132 Memorandum on the great flood of the river Indus. [No. 2, 



Had the flood been generated on any of the tributaries of the 

 Shayok I must have heard of it, as the damage done by the water on 

 first escaping from the barrier or dam would have been very great in 

 the Shayok valley itself. 



No report was prevalent at Boonjee or elsewhere in the Maharajah's 

 territories as to any river being still dammed up or as to the prospect 

 of another flood. 



Should the river Indus or any of its tributaries be hereafter dammed 

 up in any part of the Maharajah's territories, there would not be 

 much difficulty in getting information from the Maharajah's officials, 

 if proper measures were taken for collecting the same. 



If timely warning were given, I think that the water might 

 be eased off, if the place was accessible and labour was available for 

 the necessary blasting, mining and other operations. 



If, however, an obstruction should arise on the Gilgit river 

 or any of its tributaries, there is, in the present political state of 

 those valleys, no chance of getting timely warning or any accurate 

 information, and if such was forthcoming, nothing could be done as to 

 easing off the water unless the Engineer was accompanied by troops. 



Memorandum in answer to the five following questions* by Captain 

 T. G. Montgomeeie, Bengal Engineers, F. B. G. S., 1st Asst. 

 G. T. Survey, Sfc. 



1st. Whether there is any truth in a prevalent rumour that the 

 Indus or one of its tributaries is still obstructed, and how it arose ? 



2nd. When the late cataclysm of 1858 (August) occurred and 

 how it arose ? 



3rd. Whether such accidents are likely to be limited to one lo- 

 cality or may occur in several points of the Upper Indus and its 

 feeders among the mountains ? 



4th. Where is the probable locality of the cataclysm of 1841, and 

 how was it occasioned ? 



* Questions proposed by Major Becher, Bengal Engrs. 



