Dutt, Romesh Chunder: The literature of Bengal: being an attempt to trace the progress of the national mind in its various aspects, as reflected in the nation’s literature from the earliest times to the present day ; with copious extracts from the best writers (Calcutta, 1877)

» MAKUNDA P|!M CHAKRAVARTI. 121

»

The account of the founding of the new town gives
us a graphic and minute picUire of the manners* and
customs of the times in which the work was'Written.
The way in which ryots are induced to nettle in a
new village, the rights and immunities promised to them,
the loan of cattle and grain and money given them, tbs
different customs of the people of different faiths and
castes,—Muhammadans, Brahmans, Vaidyas, Kayasthas,
Goalas, Telis, Kamars, Kumars, &c, all these have been
depicted with a fidelity and photographic minuteness un-
equalled in the whole range of Bengali literature. It is
impossible to read the descriptions without having the
whole picture distinctly and vividly realized before the
mind's eye. The Muhammadans with the^r loose ijars
and caps and beards, their nemdj five times during the 1
day, and the loud chanting of their Persian books, their
frequent nikds and shadis, their dalizes and moMooms;
—the Brahmans with their ckandmi and tilah, and their
worship of Devas with rice and plantains, their personal
cleanliness and frequent Messings;—the Vaidyas with

their medical Shastras and drugs;—the Kayasthas with

— . ——-_

^fcrsi ^©t? «ttx»r wzs ^s-*r ^fat i

c^^t<r ^ cartel w tot i
^*tt*r -sjtc^ fa^i ^tc^ nzv ti

*ftf c*\\vs ■qwvTt ?rf^ f^?r*i i

f*tor fwz* tfifw ^rtri> ?iiti i!
»

And so forth through all the twelve mouths.

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