'  The  whole  scene,  in  short ',  says  the  Bishop, '  is  changed  from
Polynesia ',  (he  has  been  comparing  the  Bengalees  to  the  Otaheit-
ans,)  '  to  the  more  western  parts  of  Asia  and  the  east  of  Europe;
and  I  could  fancy  myself  in  Persia,  Syria,  or  Turkey,  to  which  the
increasing  number  of  Mussulmans,  though  still  the  minority,  the
minarets,  and  the  less  dark  complexion  of  the  people,  much  contri-
bute/    Vol.  II.  p.  357.
On  the  20th  of  August,  the  Bishop  reached  Patoa,  at  one
time  the  capital  of  Bahar,  and  supposed  by  Major  Rentiell,
but  erroneously,  to  be  the  representative  of  the  far-famed
Palibothra.  It  is  still  a  very  large,  and,  viewed  from  the
water,  a  very  striking  city ;  '  full  of  large  buildings,  with  re*
4  mains  of  old  walls  and  towers,  and  bastions  projecting  into
'  the  river,  with  a  high  rocky  shore.'  In  its  apparent  extent
and  prosperity,  it  far  exceeds  Dacca,  but  falls  short  of  it  in
the  beauty  and  grandeur  of  its  ruins.  The  continued  mass  ot"
buildings  extends  about  four  miles  along  the  river;  when  it
changes  into   scattered  cottages  and  bungalows  interspersed


Bishop  Heber's  Journal  hi  India.  407

'with  trees,  which  continue  till  some  more  large  and  handsome
buildings  appear  three  miles  further.  This  is  Bankipoor,
where  are  the  Company's  opium-warehouses,  the  courts  of
justice,  and  the  residences  of  most  of  their  civil  servants  be-
longing to  the  district  The  great  military  station  of  Dinapoor
is  between  seven  and  eight  miles  distant.  Between  Chuprah
and  Buxar,  the  Bishop  overtook  a  number  of  vessels;  two  of
them  of  a  curious  and  characteristic  description.
