'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎151] (260/496)

151
boats came up under sail this afternoon, and could not pass. With much
labour warped against a strong current six hundred yards, frequently
losing ground from anchors dragging and warps breaking.
16tA July .—Continued warping ahead all day : gained one thousand
six hundred yards. The channel still unformed; the vessel in her
own depth of water, or an inch or two more or less. The three native
boats made sail, steered over the bank, and passed on to Buhawulpoor :
they were deeply laden, and drew nearly three feet of water.
YJth July. —To-day being in four feet of water, steam was got up, and
an attempt made to go on by steam: the vessel sheered about from one
side to the other, and dropped down by the current one mile. An anchor
was let go, but it did not check her. Warped again with the heaviest
anchors and chains.
18f/i July .—Warped clear, and steamed ahead one mile, in seven to
eight feet of water, and was again stopped by shallow water. After three
hours’ warping got into a former channel and anchored.
19^/i July .—Secured off Buhawulpoor, on the right bank, one mile
from the ghat.
20th July .—Examined and cleaned the boilers and engines.
21st July .—Left Buhawulpoor at 10 a. m. Made fourteen miles to
day. Peer Ibrahim Khan, Assistant Agent at Buhawulpoor, assures me
that five hundred maunds of fuel are placed at stations sixteen miles apart,
according to Captain Powell’s request, and that the supply has been
ready a long time—the wood must therefore be dry. The ferry at
Buhawulpoor being on a line of intercourse with Moultan and Khorassan,
yields three thousand rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. a year, the contractor paying that sum to
Government—half to Moultan and half to Buhawulpoor. I could not hear
of any probability of a cargo down from this to Scinde or Bombay. The
Kardar of the Moultan district informed me that he had received orders
to render the steamer every possible assistance, and w^as very attentive.
The Moultan province is well cultivated. We stopped at a contracted part
of the river where the vessel would not steer, and was in great danger,
being turned violently round against the helm, and but just cleared the
bank with reverse engines. Secured for the night at the large village of
Mombaruckpoor. It is difficult to describe the unmanageable state of
a vessel when swerving round by the current: it is so rapid a motion
that in a narrow part of the river as this was, nothing but the greatest
attention and promptitude saved her from serious injury.