Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1927-03-24

IN ENGAL will ever remain the
land of the tiger to the small
IL boy, but 1t Is more properly the
land of jute and tea to those
who think in economic terms. This
large province at the eastern extrem-
ity of India straddles the northern
most point OF the Bay of Bengal, and
stretches northward to the peaks of
the Himalayas Thus II has two to-
tally different sections, the low and
often marshy plains of the south, and
the rough hills and mountains of the
north. 1t is separated from Tibet only
by the diminutive native Indian states
of Sikkim and Bhutan.
Bengal is slightly larger than Kan
sas with as many inhabitants as are
found In New York. Pennsylvania,
Illinois, Ohio, Texas and Michigan
enthusiastically as many as in
the entire United States. More than
so different languages are spoken
among the human horde, not to men
tion the various dialects. That lam
guage In India changes every ten
miles, perhaps. is not far wrong.
The narrow northern extremity OF
Bengal resembles that of Idaho, and
like our western state. BENGAL spreads
out as it stretches southwark. Below
the northern neck the border line of
Bengal zigzags In all directions.
Bengal's gateway Is Its most home
w feature. Those familiar with the
murky rivers Of the province know
when the coast is near, even before
land is sighted, for the beautiful
lndigo-blue water Of the Bay of Ben
gal begins to take on brownlsh hue,
due to the silt that Is brought down
from the north by the Gauges and a
labyrinth of rivers and creeks that
pierces the coast line. Between the
banks OF the numerous channels are
swampy peninsulas covered with ma
laria-infested jungle land in which
roam the famous Bengal tigers, few
remaining elephants, and other wild
animals. These wilds and the water
logged Iowlands just north Of them
are called sundarbans
Farming In Rowboats.
When the Ganges goes on its annual
rampage and overflows Its banks for
300 miles from its mouth, the sun
darbans are almost totally submerged.
The less-fiooded area Is planted In rice
and 1t Is an interesting sight to see
"rowboat farmers" tending their sub
marine crops. When the water sub
sides, II leaves fertile layer Of earth
on the lowlands and in the river val
leys, making the southern Bengal re-
gions prosperous Alphabetically. Jute,
rice, wheat and many other products
thrive In the newly fertilized earth.
While the Ganges adds much to
Bengal's prosperity, sometimes its
roaming disposition causes real estate
tangles as does that of our own Rio
Grande. 1t tears away It's banks and
carries with 1t the soft alluvial soil
of the south, often changing its course.
As q result an owner on the east
bank may wake up one morning to
find the river a mile across the plain
while another on the west bank may
lost. AS a result a special branch of
Jurisprudence has arisen in Bengal to
adjudicate such difficulties.
Calcutta, capital of Bengal and the
largest city of India, lies about 80
miles up the Hooghly. Since 1t Is the
only large port at the head Of the Bay
of Bengal and is easily reached from
the interior by numerous canals, riv-
ers, and railroads, Assam and neigh
boring provinces also use it as their
port. Therefore the Hooghly Is filed
with shipping. The passenger bound
for Calcutta is not sorry, for the odd
little native junks and large ocean
going vessels absorb his attention
from the ugly marshes and thickets
on shore
The first evidence Of human exist
ence as Calcutta is neared is the APP
pearance Of a few houses and then
the tall smokestacks Of jute mills that
loom up above low brick buildings,
where jute sacking is made In enor-
nous quantities. and shipped to all
parts OF the world. Much of 1t is
used in the United States, particular
~ In handling our farm products.
Little does the cotton picker of the
South realize that the more cotton ne
picks, the more mouths he helps to
feed in Bengal. for the cotton-bale
wrappers are usually made Of jute.
Likewise the farmer cultivating his
potato fields. does not realize. per-