gave him a swift horse that he might ride at once to Iswarípur, and so prevent the total extermination of his family. He, however, arrived too late, and found that his family were no more; whereupon he shared their fate, and drowned himself also. A pestilence shortly afterwards broke out, in which thousands perished; the place became depopulated, and is now the abode of tigers and other wild animals.’ The latter part of this legend will be at once recognised as almost identical with that of Chandraketu mentioned at page 113, and probably both of them refer to the same event. A few of the old buildings of Iswarípur were in existence in 1857, especially the Tengah Masjid, a hundred and fifty feet long, with five domes, the remains of the fort, and ruins of a portion of the temple before its position is said to have been changed by the goddess.
Pratapnagar, the principal village in Jámirá Fiscal Division, Sátkhirá Subdivision, situated on the bank of the Kholpetuá river. The village contains a large paddy mart; and in 1857 was a noted place, and contained the principal revenue court of the local landholder. Budhata, in Bháluká Fiscal Division, Sátkhirá Subdivision, was once a very flourishing place; and ruins of extensive masonry buildings and landing-places are still visible. In 1857 it contained a police station, bi-weekly markets, and bázár, in which were situated a salt warehouse (golá) and many rice granaries; also a set of twelve temples dedicated to Siva, called Dwádas mandir, and which are still extant; some extensive mango groves, and a landholder’s revenue court. Annual fairs are held at Budhatá during the Hindu festivals of the Rás-játrá, Durgá-pujá, and Kálí-pújá.
Asasuni, a village and police station in Bháluká Fiscal Division, Sátkhirá Subdivision, is situated at the junction of the Sobnálí and Asásuní rivers, and is an anchorage place for boats proceeding to the eastward whilst waiting for the tide. The village contains a large bázár, and is the seat of considerable local trade. An annual fair is held here during the Dol-játrá.
Chandpur, another village in Bháluká Fiscal Division, inhabited principally by Musalmáns. In 1857 it contained ‘a bázár, bi-weekly market, native school, cloth manufactories, rice granaries, salt golás, masjids, the shrine of a Muhammadan saint named Chandrí Pír, and the seat of a landholder of very opulent and ancient family.’
Naopara and Sankarkati.—Two small villages in Bháluká
