THE DOABS. 275 



Throughout the broad, flat plains of the Punjab no rocks are 

 met with in situ until we reach the Salt range with the exception 

 of, here and there, beds of Konkur, a compact marl, which is 

 sometimes mixed with a small quantity of peroxide of iron, giving 

 it a black or dark-brown colour, and clay. Near Jullunder large 

 beds of it occur, and it is there dug and used in making roads, for 

 which it is well adapted. The common kind of Konkur, too, is 

 also here found in abundance. This formation has no doubt 

 been deposited by springs which formerly existed, and appear 

 to have prevailed, and still do so, to some extent throughout 

 India. 



By the divisions formed by the rivers, the Punjab has been 

 divided into a series of Doabs, which we shall here notice, as it 

 will be necessary for us to allude to them hereafter. 



In crossing the Sutlej at Phillore we enter, as already stated, 

 the Jullunder Doab, which is formed by the Sutlej and Beyas. 

 In crossing the Beyas, we enter the Baree or Manjha Doab, con- 

 sisting of that tract of land lying between the Beyas and Ravi, 

 including the great cities of Amritsir and Lahore. This Doab is 

 the great stronghold of the Sikh population. In crossing the 

 Ravi we enter the Rechna Doab formed by the Ravi and Chenab. 

 In crossing the Chenab, we reach the Jetch Doab, formed by that 

 river and the Jhelurn ; and forming the Sincl Sagur Doab, we 

 have the rivers Jhelurn and Indus. All these Doabs present 

 magnificent broad, flat plains with a gradual declination to the 

 south, and thus admirably adapted to irrigation. For this 

 purpose, according to calculations made by my friend Lieut. Baird 

 Smith, there is a supply of water now running waste to the sea 

 equal to 12,000 cubic feet per second, which if properly applied 

 would convert these, in many places, waste and barren plains into 

 the Eden of India, and make them one sheet of the richest 

 cultivation. To reap such a harvest capital and hands to guide 

 alone are wanting. Well and correctly, too, has he remarked in 

 his admirable digest of canal operations in the north of India 

 conducted by the rulers of India, that the extraordinary facilities 

 possessed by the land of the Five rivers in its abundant supply of 

 water, its wide plains sloping gently from the base of the 

 Himalayahs, and the natural fertility of its irrigated soil, would 

 lead us to have anticipated the existence of canals dating from the 

 period of the Mahommedan empire. Of the advantages and value 

 of canal-irrigation to the Punjab there can be but one opinion. 

 Xo country in India depends more on rain for its crops, and here, 



vol. vnr. c 



