EIVERS OF JAVA. 



163 



and, after escaping from the Bandong plateau through a gorge in the northern 

 range, reaches the sea to the east of Batavia Bay after a course of about 140 miles, 

 of which 50 are accessible to small craft. The observations taken on the spot 

 show that its delta is encroaching on the sea at a mean rate of rather more than 

 22 inches yearl}^ 



But the main fluvial artery of the northern slope is the Solo (Bengawan, 



Fig. 65. — NusA Kembangan. 

 Scale 1 : 550,000. 



Depths. 



0to32 

 Peet. 



32 Feet and 

 upwards. 



12 Miles. 



Sambaya), whose farthest waters rise in the " Thousand Mountains," within 7 

 or 8 miles of the Indian Ocean. After the confluence of the two chief branches 

 north-east of Mount Lawu, the main stream pierces a rocky gorge, beyond which it 

 becomes navigable for vessels of a considerable draught. It would even be 

 accessible to large sea-going ships but for the banks at its mouth covered only 

 by 6 or 7 feet of water. In its navigable part, the Solo, which has a total 

 length of 300 miles, flows first to the north-east and then to the east through the 



