The district of Bakarganj; its history and statistics

[175 ] By far the most interesting account of the Sundarbans is contained in the letters of the Jesuit priests who visited Bakarganj and Jessore in 1599 and 1600. They were addressed to Nicholas Pimenta, a visitor of the order stationed at Goa. Extracts are found in Pierre du Jarrie, Histoire des choses plus memorables advenues aux Indes orientales. Bordeaux 1608-14. Fonseca described the route from Bakla to Chandecan in 1599. The progress of civilisation is driven away the herds of deer and the monkeys for the ordinary routes, though there are still to be found in the woods. The faithfulness of Fonseca’s description seems indicated rise modestly admitting that he had never seen a rhinoceros, whilst stating (quite truly) that there were such animals in the woods.