JUMNA or Jamuna, a river of the North- Western Provinces and of the Panjab. It rises in the Himalayas, in the Native State of Garhwal, about 5 miles N. of Jumnotri, and about 8 miles N.W. of the lofty mountain Bandarpanch (20,731 feet), in lat. 31° 3' N., and long. 78° 30' E. The Jumna, at its source near Jumnotri, is 10,849 feet above the sea-level ; at Kotnur, 16 miles lower, it is only 5036 feet ; so that, between these two places, it falls at the rate of 314 feet in a mile. At its junction with the Tons it is 1686 feet above the sea; at its junction with the Asan, 1470 feet ; and at the point where it issues from the Siwalik Hills into the plains, it is 1276 feet. The catchment area of the Jumna is 118,000 square miles ; its flood-discharge at Allahabad, 1,333,000 cubic feet per second ; discharge per square mile of catchment area, 113 cubic feet per second. The Eastern Janina (Jarnuna) canal is an important irrigation work in Sabarunpur, Milzaffarnagar, and Meerut (Mirath) districts, North-Western Provinces. The Western Jumna (Jminim.) canal is an important irrigation work in Umballa (Ambala), Kama], Dail, and Rohtak districts, Panjab. It takes its supply of water from the Jumna at Ilathni Kund, on its western bank.
The spot where the Ganges and Jumna, sister nuddis (Greek Naiades), meet, makes a magnificent prospect. There is scarcely a lovelier spot than the prayag of Allahabad. The broad expanse of waters, the verdant banks, and the picturesque scenery, tell upon the mind, and fascinate the pilgrim. A special great mela is held here every year on the full moon in January,—Magliai Prayagai, as the common Hindu saying goes,— mid the holy fair lasts there about two months, and attracts people from far and near.
The Mesopotamia formed by the Ganges there, known as the Doab, is the Anterved of the ancient Hindus. From the narrow point in which it terminates, the valley broadens as it stretches away towards the west, embracing a greater and greater area between the Ganges and Jumna. The whole of its immense superficies forms a vast, populous, and busy hive, enriched by human industry, and embellished by human taste. It is thickly clotted with great townships and cities, and under the :sun no country makes up such a highly interesting prospect of green fields, orchards, and gardens in a continuous succession. In this fair savannah were the dities of the pre Vedic Dasya races. here rose the first cities of
the Arya race. In the plains of the Doab, the rajas of Hastinapur, of Indraprasthra, and of Kanouj exhibited the highest power and splendour of Hindu sovereignty. The rich districts watered by the Ganges and Jumna have always tempted the avarice of the foreign conqueror. Here was the residence of the most famous Hindu sages. From this birthplace of arts and civilisation, wisdom travelled to the west. This Doab is the battle-ground of the Pandu against the Kure, of the Ghaznivide and Ghorian against the Hindu, of the Moghul against the Pathan, of the Mahratta against the Moghul, and of the British against the Mahratta, where many a spot is hallowed by tra dition, and many a ruin is consecrated by history. In this Doab almost every inch of land is under the plough. From Allahabad to Shecoabad, there j are four large cities, and villages at frequent intervals. A similar distance in Bengal is no doubt dotted with the same number of villages, but has not one town equal to Futtehpur, Cawn pur, or Mynpori. Hero the rural population is more intelligent and spirited than the same class in Bengal. The humblest Doabi lives upon better food, and covers his body with more abundant clothing, than the humblest Bengali. The cattle here are various. Camels, buffaloes, horses, ' donkeys, and oxen are all made to assist man in' his labours. The fondness of the Doabi women , for coloured millinery evinces a more cultivated female taste, and to them may remotely be traced the impetus which is given to the various dye manufactures of Northern India.
The Doab, like Bengal, is fiat and alluvial. The vast plain is uninterrupted by a single emi neiten ; the tall and robust figure, the firm step, the stern eye, and the erect bearing of the Hindu stani are everywhere to be seen. In Bengal, the oxen alone form beasts of burden. A Hindu stani coolie takes the load over the waist, and not upon the head. In Calcutta the Habeas do not know what it is to ride. In Hindustan rural women perform journeys on horseback, and prin cesses discuss the merits of horsemanship. The people of the Doab have for the most part well formed features. The rude Jat, however, has a coarse, mean physiognomy. The Western and Eastern Jumna canals, of ancient construction, had fallen into disrepair, but were restored during the administration of Lord Dalhousie.—Imp. Ca:.