1843.] of the Punjaub and part of Affghanistan. 193 



Sutledge, I had the good fortune to consult Colonel Garden, Quarter 

 Master General, from whom I received much valuable geographical 

 information regarding the countries to the N. by W. and N. of the 

 Indus. With him I marked out the best line of country to traverse, in 

 order fully to accomplish the main object of my journey; viz. to as- 

 certain the cause of the great debacle of the Indus, which had taken place 

 a few months before (June 1841,) and caused vast destruction to life 

 and property. Mr. Clerk, on whose representation I had the honor to 

 be appointed by Government to undertake the investigations, sanction- 

 ed the route laid down ; and on applying to Maharaja Shere Singh for 

 permission for me to proceed through his dominions, his Highness, *bn 

 ascertaining the object Government had in view, not only complied with 

 Mr. Clerk's request, but also, with his usual liberality, appointed an 

 agent, and a contingent guard to attend on me, and at the same time 

 transmitted orders to the Governors of the different districts to afford 

 me every assistance and protection. The murder of the agent at Cohat, 

 the unsettled state of the Gilghit country, and other circumstances 

 which shall be afterwards noticed caused my recall, before I had pro- 

 ceeded far on my journey. 



Part I. 



General Observations on the Punjaub, and on the Geology of the Salt 

 Range, and of a part of Affghanistan. 



Punjaub. — The empire included under the name of the Punjaub, is 

 now the most important and extensive governed by any independent 

 native prince in kidia, not only from the great resources at its com- 

 mand, but also from its position, as it commands the whole of the 

 North-western frontier of British India, a direction from whence alone 

 the British empire can be invaded by any power in sufficient force to 

 threaten its stability. 



Geographical Position. — The Punjaub properly speaking, compre- 

 hends those tracts of country lying between the five great rivers which 

 run from North to South, the most westerly one being the Indus, the 

 easterly the Sutledge. But the restless and ambitious spirit of the late 

 celebrated Maharaja Runjeet Singh, encouraged by chiefs equally ambi- 

 tious with himself, caused him to carry his arms beyond the Indus into 



