1840.] Levels between the Jumna and Sutlif, 691 



Its character and uses for s^ig^* depression below the adjoining country. Its 

 irrigation. flood waters could, with very little labour and 



skill, be let out by side cuts to inundate the lands lying on its east bank, 

 and I therefore conclude that such a practice is adopted, as the natives 

 of this province are fully aware of the value of that peculiar system of 

 irrigation, which consists in flooding the land once a year. 



From the West bank of the Sirhind Nulla to a few miles beyond 



Sand ridges. Pahul, the land is generally level, but intersected 



by a few sand hills, one of which, between the villages of Bishnpoor 



and Kuddoo, may be considered the crest of the ridge, dividing the 



Jumna from the Sutlij. 



From Doorai-ki- Serai westward, the descent is rapid, and the fall 

 Descent to the Sutlij. appears to be broken in a remarkable manner into 

 steps, ending in an abrupt cliff of 30 feet, on the western continuation 

 of which stands the fort and town of Loodiana. At some former period 

 this cliff* was evidently the eastern boundary of the Sutlij, and even yet, 

 as I am given to understand, the waters of that river when swelled by 

 the monsoon floods, frequently reach its base. 



The remaining tract of seven and a quarter miles, intersected by 

 Valley of the Sutlij. branches of the Sutlij, is proved by its loose sandy 

 soil, as well as by its topographical position, to be an alluvial deposit of 

 the river; and were the canal to join the Sutlij at this point, it would be 

 more advisable to deepen the Nulla which flows under the Fort, than to 

 make a new excavation through such unfavorable soil. 



As my commission did not include an examination of the Sutlij, I 

 Capabilities for navio-a- ^^y perhaps not be expected to offer an opinion 



tion near Loodiana. ^^ ^^^ navigable Capabilities ; but I may be permit- 

 ted to remark, en passant, that the stream near Loodiana appears to have 

 two characteristics decidedly unfavorable to navigation ; viz. a sandy 

 Shifting sands. bed, and a considerable fall ; a combination of cir- 



cumstances which cannot fail to produce shifting and uncertain shoals. 



With a view of ascertaining the level of springs along the line of my 

 Depth of wells through- section, I measured the depth of 156 wells be- 

 out the line, tween Kurnaul and Loodiana, and the average 

 result is shewn in the profile by blue dotted lines. In this I had two 

 objects ; first to ascertain whether, as some suppose, measurements of the 

 level of springs would give data for an approximate calculation of the 



