'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎146] (255/496)

the loss of speed by the flat being attached, does not by this criterion
appear much. The current I estimated at seven miles an hour. Men
were obtained to track her past the point, and a line got ready (or haw
ser.) After two or three failures, owing to the vessel swerving round
against the helm, steadily steered up to the point, and passed on with
out the assistance of tracking. The detention in passing this point was
seven and a half hours. Steady steerage is of the greatest importance on
the river in overcoming a current. Made nineteen miles, and reached
Gabla village at 6.20 p. m. on right bank. This is in every respect a good
depot for fuel. It is a very old village, having a deep creek leading to
it, and a high bank with fuel jungle near at hand above and below.
June .—Started at 4.35 a. m., and made good way to Bootah, on
right bank: found fuel here placed by the Sukkur moonshee. It was three
hundred yards away, and the detention was five steaming hours in taking
it on board: such villagers as could be got were employed to save time.
There is good jungle here. Made nine miles against a strong current,
and secured to the bank thirteen miles from Kushmore.
24^ June .—At 5 a. m. started: the current very strong. Beached
Kushmore at 2 p. m. Found fuel placed here by the Sukkur moonshee,
instead of below at Sadooja. Cast off from this at 5.50, but could not make
progress: the vessel not answering her helm, made fast again—lost an hour
and a half in consequence.
25th June .—Left at 5, and made good way for seven or eight miles, when
the river became contracted in its bed to six hundred yards, and rushed
down eight miles an hour. Crossed and re-crossed, but could not pass up,
and after two hours sent lines on shore. Drift wood coming down, made
the pilot say the river was rising. In warping past this part of the river
seven and a half hours were occupied, but the distance was not more than two-
thousand yards. The vessel twice sheared off the bank, breaking lines, and
went down stream several hundred yards before she would answer her
helm. These vexatious accidents cost us much time and labor : other
steamers have found the channel bad at this place. Made nine and a half
miles. Secured the vessels to a bank. It blew fresh at night—a squall v ith
rain from the westward, and a short swell, soon got up, giving a great deal
of motion to the vessels and forcing them against the bank violently ;
squall was over in half an hour, and the swell as quickly subsided. ^ om
the strength of current and wind combined, extra anchors could not
been carried out.