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)

BHARAT CHANDRA RAI. 161

ferryman is justly regarded as a remarkable specimen of
artistic poetry. The whole passage\may be understood
in'tv^o different ways, and while the ferryman under-
stands her to be the neglected wife of a Kulin Brahman
who has mauy other wives, she really giVes a true
account of herself. Our readers will perceive that this
passage is only an imitation of a similar ingenious
passage in Makundaram's work, but we confess the imi-
tation is 'superior to the original both in grace and in
art, for Bharat is infinitely superior to Makundaram
in art and, grace. Uma at last reaches > the ho^se of
Bhabanaud Mazumdar, and from that day the house
rises in glory and importance. Pratap Aditya Rni, a
refractory Zemindar of Jessore Issuripur (now an obscure
village in the confines of 8undarbuns\, defies the
power of Aurungzebe, and the renowned Man Sing is
sent to quell the chief. That warrior finds some diffi-
culty in carrying his forces over, the swamps and marshes
of Southern Bengal, and Bhabauaud renders him signal
assistance. At last a. battle is fought of which we
have a spirited though somewhat grotesque description ;
and Pratap AdityaJ is killed. It is when Bhabanand
is accompanying Man Sing in his marches that he
narrates to the Rajput chief the story of Bidya Sundar;
so that that story, though the most important portion of
the work, is not connected with the main story in any
way.

We have already indicated in brief the plot of Bidya
Sundar, and have pointed out what we consider its chief
blemishes. It must be admitted however that the p:«a*