'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎157] (266/496)

I
157
Though the only damage sustained proceeded from a defect in the
steerage, another serious source of danger is the sudden and violent
squalls on the Sut- storms of wind and dust to which the Sutledge is per-
ledge. haps more liable than the Indus. When one of these
squalls is observed approaching, I would advise the vessel being secured
safely ere it strikes her, for, if it prove slight, the delay is trifling, and if
severe, the atmosphere is so darkened you may injure the vessel. In this
trip we experienced during two months only one squall that might have
done mischief.
The Journal comprises every subject to which you specifically directed
my attention. First the channel of the river: this is an
unsatisfactory part of it, for in some places the river
divides into so many streams that a statement of the channel the vessel
is in seldom gives a correct account of the volume of water passing down
to the Indus. I hesitated to specify where the river passed down
in one stream, as the entrances and embouchures of canals and creeks
could not always be seen, from the river spreading out in places two or
three miles in width. The channel of the main stream was always found
to be loose shifting sand the same as below, but no
Nature of channel. , , °
pebbles were ever seen, the bank being uniformly of
mud, never exceeding eight feet in height. No hill or rock of any kind
was found on the whole course of the Sutlej up to
I erozepoor.
Ferries are noted. The natives made a mystery of fordable places in
_ . the low season: I think it is very probable that wherever
Ferries ^ ^
there is a ford in the low season there will be a ferry
established in the high. All the ferries, as before said, are noted.
The best places for dep6ts of fuel are forwarded on a separate list, but
Fuel de A ts from the sudden changes the river is liable to, constant
care will be necessary to watch the course the waters
take, and have the fuel at an accessible point. There is jungle for fuel
in sufficient abundance near to the Sutlej, though not bordering on its
banks in most places, but situated some distance back.
Taking as a criterion the passage of the Meanee steamer from above
Pank puttun—where the flat was left—to Ferozepoor,
the vessel would have arrived from Sukkur at Buha-
wulpoor on the thirteenth day, and at Ferozepoor on
the twenty-seventh, allowing two hours daily for fueling &c.
(Signed) W. Christopher, Senior Lieutenant, I. N.,
1st Assistant Indus Flotilla,
(True Copy) (Signed) F. T. Powell, Commander, I. N a ,
Commanding Indus Flotilla,
(True Copy) (Signed) E. J. Brown,
Assistant Secretary to Government of Scinde,
Rate of ^Progress
of steamer.