144 report — 1877. 



On tlie Lower Course of the Brahmaputra or Tsanpo. 

 By Lieut.-Col. H. H. Godwin- Austen. 



The author gave his reasons for supposing that the great river Subansiri was the 

 outlet of the Tsanpo. Whilst engaged in the survey operations of 1875-6 in the 

 Dufla Hills, he could not, after looking north into the mountain region from the 

 two highest peaks then visited, avoid being impressed with this idea. From the 

 two peaks of Tornputu, 7300 ft., and Shengarh, 6700 ft., lying? on the high outer 

 ranges, the great main valleys on the north were well seen, and could be laid down 

 on the Plane Table with very considerable accuracy, even to very great distances, 

 as all the conspicuous peaks up to the snowy range and several of its summits 

 were intersected upon it. The finest view of this area was obtained from Shengarh, 

 where he was detained for several days by heavy rain. During this interval a 

 party of sappers and his Khasi coolies completely cleared the peak, which was 

 covered to the summit with grand forest growth, so that the view was unimpeded 

 in every direction on the bright clear day that rewarded their labour. Continuous 

 observation revealed the run of the main ranges and ridges and the position of the 

 deep valleys. The valley of the Subansiri was well traced, with its two main 

 branches ; one from the north-west, near lat. 28°, long. 93°, had its sources among 

 the high mass of snowy peaks (23,000 ft.), so well seen from the valley of Assam 

 near Tezpur, while another deep depression in the mountains lies just east of long. 

 94°, and joins the first near lat. 27° 40'. The first of these the author took to be 

 the tributary crossed by the native explorer Nain Singh on his way into Tawang 

 from Lhassa, and the other he believed might be the Tsanpo. Other considerations 

 in support of this view were the following: — 1, the temperature of the Lohit or 

 Subansiri where it joins the Brahmaputra is lower than that of any other tributary 

 of that river, this being especially noticeable during the rains, ?'. e. in June and July ; 

 2, Mr. J. O. N. James, Assistant Surveyor-General, says it is borne out by the 

 Revenue Survey Map of the District Sakluinpur, into which the Subansiri enters 

 after leaving the hills ; 3, Lieut. Ilarman, R.E., after seeing the Dihong at its 

 junction with the eastern branch of the Brahmaputra near Sudiya, considers the 

 Subansiri to have the largest body of water ; \. f the Pundit Nain Singh could 

 trace the Tsanpo, where he crossed it, for thirty miles east, and thence it flowed 

 south-easterly, which would take it towards the great valley observed by the author ; 

 and 5, the hill people, on being questioned by Lieut. Harman, gave evidence which 

 tended to show that the Subansiri and Tsanpo are the same, and that the Dihong 

 is not the Tsanpo, as geographers at present generally believe. 



On the Miner Kingani in East Africa. 

 By F. Hoimwood, Assistant Political Resident at Zanzibar. 



This river, which was thoroughly examined by the author in July 1876, 

 disembogues opposite the island of Zanzibar, and was long classed as one of those 

 hopeful-looking rivers which it was trusted might become highways to the interior ; 

 but, like the Bovuma, the Wami, and others, it has been found, though not abso- 

 lutely unnavigable, not to fulfil the expectations excited by the appearance and 

 extent of its waters. The author ascended the stream in the Church Missionary 

 Society's yacht for 120 miles. Its lower course was found to be broad and shallow ; 

 its waters in this part inundating the adjoining flat country during the rains, and 

 giving rise to the virulent swamp fever, which desolates the coast region in the 

 neighbourhood of Bagamoyo during the greater part of the year. In ascending the 

 river the average depth for the first 20 miles was found to be 18 feet, shallowing 

 to 12 feet for 10 miles further. Its breadth averages 200 yards up to the first ferry 

 (Kivuko) and 150 yards up to Kingwere ferry. Beyond the latter point hippopo- 

 tami abound, and the width of the stream contracts to 70 yards, the navigation 

 being also obstructed by snags and sunken trees, which leave only narrow passages, 

 through which the water rushes like a sluice. The banks in the lower part are 

 inhabited by the coast Suahili people ; beyond the district of Uzaramo commences, 



