'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎133] (242/496)

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v.-UIi a considerable fall, and 'wiili such violence, that any heat trying to pass it must
inevitably be lost.
“ Finding myself unable either to proceed along the bed of the river or in a
boat, I determined upon getting down to Hamp Island, in the expectation that I
should there be able to get boats and return by the river to tbe Hirun Phall or, if
not, proceed from thence to Baroche ; for which purpose I came back about three
miles, and landed on the North bank of the river at the small village of Dhair
and proceeded nearly duo North to Kooksee along a good cart road, distance ten
miles and seven furlongs. From hence I marched in a North west direction to
Rajpoor, distance twenty-nino miles and one furlong—also a good cart road, but
tbe last twenty miles is through a thick jungle. I then moved in a Southerly di
rection to Allie Molmn, through an open jungle, distance nine miles and five fur
longs, till within two miles of the place, when it thickens to a deep jungle with
small lulls. From that to Moondlah, a distance of twelve miles in a South-west
direction, through a deep moving country, in many places well cultivated by the
Kressans, or Bliillala tribe, and thickly studded with large mowah trees. From this
I went to Oomtee, in a Westerly direction, ten miles, through a beautiful cultivat
ed country, thickly planted with the largest description of mowah trees ; and from
hence to Hamp, in a South-east direction, by the Gore Ghaut, is ten miles and six
furlongs, and is through a wild hilly and jungle country, cultivated in spots for the
first five miles by the Kressans.
“ Here I was much disappointed in finding myself unable to proceed in any di
rection, from the nature of the country and the rocky bed of the river ; and to add
to my further disappointment, not a boat was to be procured, nor could I hear of
one ever having been seen between the Hirun Phall and Mokree, except the punt,
or small passage boat at this place, now useless from its decayed state. The bod of
the river is hero, when full, about two furlongs in breadth, with masses of large
rocks in every direction, and tho water at this time confined within a narrow deep
channel from twenty to forty yards in breadth, as far as I could see from the
highest hill in the neighbourhood; and in one spot that I went to, the channel was
not ten yards in width, tho water rushing through it with a slight fall and tremen
dous force. Nothing now remained but to make my way to Mokree by the
nearest route I could find; but not being able to take my baggage through hills, I
was obliged to go to Kewaunt in Guzerat, and only distant from the Gore Ghaut
in a Northerly direction eight miles. From that I went to Barsnee, in a South
west direction, twenty-one miles and seven furlongs, through a highly cultivated
country, thickly studded with mangoe, mowah, palmira, and other forest trees. From
hence to Tulluckwara on the Nurbudda, in a South-west direction, is twenty miles
and seven furlongs, through an open jungly country.
“ Hero I again embarked, and went up tho river as far as Mokree, distance
about twenty miles, and there found an insurmountable obstacle to navigation in a
foil of tho river which of itself is inconsiderable, but prevents the possibility of a
boat ever passing it. I then returned to Tulluckwara, where I had left my bag
gage, from inability to take it with mo from the hilly nature of the country.’’
In addition to this, and in order to establish the fact of the navigability between
2d Mo* w*i ’ Mundleysir and Chiculdah beyond a doubt, Major Wilson, at
journey. Sif J * Malcolm’s request,* went from tho Hirun Phall to
Mundlcysir in the end of July 1020, “when the small quau-
tily of rain that had fallen rendered the river uncommonly low for the season.”
“ Tho result f of the examination of this part of the river,” Sir J. Malcolm
writes, “ was that, with tho exception of tho portage of Luhesvidurrah, near
Mu hey sir, where the river, from the fall, or rather rapid, is always very difficult,
and sometimes dangerous, the navigation between Mundleysir and Chiculdah
was practicable for light craft nino or ten months in the year.’’
* ^ ll a boat which Sir J. Malcolm mentions as {C a large and rather heavy passage boat.”
t We obtain our knowledge of tho result of Major Wilson’s trip, through Sir J. Malcolm ; no
Journal by Major Wilson being on record.