134 Memorandum on the great flood of the river Indus. [_No. 2, 



3. According to accounts of the cataclysm of 1841 the river 

 Indus was observed to be unusually low in December 1840 and Janu- 

 ary 1841 at Attok and lower still in February and March. If that 

 was the case it would point to the damming up of something that 

 contributed more water than the head of the Shay ok possibly could. 

 Indeed when the channel was open but little water could descend 

 during December and January from such a cold tract as that of the 

 Shayok above Sassar, when snow only falls and when the melting 

 of the glaciers must have almost ceased. Moreover the area drained 

 by the Shayok at Sassar is comparatively speaking insignificant. 



It is a question whether it was not simply a matter of gossip 

 as to the Indus having been unusually low* both in 1841 and in 

 1858. In the latter case the fact is very doubtful. People on the 

 river would naturally say " we noticed that it was very low, &c." 



It would require a very careful registration of the height of the 

 river for several years in order to come to any trustworthy conclusion 

 as to whether the Indus was at any period lower or higher than the 

 average. 



If some sort of daily register was kept at Attok light might possibly 

 be thrown upon any future cataclysm that may occur. Observations 

 should be made as to the heightf giving the daily maximum and mini- 

 mum heights and noting the time, velocity, temperature, colour, &c. of 

 the water with general remarks on the weather. 



As to getting timely warning of the damming up of the Indus 

 or any of its tributaries, the Lieut. -Governor of the Punjab will I 

 have no doubt be able to get the necessary information from the 

 Maharajah's officials if it arises in the Maharajah's territories. 

 Should it however arise in the Gilgit river or its tributaries, there is 

 no hope of getting any, as I have explained in my memorandum on 

 the flood. As far as the Maharajah's territories are concerned I 



* The Indus is, I believe, generally very low in December and January. 



t The height to be referred to some permanent bench mark not liable to 

 destruction. 



All the rivers in the Punjab have a tide or daily maximum and minimum 

 height in the mountains caused by the difference between the amount of snow 

 melted during the night and during the day. 



