o08 Note on the Navigation of the river Nurbudda. £No. 151. 



this either full or empty. Boats of these burdens can only navigate 

 until September, or three months at the furthest ; they draw about 

 seven or eight feet water. These boats go even as far as Deygowm 

 Peeplia, which is about fifteen or twenty coss higher up, but not 

 always with that facility as from Baroche to Tulluckwara, on account 

 of the river having a rocky bed, and the current in places being very 

 rapid, besides there are three Ghauts to pass : Tulluckwara, (which is 

 the most difficult), Ukteysir and Bhimpary. In order to get over 

 these obstacles, the boatmen are obliged to send out long ropes from 

 the end of their mast to be fastened to the trees on the banks of the 

 river, and by this means draw the boat forward over the stream. 

 This passage is performed in three or five days, and is the utmost 

 limit that boats have ever ventured : beyond this the navigation is 

 said to be impracticable. Sometimes these boats in returning from 

 Tulluckwara are interrupted in their progress at the Ghauts, which 

 are seven in number ; viz. Tatreedra, Bawapeara, Umraulee, Kun- 

 daulee, Chaundode, Kenoraulee, Nurendda and Thoomdee, owing to 

 the fall of the freshes, or by an interval of no rain for ten days or a 

 fortnight. The boatmen are then under the necessity of lightening the 

 boat by emptying a part of the cargo into a smaller one along side, 

 and filling it again after passing these Ghauts ; this is done by getting 

 a villager from the nearest place, who understands the channel. He 

 proceeds forward on a small raft or canoe with a long bamboo sound- 

 ing, and the boat after him. 



" All boats that leave this for Tulluckwara have a sloping roof 

 built on them with bamboos and mats, to preserve the goods from the 

 rain ; the larger ones are also built up at the sides with the same 

 materials to prevent the water washing in when deeply laden. These 

 boats are built like all others that are used on this side, having no 

 decks, with one mast, and a triangular sail. 



" Boats from sixty to seventy kulsies burden can go to Tulluck- 

 wara after September lightly, but cannot return heavily laden. 



" The tide is felt only as far as Reenuapoor, about twenty-five or 

 thirty miles above Baroche, where it does not exceed a span in 

 height. 



" It is impossible to fix dates when the navigation of the river 

 opens and ceases : all depends on the monsoon, and the quantity of 



