SILHET, or SYLLIET, Hindustan, a district in the presidency of Bengal, situated chiefly between 24° and 25° N. lat., 91° and 93° E. long., is bounded N. by the Cossyah Hills, E. by Muneepoor, S. and W. by Tipperah and Mymunsing. The area is computed at 3532 square miles. The population of the district is estimated at upwards of a million, supposed to be in the proportion of two Mohammedans to three Hindoos. The southern and central portion of the territory is a continuation of the flat surface of the lower districts of Bengal, and is subject to deep innudation during the rainy scasou. Towards the north-east the surface is broken irregularly into a number of detached hills, clothed to their summits with trees and verdure, and terminating in the steep and lofty ridges that rise to a height of C000 feet along the boundary of the district. The western border is varied by a succession of fine vales and conical hills, which bound the valley of the Brahmaputra. The principal rivers are the Soormah and the Menge. The climate is healthy and the soil fertile. Besides
chunam, or lime, which is found in inexhaustible quantities, and exported to all parts of Bengal, coal of a good quality is found iu the district. Elephants, buffaloes, tigers, and deer are numerous. The rivers and streams swarm with fish. Oranges and limes grow in extensive plantations, and are largely exported. The other products are rice, sugar, cotton, cinnamon, cocoa-nuts, and other fruits. Wax, stick-lac, and aloe-wood are abundant. Baskets, strong cotton cloths, and a wild silk called muggadooties, are manufactured. The district is noted for boat-building ; and Silhet shields are in much repute among the natives of Hindustau. The district is interspersed with numberless villages, and contains tho towns of Aymerigunge, Chirra, and Silhet. Silhd, the chief town and the residence of the principal authorities of the district, is situated on the river Soormah, in 24° 53' N. lat., 91' 55' FL long., distant 120 miles N.E. from Dacca, and 325 miles N.E. from Calcutta by road.