﻿THROUGH BENGAL. 31 



or budgerow, through any of the fhallows, tended, 

 by ftirring up the fands, to deepen the channel. If, 

 therefore, round or flat-bottomed boats can produce 

 fuch an effeft, in how much greater a degree might it 

 not be done by means of a machine conftrutled for the 

 purpofe, which might be dragged to and fro through the 

 fliallow place, until a fufficient depth of water fhould 

 be obtained for the pafTage of boats. If fuch ma- 

 chines, which might be contrived fomewhat in the 

 form of a large iron rake, and occafionally to go on 

 wheels, were to be ftationed at the feveral villages, or 

 towns, in the vicinity of the fhallows, it is poflible 

 that the Zemeendars might be induced, for a mode- 

 rate confideration, to furnifh people, or cattle, to 

 put them in motion, whenfoever it might be necef- 

 fary. * 



With regard to the too great breadth of the chan- 

 nel, it would not fo eafily be remedied; but as the 

 fhallov.'s which are produced from this caufe, are few 

 in number, and are only to be met with in fome of 

 the long reaches, as at MoorJJiudabad, and Bulleah, 

 it would be worth while to try how far, by filling up 

 a part of the channel, we could prevent the expanGon 

 of the ftream ; and, by confining it within certain 

 limits, could accelerate the motion and depth of the 

 water. 



The laft caufe of accumulation of fand and fliallow- 

 nefs, might be prevented, by prohibiting the natives 

 from driving bamboos acrofs the channel for the pur- 

 pofes of filhing; as they have many other ways of 

 catching fifii, without detriment to the navigation of 

 thefe rivers. 



11. On 



* Since this paper was written, a propofal has been I'ubtnitted to the 

 Government, by the Author, for attempting to keep open the Cojfwibazar 

 river, o\ Jdlinghy^ during the dry fcalon. 



