'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎126] (235/496)

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much. It continues about four miles. The river, much confined,
rushes rapidly between hig’h rocks , and with oidmaiy care m a large
boat there is no danger. But with the raft, the waves washing in,
filled the canoes and swamped them, and we had to swim for it;
whereas the flat-bottomed boat passed without trouble : nevertheless it
is a place would always require care , ^ei/ as it became known, I have
little doubt it would be scarcely thought of.
11. As far as Soolpan, 27 miles from Haump, the river is as I
have described it above. Six miles below Soolpan are the Mookree
falls. These being always mentioned as nearly if not totally insur
mountable, I examined carefully. The river at its ordinary rainy
height, about 25 feet above hot weather mark, covers the rapids entire
ly, and wm shot them with little trouble. But when the river is low,
there is a fall of 8 or 10 feet. Now all the people spoke of the ex
istence of a backwater, by which, as at the Suhesur Dharra, I can
conceive no obstacle to boats passing either up or down: moreover,
from my own enquiries, and as mentioned by Lieutenant Elwan, of the
Honorable Company’s Marine, (vide his report) it seems that small
boats do actually now ascend and carry kupra kerana and salt to
Haump, whence they return with timber. Lieutenant Elwan says
that toonies drawing three feet water go up ; but my informants
only spoke of canoes which draw when loaded six inches. However,
all whom I conversed with agreed that nothing exists to prevent
large boats from going up to Mookree and the Hills, and there
end the difficulties : from hence to Tullukwarra, about 20 miles, is
plain sailing; and below that, boats of large size come up constantly.
12. On carefully considering the character of the river, I
I think, venture an opinion, that it would take very little to render it
navigable, in the following manner, although I should like to see it
as well in the fair season, -when it is low, so as to leave no room tor
doubt, as during my voyage it was swollen.
13. At the Suhesur Dharra, the Him Phal, and Mookree, perhaps
also at the Beytala Ghaut, a road along the bank might be formed,
for which the nature of the banks offers great facilities. There wou
be objections to the plan, chiefly on account of the trouble and delay
of unloading and reloading above and below, but when the difference
of expense between a road and locks is considered, I think the former
will be considered preferable : moreover, by it the boatmen on the
river would only have to work in their respective districts.