By 1845, the Sub-division of Sirajganj had been formed, which has since developed into by far the more important half of the District. Frequent changes have taken place in the limits of the District jurisdiction. In 1862, the large Sub-division of Kushtiá, lying beyond the Ganges, was transferred from Pabná to Nadiya ; and in 1871, by the transfer of two more outlying thenus or police circles, that river has