SIR CHARLES NAPIER ON THE INDUS FLOODS. 535 



Sir Charles Napier, as all the world knows, was the 

 conqueror of Scinde (1842 to 1846) and perforce, no 

 man studied the vagaries of the great river with keener 

 attention than he did, for it formed his principal line 

 of communications, and the swelling of its waters, or 

 the imminent fear that they would suddenly rise, often 

 set his best-laid plans at naught. 



The Indus is an autocrat whose colossal power, even 

 in its calmer lower reaches, is such that the most 

 enterprising leader dare not attempt to oppose it. 



The sun and the desert on one side, and the river on 

 the other are apt to set at defiance the puny efforts 

 of man. 



"Here (says Sir C. Napier, writing on March 3Oth 1843) 

 I am between Scylla and Charybdis ; to the east impeded by 

 want of water, on the west in dread of inundation. I cannot 

 besiege (Omercote) as the river would be upon me, forming 

 a mighty sea between me and Hyderabad (as people say), 

 probably all exaggerated, but enough to destroy my guns 

 and baggage." * "April i. Just heard by express that the 

 waters are rising with fearful rapidity. I must recall the 

 troops, and leave Omercote for next season; this is bad; it 

 will be a rallying point for all our enemies in Scinde, and 

 another army will rise; but I cannot stand against the Indus." f 



Its unbridgeable character (except by very great 

 and costly structures like a vast girder bridge of iron) 

 is well illustrated by what has been already stated 

 about its floods and the following extracts 



" The obstacles to any but a floating bridge (says Sir Chas. 

 Napier) are insuperable; we must trust to boats, and build 

 a fort as a 'tete de pont' at Kotree, opposite Hyderabad; 



* Life of General Sir Chas. J. Napier, by Lt.-Genl. Sir W. Napier, 

 Vol. ii., p. 353. 



j- Ibid., Vol. ii., p. 354. 



