'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎245] (354/496)

scending*, and on several occasions considered the boat in great danger of
wreck or something else over the rapids, but the boatmen were firm and
collected. .For all useful purposes, the descent of the river was a suffi
cient examination of it in its upper course. I may here mention that
Mr. Lawrence, the Resident at Lahore, was kind enough to send with
me a confidential servant of the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). of Lahore, and purwanahs to all
the authorities, having the seal of Rajah Tej Sing, President of the Coun
cil, and others seals attached,—more especially with reference to assis
tance being .given me in any examination for coal I might deem use
ful, but I did not feel justified, at this late season, in delaying the
vessel. The lower hills are of recent formation, mere agglomerated rubble
and clay. There is a place noted on Mr. Vigne’s map as being a coal-field,
but some days would be necessary to reach and examine it j I therefore
contented myself with distributing specimens of the coal we had with
us, and stimulating research by holding out the certainty of a reward if
any was. found. I also endeavoured to enlist an engineer officer sur
veying in the neighbourhood (a Lieutenant Robinson,) who from his
energetic character I hope will determine the question of coal being in
the spot indicated on Mr. Yigne's map if he has opportunity. There^are
few things.that would tend more to the success of steam on the Indus
than the discovery of a coal-field near water-carriage by one of the Pun-
jaub rivers. In reference to the economy both of space and weight, three
tons of coal are sufficient for the Meanees daily steaming, whereas the
weight of wood fuel for twelve hours’ steaming is seven tons and four cwt.
The place indicated by Mr. Yigne s map is near Rajawar, on the direct
route to Cashmere, and seven to ten miles from an important tributary
of the Chenab. It is not known whether this tributary wmuld afford water
carriage in the flood season, namely for four months, but it is said to be
never dry throughout the year.
To effect its examination would occupy a week or ten days, and I am
apprehensive of unauthorized delay at this late period, as the services of
the steamer may be lost until the next rise of the river in April, if the
water continues to fall as it has done for the last few days.
This ascent of the Chenab for the first time from the junction of the
Sutlej to Yizerabad, may, I hope, be considered a successful one ; it has
occupied 113 hours’ steaming, the distance by the river 351 miles—<that
is 3.1 nautical miles per hour; the number of hours lost by grounding
having been ten. No accident has occurred, except when attempting the
ascent of the Ravee, when the port wheel was damaged. Prom the
abundance of cultivation, there is no jungle for fuel above Ramnuggur,
dried dung being the common substitute. Fuel for steamers must be
brought down from above Akmur fort during the flood season, for the
river is not navigable for a laden boat above Ghol ferry after September,
its bed being shallow and rocky. Steamers might, perhaps, at consi
derable risk, be taken up to Akmur fort in the high season, if their pre
sence. was thought of importance; but it appears to me that the disturb
ance in the river’s channel from the influx of the mountain torrents in the