"معاملات الجمعية الجغرافية في بومباي، من يناير ١٨٤٧ حتى مايو ١٨٤٩. تحرير السكرتير. المجلد VIII." [‎١‎٣‎٥] (٤٩٦/٢٤٤)

135
“Our progress was unimpeded for twenty-five miles below Cliiculdali, tbo
river having mostly the appearance above described, until we reached Dhurnarag,
and (spelt Dhurmcote in the plan,) where it makes a bend to the South, and its
aspect is totally changed. Here there is a gradual increase in the strength of the
current, the rocks become larger and more numerous, and the stream, being some
what contracted, is divided into several channels, through which it <lurts with con
siderable force.
“ Although I experienced little difficulty in passing this rapid, and have ascer
tained that light boats may be taken up and down at this season without danger,
if guided with ordinary care, it is nevertheless to be considered a serious obstruc
tion to navigation, since, from the position of the rocks, it must be a dangerous spot
when the river is swollen, and from its extent it would require a good deal of
labour to make it generally available for traffic.
“ This is one of those places which, on the score of expense, it might at first
sight be thought advisable to avoid by means of a road; but a more accurate
inspection than I had time to afford, would, I conceive, shew the possibility of
overcoming even this obstacle at no very enormous cost, partly by clearing the
channel, and perhaps partly by the mode recommended in my concluding remarks.
“Below this the river is deep, and continues so to the Hirun Phall, about a
mile further down, where the greater part of it rushes through a channel only a
few yards in width, with a force against which it would be useless to contend.
“ The fall of this rapid is gradual, its channel varies little in breadth, and
throughout its entire length, which is considerable, the water is broken into foam.
But notwithstanding its formidable appearance, of which its length is the most
discouraging feature, I am by no means inclined to regard it as so important as
has been represented, its proximity to the bank, and the slope and position of the
neighbouring rocks being particularly favourable for the construction of a road
or locks, as might be found most convenient.
“ I here left the large boat, as originally intended, having brought with me a
canoe hollowed out of a single tree, and remarkably strong, in which I proposed
to make the rest of the voyage. This we managed to get down with but trifling
injury, not however until it had been repeatedly upset, and once or twice sunk,
although I had a couple of strong ropes attached to it, and the assistance of five
or six persons to guide it.
I found expedient a road, apparently about a mile and a quarter in length,
might be made on the northern side of the river, by which both this and the
rapid above might be cut off; but owing to the unevenness of the banks its con
struction would be expensive, and it may reasonably be doubted if the saving
obtained by adopting this plan in preference to others would counterbalance the
disadvantages of a mixed communication. This question can be determined only
by the most careful levelling, and a thorough and minute examination of the spot
during the different phases of the river.
“ Between this and Kukranuh, which is about sixteen miles below Hirun Phall,
I met with only three interruptions, so exactly alike that one description will
answer for all. At these places there is an abrupt descent of the river, and the
channel becomes suddenly contracted, the stream rushing through with such
violence that we were obliged to use every precaution in letting down the canoe.
However, it luckily happens that in all of these the fall is inconsiderable, and the
channel narrows only in that particular spot, so that, unlike the Hirun Phall, there
being no length of rapid to overcome, the difficulty of making them navigable
would be comparatively small.
“ With these exceptions, I found the voyage both easy and pleasant, and it
struck me that from Hirun Phall to Kukranuh, there were fewer shallows, and a
greater portion of really navigable water, than in any portion of tho river of the
same length that I had met with above.