690 Levels between the Jumna and SutliJ. [No. 103. 



generally watered from Wells. I had not leisure to ascertain, by personal 

 examination, whether the first diffusion of these rivers (which I have 



Their diffusion ac- J^jself seen nearer the hills in single and separate 

 counted for. streams) were caused by natural or artificial means, 



but it is probably attributable to both. The slope and evenness of the 

 country, are calculated to favor even the rudest attempts to divert the 

 streams from their original beds, and the same circumstances would also 

 render it easy, were it desirable, to confine them again to one or two 

 principal channels. What I have designated as the '^main branches" of 

 the Markunda and Cuggur, are distinguished from the others, not so 

 much by their superior size, as by the presence of a small thread of 

 running water. 



The valley of the Sursootee, Markunda, and Cuggur, such as I have de- 

 Their importance as scribed it, though extending to a width of twenty- 

 an obstacle to the Canal, ^^^q miles, would present no insurmountable ob- 

 stacle to the formation of a navigable Canal across it, though the ex- 

 pense attendant on the provision of the necessary embankments and 

 aqueducts, would be considerable. And on this account, as well as for 

 other reasons, to be noted hereafter, a more advantageous line for the 

 Canal would probably be found further to the south-west, below the 

 town of Sumana. 



The river which flows past Puttiala, has a different character from 

 The Puttiala or Kosil- ^^^ preceding. Its channel at the point where I 

 la river. crossed it, is so deep, that I could not have sup- 



posed its waters would ever be capable of spreading out over the 

 country, had not the construction of an embankment between the stream 

 and the city (said to be for the protection of the walls), proved that it is 

 sometimes liable to overtop its banks. At this point, in consequence of 

 its deep narrow section, it would be easily crossed by a short aqueduct. 



Immediately beyond the city of Puttiala, I encountered several ridges 



of sand, which would most likely be avoidable on another line, but if 



Sand ridges. not, it would merely be necessary to puddle the 



Canal bed throughout their extent, to prevent heavy loss of water by 



absorption. 



The Sirhind Nulla, which I crossed about sixteen miles beyond 



Puttiala, flows in one or more channels through 

 TheSiihind Nulla. „ ^^^ ^,^^^ , . . , , . . , 



a valley 500 or 600 yards in width, having but a 



