1841.] 



Wood's Report on the River Indus. 



545 



are threatened with inundation ; while on the opposite side of the 

 river, there may be found, during the same season, a difficulty of 

 irrigation. In thus distributing its favour, the stream exhibits more 

 of constancy than caprice, for when once it has taken to either of the 

 banks, it adheres for a series of years to the favoured side. Another 

 circumstance merits notice. The Missisippi when in flood, as we 

 learn from Audubon, the talented American ornithologist, inundates 

 the valley to a large extent ; at that season the Squatter and a Lumber 

 river canoe pierce the thickest depths of the forest, while flat boats 

 of great burden, and steamers of noble dimensions, are seen moored 

 to stately trees overhanging its banks. The Ganges in the lower part 

 of its course, overflows its banks in a similar manner to the Missisippi. 

 During the S. W., or rainy monsoon, when the former river is in flood, 

 the whole of its Sunderbunds, or Delta lands are, according to Rennel, 

 submerged. With the Indus it is different. Inundation here is more 

 often partial than general, and at the height of its freshes, the Persian 

 wheel may be seen watering fields on the verge of its banks. The 

 Kurreef and Ruhhee (Autumn and Spring) harvest affords the most 

 conclusive evidence in this case. The crops of the first are produced 

 from an irrigated, and those of the latter from an inundated, soil ; while 

 the weight of the Kurreef harvest is to that of the Rubbee nearly as 

 two to one. 



On inspecting the accompanying chart of the Upper Indus, it will 

 be seen that the river has double banks, or inner and outer ones. The 

 first of these is as changeable as the navigable channels of the 

 Indus, the latter as permanent as the river's course ; the inner banks 

 from its bed in the cold season, when the water is low and perma- 

 nent, hem in the floods and freshes of an opposite season. The follow- 

 ing Table will further illustrate this interesting feature of the Indus, 

 though I believe it is one common to all rivers flowing through plains : — 

 Outer and inner Banks of the Indus. 



Parallel of La- 

 titude. 



26° 28' N. 

 26^ 44' 

 27° 18' 



season 



Dry 

 Surface Water. 



1456 yards. 

 658 do 

 850 do 



Width of the 

 Dry flat. 



788 yards. 

 1560 do 

 3004 do 



River's Bed. 



Surface Water in the 



freshes. 



2244 yards. 

 2218 do 

 3854 do 



