GOALPARA  , a

town and district of British India, in the Brahmaputra valley division of eastern Bengal and Assam . The town (pop . 6287) overlooks the Brahmaputra . It was the frontier outpost of the Mahommedan power, and has long been a flourishing seat of river trade . The civil station is built on the summit of a small hill commanding a magnificent view of the valley of the Brahmaputra, bounded on the north by the snowy ranges of the Himalayas and on the south by the Garo hills . The native town is built on the western slope of the hill, and the lower portion is subject to inundation from the marshy land which extends in every direction . It has declined in importance since the district headquarters were removed to Dhubri in 1879, and it suffered severely from the earthquake of the 12th of June 1897 . The DISTRICT comprises an area of 3961 sq. m . It is situated along the Brahmaputra, at the corner where the river takes its southerly course from Assam into Bengal . The scenery is striking . Along the banks of the river grow clumps of cane and reed; farther back stretch fields of rice cultivation, broken only by the fruit trees surrounding the villages, and in the background rise the forest-clad hills overtopped by the white peaks of the Himalayas . The soil of the hills is of a red ochreous earth, with blocks of granite and sandstone interspersed; that of the plains is of alluvial formation .

Earthquakes are

common and occasionally severe shocks have been experienced . The Brahmaputra annually inundates vast tracts of country . Numerous extensive forests yield valuable timber . Wild animals of all kinds are found . In 1901 the population was 462,083, showing an increase of 2% in the decade . Rice forms the staple crop . Mustard and jute are also largely grown . The manufactures consist of the making of brass and iron utensils and of gold and silver ornaments, weaving of silk cloth, basket-work and pottery . The cultivation of tea has been introduced but does not flourish anywhere in the district . Local trade is in the hands of Marwari merchants, and is carried on at the bazars, weekly hats or markets and periodical fairs . The chief exports are mustard-seed, jute, cotton, timber, lac, silk cloth, india-rubber and tea; the imports, Bengal rice, European piece goods, salt, hardware, oil and tobacco . Dhubri (pop .

3737), the administrative headquarters of the district, stands on the Brahmaputra where that river takes its

great bend south . It is the termination of the emigration road from North Bengal and of the river steamers that connect with the North Bengal railway . It is also served by the eastern Bengal State railway .